3 Rail to 2 Rail conversion of Atlas O Passenger Cars

I have done this many times with many cars so far. It's not rewarding for me.  It's to the point where I look for only RTR!

I bought two sets of GGD NYC 21st Century LTD cars in three rail. I couldn't find any two rail. I stalled and stalled converting them. So far I've done about 4 cars? Each one I did a different way. I don't care what they look like when they don't perform good. The last one, I just used MTH trucks under it. They had electrical pickups and track better and roll easier than the others.

 I also install LED strips and power supplies in each car. Too bright but I listened to others here. I'd tape some off but the cars are a pain to go inside. Of course finger prints got on the windows inside when I rushed. I have many more cars to do and it feels like work. I did some of the Atlas horizons too. I hate flickering lights.

 I have to do several MTH cars as well. They draw too much juice. On one car that was done, the LED supply board blew on for not handling enough voltage. 

 So..... try and use the right stuff to make your job easier. If you like fiddling, it's not that bad. I have better things to do like building a layout.

I two railed several 3R Atlas CZ cars using 2R trucks sourced from Atlas.  I avoided pickups by utilizing the battery option for powering the interior lighting.

If you don't want use use the battery option for the lights, try GunRunnerJohn's lighting module. It eliminates the flicker but the best part is you can dial the brightness up or down.  

You might try NWSL for replacement wheel sets. Then add Kadees.

I have also converted several 3 rail CZ cars to 2 rail, just did the diner this past weekend.
You can do the truck swap if you can find Atlas 2 rail trucks and re-wire or do the NWSL wheelsets, but what I did was buy any CZ 2 rail car and swap the trucks and couplers with a 3 rail car, do the simple rewire, then re-sale the 3 rail car, I now have as 10 car CZ train with WP FP7A and B in power, but I am about to convert MTH powered B to 2 rail so I will have A-B-B all powered units to pull this train on my 2 level layout with 3+% grades.

Hope this helps! ncng

The new ones are gonna hit the market soon, my bet is you'll be able to find one in 2 rail. Also 3 rail cars don't come with cut bars or steam lines, the 2 rail do. 

As NCNG saiz -- I too took the easy way out by buying the 3 rail version of the car I wanted and a 2 rail car for trucks, etc.  Swapped components to get the 2 rail car I wanted and sold the resulting 3 rail car.  It worked out great.  Saved a lot of time.  Cost me the difference between buying a new car and selling the resulting 3 rail car as used/like new.  Close to the same cost of wheelsets and other stuff and maybe less than complete trucks and other stuff.  The  result is a car with 100% Atlas O parts -  identical to my other cars.  And to address Santiago's point I transferred the 2 rail more correct cut bars and steam lines in the bargain -- which may be available as spare parts from Atlas O.  But, I didn't have to hassle with it. 

Has anyone tried the opposite conversion - from 2 rail to 3 rail using a set of 3 rail Atlas California Zephyr trucks for the conversion?

I would suggest developing a "buddy system" with a few people whereby you trade trucks. I've done it several times and the only cost is the postage and a few days turnaround time. Atlas and Weaver are far and away the easiest.

Find someone and swap the entire chassis if you can and save the wiring troubles.  These cars still seem to be out there, such that buying a car for the appropriate number of rails is possible. You can always swap a shell for a specific car name.

https://ogrforum.com/...-for-new-atlas-stuff

ECI