Which, of our manufactures, make a fixed pilot, steam and diesel locomotive, with, or almost with, prototype detailing, lettering, markings, numbering and with 1:48 scale proportions?????
Thank you,
Ralph-RJL
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MTH has been making fixed pilot locos for a few years now... any item 20-XXXXX-2 has fixed pilots.
IF your track work is good, has flat-top rail (Atlas, Gargraves, MTH, FasTrack) and your curves broad enough (O-72 and larger,) you can use the scale-wheeled MTH diesels unmodified. You'll have to use Kadee-equipped rolling stock to connect to the locomotive -- a "trainsition car" -- to allow the user of a train full of three-rail equipment. Curve-replacement turnouts (i.e. O-72) may cause some problems with the scale wheels. MTH sells hi-rail wheelsets for their diesels which would allow you to use any 3-rail track with them subject to the curve restrictions, but turnouts would not be a problem.
Thank you Gentlemen for your consideration in replying to my question.
Ralph-RJL
I bought the MTH Legacy SD70ACe in SP colors in scale-wheeled, fixed-pilot version with the desire to install the hi-rail wheels. I using past-tense for a reason...the model came through with some quality defects that disappointed and I traded it back to my LHS for the ABBA N-S F7 Restoration model. So I never did get to convert the wheel sets, but I did get a chance to run it on my layout.
I have all Ross track with the minimum curves of O-88. The wheels held the track okay, but derailed in the switches due to the oversized hi-rail frogs. In other words, without modifying all the switches by instally a shim in the bottom of the frog to keep the wheels from falling in and then going in a different direction, it really DIDN'T WORK very well on hi-rail track in my experience.
Do the 3rd rail 3-rail diesels come with fixed pilots? If not, can a fixed pilot be ordered when ordering an engine? I just finalized my order for the 2nd run E7 and I hope I can get it with a fixed pilot.
I emailed Scott and already have the answer:
The pilots are fixed. They screw directly into the underframe. There is a large hole in the pilot for the coupler to move within. Also, you can remove the front coupler and replace the pilot with a closed version, supplied.
Scott Mann
That's good news!
