DCS 3-2 Conversion for Steam

Sure, the PS32 steam kit is pretty much exactly like the PS/2 steam conversion, basically the same wiring.  You obviously dispense with the battery... 

Thanks for the info. About how much does a conversion kit cost and can the steam engine be converted back to 3 rail?

Well, the electronics is the same, I don't know about converting the mechanics, I've truthfully never done that.  I've done some PS/2 installations for 2-rail, but they started out as 2-rail.

Thanks John,

There were a few MTH steam engines I would consider purchasing in the future and since I like both 3 rail and 2 rail the 3/2 conversion kit would be best route to go. Definitely beats the price of 2 rail only brass steam. Thanks for all of the information.

Oh, all the kits are 2-rail or 3-rail compatible, didn't understand what you were saying.  PS/3 kits don't have polarity issues with the DCS, so you just install them.  I was thinking of the mechanical issues involved in converting between 2-rail and 3-rail for a specific locomotive.

Just to be clear a ps-32 kit is not a 3 rail 2 rail conversion kit.  Mth makes the engines 2 rail capable from the factory.  They do have scale wheels kits for diesel that are made 2 rail 3 rail capable.  They do not make a kit to convert a 3 rail engine to 2 rail and vice versa.  The electronics dont care where the input power comes from.  They did care which wire had the dcs signal until ps-3 came along.  G

Joe:

A few words of caution.

If you're planning on using an MTH steam locomotive on scale track and turnouts, you want one with scale wheels. This introduces a curve restriction based on the number of drivers, driver size, and driver wheelbase. The steam locomotives with hi-rail wheels will all negotiate 36" radius (O-72) curves and hi-rail turnouts, but the scale-wheel locomotives may have issues with 36" radius (O-72) not being large enough. I have two MTH Proto-3 steam engines with scale wheels -- a Santa Fe Blue Goose 4-6-4 Hudson and a UP 4014 Big Boy. Both will negotiate 36" radius (O-72) but are VERY sensitive to uneven track and kinks in curves. The Big Boy gets away with sharp curves due to short wheelbase on the driver sets and the small diameter of the drivers, plus the locomotive is essentially a 3-rail locomotive with scale wheels so the pilot, driver articulation and trailing trucks have sufficient swing. Don't try this with a Northern or other locomotive with a larger driver wheelbase, but a Mikado SHOULD work (test one first). Needless to say, an ATSF Texas with scale wheels isn't going to get anywhere near 36" radius (O-72) curves

I had the Mikado 3/2 with scale wheels, and it didn't handle O72 Fastrack curves at all.  It was happy on Atlas O72 curves.  I sold it, I have Fastrack.