Custom 2 Rail Locomotives! Tales From Harmon Shops

What's this? 2 rails???? Do tell.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

What's this? 2 rails???? Do tell.

Branching out buddy!……as my buddy Mario would attest to, we’re 2 rail guys trapped in a 3 railer’s body!…….this gives me a chance to scratch the itch, while providing the 2 rail scale community some rugged, well built machines…..oh & I’ll add,….naturally Pittman powered of course!….

Pat

Pat your “Tales from Harmon Shops” threads are always one that I follow….. no matter what the engine is. I personally enjoy watching your craftsmanship and the transformation these engines make. We all pick up pieces of knowledge along the way. Keep the threads coming 2 or 3 rail is immaterial to the overall enjoyment.

I'll second Rich.  I'm always interested in what you're up to even if I have no real need for a 2 rail locomotive. (looks sharp though)

Fellas, …thanks!!……I’ll still be building on the 3 rail traditional page, and even branching over to the 3 rail scale page too!….we’ll be all over the map, ….touching upon all the great things O scale/gauge has to offer!…

Pat

@Rich Wiemann is right. I learn a ton from the Tales posts and I enjoy them. I don't have any two rail stuff but I'll be watching any related posts closely.

Harmonyards, Beautiful piece of art. I'll take one. Dave

I am always interested in your builds Pat but as you know I like the 2 rail stuff. I am not in the market to buy anything right now with the Sunset H10 on the horizon but you never know. Maybe down the road some day. So keep the 2 rail stuff coming!

@harmonyards posted:

Branching out buddy!……as my buddy Mario would attest to, we’re 2 rail guys trapped in a 3 railer’s body!…….this gives me a chance to scratch the itch, while providing the 2 rail scale community some rugged, well built machines…..oh & I’ll add,….naturally Pittman powered of course!….

Pat

I always see these KTM models come up which are absolutely beautiful, and probably one of the most detailed engines too boot. I'm guessing that is why their price is usually out of the park close to or over number 1 gauge models. This is going to be one of those builds isn't it Pat? Are you sure you don't want to add three rail pickup rollers? Just kidding. It's going to be great, that much I know off the plate.

Pat,

There you go letting the secret out that the USH and WSM chassis are probably the  best ever made.   Now I’m gonna have to pay more for this stuff😉.

Seems like a good idea overall.  

Sent you a private email regarding possible Lionel conversion.

Rob

Hey Pat even though I'm a small radius 3-railer put me down as a follower.  I love seeing what true craftsmen can do.

Thanks so much fellas, …..I don’t think adding 3rd rail pickups is a good idea on this thread Dave!…….

once the other build is a little further along in mock up I’ll post up some pictures of the process,….amazing how very close in size to scale MTH made their stuff!….it’s like KTM chassis were a second option!…..

Pat

yes, very cool.

I’m in the same camp as Coach Joe!  I don’t have the room to run 2-rail, but always enjoy quality modeling!!

You bet; your initial post already has double digit "likes", so there's obviously interest here.

Perhaps when we get around to doing that Williams PRR E6 we discussed (no rush) you can post it here as well...🙂

Mark in Oregon

I'm makin' the popcorn.........

Add me to the list of followers. Your attention to detail is second to none Pat.

Bob

Nice work Pat!  For a while I thought that I was "a 2-railer trapped in a 3-railer's body."  Then the reality hit that I'll never have the room to build something epic, even in hi-rail much less 2-rail O scale.  Keep fighting the good fight!  If people aren't aware of what's out there, they won't aspire to it!

I have the third rail pickup made by Lionel. It should be in the "Seen at York" in the next issue of T.C.A. Quarterly the photographer said. He said he had never seen one. I got it many years ago(35-45 years.)   He has already had pictures of "operating T Rail Track sections that I have that I was told were made by Lionel Craftsmen for the New York Showroom- never in catalog .

I was able to get close enough to the real work to capture this image: …….no fancy overhead cranes inside the shop like the boys at West Albany have …..here at Harmon, it’s outside, regardless of the weather………I believe that’s the second 2 rail Hudson them fellers are pounding on opposite the crane!…

Pat

@harmonyards Who's in charge of the rigging on that crane? I got concerns haha

@BillYo414 posted:

@harmonyards Who's in charge of the rigging on that crane? I got concerns haha

They gettin’ it done ain’t they? ……😝

Pat

As long as nobody gets hurt OSHA doesn't need to know.

@naresar posted:

As long as nobody gets hurt OSHA doesn't need to know.

See the dude with the pipe? …..he took care of the OSHA man,……

Pat

What would you charge for a 2R version of the J3 for example? This sounds like it could be up my alley.

2 rails or 3, there's nothing I can say that would do justice to your craftsmanship, Pat, so I'll not say anything else.

- Mike

@jonnyspeed posted:

What would you charge for a 2R version of the J3 for example? This sounds like it could be up my alley.

Get a hold of me via profile for details …..

Pat

I was only joking about the pickup rollers Pat. I know better. The two rail guys get their fun in too.

@harmonyards posted:

See the dude with the pipe? …..he took care of the OSHA man,……

Pat

I think you're in the clear Pat. Hard hats weren't in use until the early 30's on the Hoover Dam, and OSHA was started in 1971.

Let the crew pound away.......

Nice to see you don't work alone.....Like Willy Wonka......

Bob

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

I was only joking about the pickup rollers Pat. I know better. The two rail guys get their fun in too.

I know you was buddy!

Pat

Question on the details Pat(we may have talked before on this), KTM versus 3rd Rail? Is this a split because they both have pros and cons? Or does KTM cross the finish line ahead overall in all categories?

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Question on the details Pat(we may have talked before on this), KTM versus 3rd Rail? Is this a split because they both have pros and cons? Or does KTM cross the finish line ahead overall in all categories?

That’s a good question!!…..I’ll share my POV, others are free to join in the discussion…..KTM ( Katsumi ) were Japanese built, …..IMO, they’re tanks ……they surrender just a touch of detail to the Koreans, but where the KTM’s shine is rugged durability,……KTM brass is still light years ahead of diecast, …..right??….cab walls are thinner, rivet detail is crisper, etc, etc, …..I was told by a 2 rail buddy many years ago, to look at the cab wall thickness of a die cast steamer ….the walls are so thick, in scale they’re thicker than battleship armor,……So, it’s in the eye of the beholder IMO, ….I’ve gone almost exclusively to building my own brass 3 rail models,……for a couple of us, it’s the next frontier in 3 rail model building,……lastly, as far as detail, companies like 3rd Rail, Kohs, Overland, etc, have an edge over a KTM, ….but not by much!!….and they don’t have the durability the KTM stuff have …..that’s for sure!…

Pat

Pat,

Talk about throwing gasoline on the fire!  Now you are are just underscoring even more how good the KTM stuff is. Now adding to my KTM collection is going to cost me even more.  Thank you very little, buddy!  Just kidding.

i agree with everything that Pat has said.  I would add that KTM Westside stuff from Japan is both perdurable and beautiful in detail, equal to if not more so than Sunset.  The ultimate are the Crown KTM pieces which are super detailed and come with ball bearing gearboxes and journals.  Also super rare.

Now Pat, what about my Lionel mogul conversion to 2-rail....?

@swrr posted:

Pat,

Talk about throwing gasoline on the fire!  Now you are are just underscoring even more how good the KTM stuff is. Now adding to my KTM collection is going to cost me even more.  Thank you very little, buddy!  Just kidding.

i agree with everything that Pat has said.  I would add that KTM Westside stuff from Japan is both perdurable and beautiful in detail, equal to if not more so than Sunset.  The ultimate are the Crown KTM pieces which are super detailed and come with ball bearing gearboxes and journals.  Also super rare.

Now Pat, what about my Lionel mogul conversion to 2-rail....?

Yep, ….we can do it,….I’m gearing up for the next career in custom locomotives ( if y’all haven’t already noticed ) ….materials, tools, machines, you name it!…..this is my newest best friend, …..I finally evicted the Chinese lathe I had in the RR shop for this beauty!….that’s a 1936 South Bend 9” …..10 X better then the Chinese machine could ever hope to be!….

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Yep, ….we can do it,….I’m gearing up for the next career in custom locomotives ( if y’all haven’t already noticed ) ….materials, tools, machines, you name it!…..this is my newest best friend, …..I finally evicted the Chinese lathe I had in the RR shop for this beauty!….that’s a 1936 South Bend 9” …..10 X better then the Chinese machine could ever hope to be!….

Pat

WOW! Now that's something you don't see everyday. Looks in great shape for the age too.

Bob

These are the kind of results I like to see!….I’m not evening trying hard yet!….scale pilot truck axles are made form blank stock, …..rod bolt detail looks more like a crank pin instead of a bolt,…..

Pat

Pat,

That Southbend 9 looks great.  I purchased a 1927 SB 9c,  a few months ago, but I have not had a chance to do much with it.  Been pretty busy at work lately.

Mine is stock gray, needs new paint and is about the same size. Your red one will show dirt better therefore easier to keep clean.  I am really impressed with the quality of the machining from the stock tool post.  Thought upgrading to a quick release type.  Based on what I’m seeing the stock tool post should be fine.This is really encouraging!

Rob

@swrr posted:

Pat,

That Southbend 9 looks great.  I purchased a 1927 SB 9c,  a few months ago, but I have not had a chance to do much with it.  Been pretty busy at work lately.

Mine is stock gray, needs new paint and is about the same size. Your red one will show dirt better therefore easier to keep clean.  I am really impressed with the quality of the machining from the stock tool post.  Thought upgrading to a quick release type.  Based on what I’m seeing the stock tool post should be fine.This is really encouraging!

Rob

Rob, that picture is when I first stuck the lathe in its new home ….I did use the stock lantern tool post for a job or two, but I had an Aloris type quick change on the way, along with a new 3 jaw 5” chuck …..the new tool post is a must have ….way more versatile…..the old lantern type is just too limiting in its usage ……

Pat

Near the end of mock up, and we have a fine model,…..no. 2 gets a 12 wheel tender, …I thought 2 railing the tender would be the simple task, and I ate my words,….even with having the KTM 2 rail tender trucks!!….every machine owned employed to make this look & sit correctly,……..note the add-on parts to make this J1e shell become a J3, ….with proper Elesco feedwater, and the necessary plumbing. Also note the locomotive cab deck to tender deck alignment, ….this is also spot on!…..and of course, what Harmon build isn’t complete without the trusty Pittman!….

Pat

Nice.....but that doesn't even touch the surface of how awesome this build is.