Atlas O CSX ES44 2-rail, just got them!

Those look great Rich! I ordered a 2 rail Montana Rail Link SD70ACe which should be in soon and I'm excited for that.

Rich, those are very nice! I just rec’d one of the new 2-rail UP ES44s and it is just awesome. Those CSX units look great.  Atlas has done a great job!

So are these Atlas 2 rail locos able to be "3 rail scaled"? Like MTH used to do......Add the pickup rollers, flip the switch to DCS , and change out the scale wheels for hi rail wheels? MTH used to include the pickup rollers. Does Atlas include the pickup rollers? Rich, your CSX loco looks amazing. What's the best price out there?

@jini5 posted:

So are these Atlas 2 rail locos able to be "3 rail scaled"? Like MTH used to do......Add the pickup rollers, flip the switch to DCS , and change out the scale wheels for hi rail wheels? MTH used to include the pickup rollers. Does Atlas include the pickup rollers? Rich, your CSX loco looks amazing. What's the best price out there?

Yes these are able to be converted as you asked, and they do come with the 4 rollers.

@Jeff78rr posted:

Yes these are able to be converted as you asked, and they do come with the 4 rollers.

Thanks for the reply Jeff. Think anyone has them in stock?

2 rail versions are likely pretty scarce. I ordered mine from Mr. Muffins so you might try checking with him. Good luck!

@Jeff78rr posted:

Yes these are able to be converted as you asked, and they do come with the 4 rollers.

Great !!!  
Not that long ago I urged them to offer their U-boat offering like this. Crickets. Perhaps I was to late in the process. They lost My sale and Others. You pix that show the closed pilot is a big deal. I’ve two 2 to 3 rail converted, swapped to high rail wheels, closed pilot models from the past that are drop dead gorgeous.  Now I will be Very Closely watching offerings to see if this 2 to 3 rail is offered.
Exciting Development !!!

Cheers 😉

jini5,

    If you didn't preorder, they will be very difficult to find.  Mine were preordered. The only way Mr. Muffins will have them is if someone canceled their order.  You could ask Mr.Muffins, or PublicDeliveryTrack to see if they have them or maybe Atlas has some extras.  Your best bet is to watch for one to pop up on ebay.

Rich

Rich, it's neat to see your 2-rail layout coming along. I'd love to see the track plan if you have it done.

Caboose Stop Hobbies had them in stock this past week.

@Paul Kallus posted:

Rich, it's neat to see your 2-rail layout coming along. I'd love to see the track plan if you have it done.

Paul,

   Here is the SCARM layout.  Its a little rough since I added the benchwork underneath.  The track and bridges that you see will be built as shown.  The rest of the landscape is TBD.   It may or may not have these features.  I will know more once I have the track and trains running.  I'll have to see what it "feels" like.  I'll probably mock up some scenery to see what works.  Adding the benchwork to the layout plan was key to quickly and efficiently see and build the benchwork.  I can remove everything except the benchwork and display in 3D as I'm building.  I should probably just start a layout thread.

Rich,

Great to see the progress you’re making. I loved your old layout, and I am looking forward to seeing the new one evolve.

Quick question if I may. In looking at the layout plan, the upper and lower loops look independent of the middle main. Are there connections I don’t see, or is this intentional?

And yes, maybe you should change the title of this thread to “new layout”.  I am sure many, like I, are eager to see your progress.

Thanks.

Yes, not to get off topic, but if you could do even just one video or detailed thread giving an update on the layout I know many of us would really enjoy that. Doesn't have to be weekly...

Carl,

    The upper or very top loop is completely isolated and independent and will be for my 3rail trains (mostly Lionel).  I will use Micromark 2rail track and attempt to lay down an HO center rail.  I plan to run 2 or 3 rail on top.  I'm using Micromark and not Atlas like the rest of the layout because there is slightly more clearance and just enough to clear the 3rail flanges.  The flanges barely hit the rail spikes on the atlas track.  All other track will be Atlas 2-rail since it flexes very easily unlike Micromark.

The bottom is connected to the middle (in red) via a 2% grade as you see from my CSX photo and video with the trains climbing the grade.  The bottom of the grade is at the WYE but its messy there, I was working on something on this version.

Rich

Very nice, and thanks for sharing again Rich!

I said no more trains..... then I ordered a 2 rail SP SD45.

If you are going to the Chicago meet this coming weekend I think it likely one or more vendors will have them available.

@Rich Battista posted:

Carl,

    The upper or very top loop is completely isolated and independent and will be for my 3rail trains (mostly Lionel).  I will use Micromark 2rail track and attempt to lay down an HO center rail.  I plan to run 2 or 3 rail on top.  I'm using Micromark and not Atlas like the rest of the layout because there is slightly more clearance and just enough to clear the 3rail flanges.  The flanges barely hit the rail spikes on the atlas track.  All other track will be Atlas 2-rail since it flexes very easily unlike Micromark.

The bottom is connected to the middle (in red) via a 2% grade as you see from my CSX photo and video with the trains climbing the grade.  The bottom of the grade is at the WYE but its messy there, I was working on something on this version.

Rich

Hey Rich,

Thanks for the info - both on the plans and the track type you are using.

@jini5 posted:

Thanks for the reply Jeff. Think anyone has them in stock?

I'm trying to track down an MRL SD70ACe in 2-rail as, well.

Good to hear from you again Rich. Now that the house is getting together I'm putting the finishing touches on a few layout designs for the third bay of the garage. Going to use ScaleTrax since I have some older 3-rail equipment, but the layout will be wired to switch between 2-rail and 3-rail and DCS or DCC.

I am glad Atlas is offering 2 rail because I am tired of converting 3 rail to 2 rail.

Tangential question:  Did Atlas also get the tooling for the AC4400?

@rdunniii posted:

Tangential question:  Did Atlas also get the tooling for the AC4400?

Here is the link from MTH on what models Atlas purchased the tooling for:

https://mthtrains.com/news/686

Scott

I hope Atlas will offer more 2 rail.

@Scott Kay posted:

Here is the link from MTH on what models Atlas purchased the tooling for:

https://mthtrains.com/news/686

Scott

The link to the list is no longer active.

@rdunniii The link worked for me, I clicked on it in your response above and the page below came up.

@Scott Kay posted:

@rdunniii The link worked for me, I clicked on it in your response above and the page below came up.

That page does show up, but there is no list there.  It's where it says click here for more info that does not work.

@rdunniii posted:

Tangential question:  Did Atlas also get the tooling for the AC4400?

The answer to that question is unfortunately no. MTH still retains that tooling and has announced another run but we haven't seen them yet. They were not offered in 2-rail in the most recent run.

MTH Announcement: https://www.mthtrains.com/news/772

Forum Members arguing for 2-rail units: https://ogrforum.com/...ocomotives-announced

The link I provided has the list further down on that same page.  Just scroll down a bit (note the position of the scroll bar in screenshot below).

Scott

@bigboy25 posted:

The answer to that question is unfortunately no. MTH still retains that tooling and has announced another run but we haven't seen them yet. They were not offered in 2-rail in the most recent run.

MTH Announcement: https://www.mthtrains.com/news/772

Forum Members arguing for 2-rail units: https://ogrforum.com/...ocomotives-announced

Oh Well, money saved, I guess.  I've already tried the 2-rail argument route and was told an authorized dealer would have to sign up for the entire run of 2-rail and no dealer I communicated with was willing even if I was willing to purchase 1/3-1/2 of the run up front.

Just got an e-mail from a dealer who was searching on my behalf. I have an MRL Essential Workers SD70ACe on the way.. Since BNSF just acquired MRL, it will be appropriately run with my pair of BNSF SD70ACe's. Can hardly wait.

Slightly different slant on this topic.... I've often been intrigued by the possibility of manufacturers like Atlas / MTH offering their scale length/premier locomotives with fixed pilots only vs the traditional pilot.  As most of these locomotives have semi-scale or traditional O Scale counterparts.  With such a fractured scale already between different control systems, 2R or 3RS and the traditional 3R (just to name a few) can the manufacturers take a stab at unifying parts of the scale starting with the pilots/couplers.  Every scale goes through this and there is obviously some pain in the short term, but with a new crowd coming into O Scale, might be the right time to start a unification process.   

So many modelers in 2R and 3RS fix their pilots anyway if they can't find a 2R fixed pilot locomotive, they will shim the pilot, or try a 3d printed pilot. Then typically come the Kadee couplers.  How many times have there been requests to make more fixed pilots, and scale wheel conversions as spare parts?   Always don't seem to be enough to go around.   

While I am not saying only produce what 2R modelers want and the way they want it, I am saying there might be data out there that suggests an opportunity to improve the experience for both manufacturers and modelers in such a way that helps with the next wave of growth for O scale.

I agree wtih ^^Mike.  I know this thread is about modern freight power.  But I always thought that it was ridiculous to sell an ABA set of E- or F-units where BOTH A-units had a swinging, truck-mounted pilot with no easy provision to fix it to the body in prototypical fashion.  The swinging pilot (and requisite gap) really detracts from the appearance.  And who switches with the front of a carbody unit??  Mass customization was a thing when I was working on my Master's 20+ years ago.  It can't be that hard!

Any one else notice the marking below the cab windows says "ES-40DC"?  My 3-rail CSX does, but I sent it back for a mechnical issue (front truck wheels would not spin until engine got to about 25 scale mph.

@prr4935 posted:

Any one else notice the marking below the cab windows says "ES-40DC"?  My 3-rail CSX does, but I sent it back for a mechnical issue (front truck wheels would not spin until engine got to about 25 scale mph.

Chris, I know NS and CSX had some original GEVO's with DC traction motors and were derated to only 4000 HP.  IIRC in the early 2000's but don't quote me on that.  Otherwise, similar to their ES44AC/DC counterparts.  Seems like CSX locomotives numbered in the 5200-5501 range are those such units.  So the two recent Atlas releases with road numbers of 5327 and 5500 fall into that range and explains why Atlas applied the ES40DC lettering below the cab windows per the prototype.   I can't say how closely the other spotting features also match the prototype, but they are definitely awesome locomotives.  Atlas also did a great job varying the paint schemes on these locomotives.

Not my usual forum (I'm a 3 railer) but these look awesome! I'll be on the lookout at York.

@Stinky1 posted:

Not my usual forum (I'm a 3 railer) but these look awesome! I'll be on the lookout at York.

I'm more or less living in both worlds as a hard-core 3RS guy. Where possible, I only buy MTH locomotives with scale wheels and purchase 2-rail cars, but I run them on 3-rail "flat-top" track. Here's the one I referenced in my earlier post. One nice addition is that Atlas includes the couplers with their 2-rail locomotives. However, I'm going to change them out for Kadee 743's. FYI, the axle cover plates are still stamped "MTH" but Atlas is pad-printed over them. I'm certain this won't be my last MTH-by-Atlas locomotive.

Here it is on the test bench in 2-rail mode.

Here it is on the club layout in 3-rail mode.