2 rail?

Joe    I cant answer your question but Iv'e had the same sort of questions from the catalogue and have resisted ordering because it wasn't clear

Stephen from Down Under     (cTr...Choose the Right) 

Joe (and Stephen),

Just stumbled across this..I would have responded sooner if I had seen it on the 2 rail forum.  At any rate, here is your answer

MTH differeniates its diesels by the designatation "Scale Wheels" (primarily for 2 rail operation) or "High Rail Wheels" (primarily for 3 rail operation)   If MTH makes a Scale Wheel version it will come with fixed pilots and kadee coupler boxes 

Not all their diesels are offered with scale wheels.  Most of their 2 rail diesels are six axle diesels, but there are a few four axle diesels that are also offered in 2 rail.  Notably those with newer truck designs.

The way you tell if it is a scale wheel version is by the suffix on the part number.  It is formatted as a "dash" character and then a number 

-1 means three rail, swinging pilot, "lobster claws"

-2 means two rail, fixed pilot, kadee mount

-3 means three rail, swinging pilot, "lobster claws", unpowered

So if you want a PRR F7 Diesel ABA set, 20-20190-2 is a 2 rail unit, whereas 20-20290-01 is a three rail set.

Incdentally, the "20" prefix denotes Premier Line. For their other stuff: "10" denotes Tinplate,  "30" denotes Railking,  "40" denotes a power supply or control system,  "70" denotes large Scale, "80" denotes HO.  Knowing that has saved me from erroneous sellers on eBay

One last thing, I have never seen an MTH "set", meaning an engine and a few cars, OF AN AMERICAN PROTOTYPE, come in 2 rail.  This can change of course. But it would be a first. 

Hope all this helps

http://mthtrains.com/content/20-2986-2

John, thanks but I did know about the -2 info.

 What I don't know is if the car in this set will have KDs? Also, some how things get twisted. Someone at MTH is quoted as saying "All new premier diesels will be available as 2 rail" ???

I was at the York DCS meeting.Andy made it clear all Premier locomotives are all 3/2 rail with either scale or hirail wheel sets.Locomotives with scale wheels will have fixed pilots.All Premier engines are now equipped with PS3.That means they are fully compatible with DCS,DCC and Motorola based(Marklin)command systems.

 Thanks Guys. I guess I was just wishing into hearing that All would be available in scale. " If it has scale wheels" is how it has been.