Gd Morning Everyone
Just a simple question here, but I needed a solid answer. I’ve been expanding my rolling stock collection and have come upon some nice 2 Rail Box Cars, Reefers, etc. and I need to know what I’d need to do if I bought some to run on my 3 Rail layout. Thanks out there to anyone out there that chimes in at this hour of the night. - MARSHELANGELO
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You would need to change out the 2-Rail trucks to 3-Rail trucks with the couplers. I've done a lot of conversions of 3-Rail to 2-rail and I have an abundance of 3-Rail trucks. Perhaps we can work out a trade? My 3-Rail trucks for your 2-Rail trucks.
Depends what you are talking about.
one important difference is that 2 rail stock has electrical isolation between the two rails. For 3-rail use this can be ignored, because it’s irrelevant (except that operation of anything powered or triggered by isolated rails, may not operate)
2 rail rolling stock won’t generally cope with tubular track, from what I’ve seen of random pieces I’ve picked up, but copes with modern type track like Fastrack quite easily.
However the couplers don’t match. 2 rail stock generally has Kaydee type couplers which aren’t compatible with 3-rail types.
So if you want to run consists of 2-rail stock on 3-rail nickel-silver, Fastrack or Atlas type track you have the (fairly simple) problem of making “match cars” with the appropriate couplers for the outer ends of the consist.
Hey BrianHuang, I appreciate you chiming in at this hour. I wouldn’t mind swapping out except at this present time, I haven’t purchased any 2 Rail Rolling Stock Because I didn’t know how to convert them or what the process was. I’ve just finished buying 22 Gunderson Double Stack cars so I need to regroup. Mail deliveries are slow due to COVID-19 and some of the trains have still not arrived but I’ll keep you in mind when I start up again. Thanks for the info and I hope to speak with you again.
Greg, you are welcome! It's incredibly easy to go 3-rail from 2-Rail. Going from 3-Rail to 2-Rail is more involved as you have to worry about coupler height, bolster height, swapping wheel sets, wheel clearance, etc. Basically a whole bunch of stuff!
Rockershovel, I’ve seen the conversion of match cars on Rich Batista’s video “It’s All About The Trains”. I’m doing a similar adjustment to a brass caboose that I bought that came with no couplers at all. I want to put a Kadee coupler on one end for appearance sake and a knuckle coupler on the other end to work with my consist until I make a total Kadee conversion, if that should ever happen. But for now, I have more info to feed off of. Thanks - MARSHELANGELO.
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