Converting Lionel locos to 2r

If you rip out the TMCC it will fectch a nice price on eBay.  The rest I cant say much about.

Thanks Ken...thats plan b if I dont find a creative use for them. I am running conventional DC @2rail and lionel guts dont really fit in the plan...  good thing I was really good at the game "Operation" as a kid...  and my mom said I would never use that skill..  hah....  

Grant,

It should be possible to install insulated scale wheels on the Lionel axles and then insulate the trucks from the frame or install pickup wipers to allow the models to operate on 2 rail.  Kadee couplers can be attached with adapters made to fit the specific model.  Pilots can usually be attached to the frame.  I have converted more three rail engines to 2 rail than I care to count.  However, being primarily a steam/first generation modeler, I don't even know what a Sd90c looks like.  There is at least one modern model produced by Lionel or MTH that has such beautiful detail on the trucks (brake rigging and piping) that they will not swing clear of the pilot steps once the pilots are attached to the engine frame instead of to the trucks.  The choice or converting this was to either remove the detail on the front end of each truck or leave the pilots on the trucks.  Customer opted to have the pilots left on the trucks.

NWSL sells wheels that can be modified and insulated to fit the Lionel axles.  You will need a decent lathe or a friend with one to modify the wheels to fit the Lionel axles.

As someone above said, the electronics have a good value so if you remove them be careful with the components and do not cut any more wires than you have to.

Best regards,

Joe Foehrkolb

 I had a post on here about how bad the truck design is. I wouldn't do another one myself. The trucks pivot in such a way that they derail themselves. The TMCC control is very poor and the locos lurch. I have an Atlas 2 rail switcher w/ TMCC that's better.

 Making them dummies alone, is very expensive and in my opinion, not worth the effort. I have one that is already two railed. So, making it a dummy would be easy.

https://ogrforum.com/d...nt/11285375712462967

On the title question:  i have converted prewar Hudsons, a prewar B6, and am in the middle of a recent scale FEF.  I would not invest much time in a non- scale body, but the scale models are worthwhile.  The B6 is the most difficult, because of the gearing setup. Diesels are really easy - find scale trucks and swap.  Weaver or Atlas at one point would sell a pair of trucks ready to go for under a hundred bucks.  In the olden days folks just used All Nation.  Nothing says you cannot use TMCC on 2-rail track, but I agree - eBay it.

I believe the Lionmaster line from Lionel is semi-scale or not true 1:48.  Its much like Rail-King from MTH.  Its a lower price point, sacrifices details and scale fidelity.  MTH however has come up with a middle line called Rail-King Scale, its scale dimensions but sacrifices detail for lower price point.  Conversion is possible but it may not make sense if you are looking to do true o scale.  

I'm always intrested in TMCC electronics and guts because I do repair and upgrades for customers

if you gut them out my email is in my profile