The Alan Herschell Co. was at one time one of the largest builders of amusement rides in the United States. Their forte was carousels, but they built other rides as well. In the the late 1940's they acquired the Miniature Train Co. They offered a line of 12" and 16" trains with locomotives built from plans furnished by EMD. Herschel later offered steam outline trains using many of the same drive components used in the diesel outline equipment. There is more info available over on the Park Trains Site.