An old European 0-6-0T steam loco needing ID

[E Pinniger]

Anybody have an idea what this little 0-6-0T (not much bigger than a Minitrix LMS dock tank) might be, both the prototype loco and if possible the model manufacturer? It looks distinctly German to me but I have next to no knowledge of Continental European railways. The maker's name isn't moulded on the body (plastic) or chassis (diecast metal).
I didn't take a photo of the chassis with the bodyshell off, but it has a very distinctive design with a horizontal motor in a squarish black plastic housing driving the wheels via a worm gear; there are two brass tabs on either side of the chassis plate, wired to the wheel pickups, which power the motor brush housings. Like the Minitrix dock tank, it has "fake" coupling rods which are actually only connected to the rear wheels. It's definitely not Minitrix, however.

I also have a chassis from a US-outline 0-6-0 diesel shunter which is definitely from the same manufacturer; it has a very similar design and identical motor setup. Both models had cracked, brittle plastic motor casings which prevented the motor from running reliably; I don't know if this is a manufacturing quality issue or due to the owner using the wrong lubricants (some can affect plastic in this way)

I got this as a non-runner in a cheap eBay lot a while ago (along with the US diesel shunter) and have now got it running quite reliably with some repairs to the motor casing, though it still needs more ballast. I may use it as a donor chassis for a scratchbuilt British industrial 0-6-0 if I can find a prototype with a similar wheelbase and outside cylinders (and with a cab big enough to fit the motor!).
Here are the photos:

[BernardTPM]

That's an early Atlas tank loco from the '60s or '70s. I've got two of these with 009 'Pugbash' bodies. Until recently I still had the old bodies in a box (not sure if I still have). I'm not 100% sure of the prototype, but it's definitely 'European' - would pass for German or Italian, etc.

[moogle]

I have one of these. Think its Prussian or East German, not sure.
Definitely a 1970's product.
I believe it came in cheap starter sets in various liveries, even U.S ones!

[EtchedPixels]

Not sure of the origin - I suspect Piko may be involved. I've seen them under the Atlas and Lifelike brands too.

[BernardTPM]

The Atlas brand models were produced by several manufacturers. Some were done by Rivarossi, but I think this one was by Roco. The diesel chassis was also used under their H0e diesel, still available, not sure how much the chassis has changed in the intervening 40 odd years though https://az95169.vo.msecnd.net/images/roco/33206.jpg

[E Pinniger]

Thanks for the info! The chassis of that Roco HOe diesel does look a lot like the old US shunter I have. Hopefully the motor + drive mechanism has improved a bit since then (especially the tendency of the motor housing to disintegrate)