Details & why 2 rail

I appreciate the posts made so far. I always liked this when I found it. So I'll share for anyone who does not know.

What do you find interesting or offensive in this pic???


Any better now?:


Ok, here it is for me:


That's a KD G scale coupler that's connected to a O scale electrocoupler. I'm still rambling. I just always found this size comparison interesting. No wonder Tom Z can pull so many cars!

Jim P, I would be happy to have a 3 rail layout that detailed! Like Norm's, Drew's, etc. I still prefer 2 rail and find it fascinating that you dabble in both! Joe

The single most offensive thing to me in that picture is the obscenely huge MTH pilot gap. Not even the coupler takes my attention away like that hideous meandering crevasse of engineering laziness. Their 2 rail fixed pilot versions are much nicer but the 3 rail versions are so bad that I'll never own a second one.

Well Joe for me it's two locomotives that were never together in the prototype so they look strange joined up as models.

Bob

Would you consider doing this?

Yeah, I said I would not post unless they were complete. My bad.
I do a lot of things that aren't prototypical. I'll hook up any two engines that are spares. I uses to have my NS dash8 to help the Challenger. Now I have a second one so they're connected.
I like to hear each poster's opinions. I learn each time. Some times it does not effect my decisions as much on my RR! Joe

At some point I need to do that to my lone MTH engine. Fixing that pilot is a huge improvement. Unfortunately when your entire layout is an 8 feet long switching layout running a realistic looking modern diesel isn't a high priority! Realistically if I buy another MTH engine I'll get the fixed pilot version. My track work can run any wheel type anyways.

BOB, Gargraves makes a 2 rail track.  I think it's similar to their 3 rail track just without the 3rd rail.  It just might work for what you are trying to do.

 

Not sure what you can do about switches.

 

Rick

I have been two rail since switching to O a bit less than a decade ago and only because Atlas was producig such high quality cars that made me feel i had a great model in my hands. I have been so mixed with emotion over buying MTH as I waited on Atlas's 8-40CW's which still haven't hit our shores in 2 years. Last week I purchased a MTH unpowered UP unit of this MTH model and it wasn't quite what I thought I was going to recieve as the picture showed as scale unit with a fixed pilot. I am comnig to the realization that Atlas isn't going to import this model as MTH has it all covered. I have asked MTh if they had a fixed pilot model with motor problems as I wanted 2 rail fixed and I would exchange for it. Haven't heard back yet. If they can't deliver then Iwill have to get used to the idea of a sliding pilot but i will use it in the second or third position and the notice of the pilot may go unnoticed, a fact  which will make owning it more comfortable. Now all I need is scale wheels and couplers. i think I saw that MTH provides the scale wheels with the powered units and wish they did also with the unpowered.

I must say I do like some of the layouts I have seen in 3 rail as many are using Atlas cars that are highly detailed. I can appreciate now the 3 rail crowd as space is a very limiting factor in O guage/scale and many can achieve a nice layout using the guage track. So to engineer Joe, I think 3 rail is just fine as you might stay with the better detailed cars and engines. If I had space constraints I'd definitly go with 3 rail. 

Thanks Rick

 

Funny, but the one thing I find intriguing about 2-rail is the "thrill" of trying to build a turnout .  I don't know how easy it would be to build one using Gargraves rail though.

 

I pulled the center rail out of a scrap piece of GG flex track last night to see how it looked.  It didn't look bad, but it seemed flimsy, like the other 2 rails weren't quite held in place tight enough (might be a good thing).

I have three of the MTH Scale-wheeled C40-8W's (Protosound 2) in ATSF (they have the "gull wing cabs, too) and they run nicely on the club layout. They'll run under the following track sources:

• AC Conventional -- 2-rail or 3-rail
• DC Conventional -- 2-rail or 3-rail
• AC powered DCS -- 2-rail or 3-rail
• DC powered DCS -- 2-rail or 3-rail

Note: There is a polarity issue with Protosound 2 that only allows the signal to be picked up from the hot rail. However, a 2-rail layout wired like a conventional DC layout using relays to switch polarity will operate the locomotives under DCS without losing command signal.

 

The newer releases with Proto-3 also run under all of the above, plus DCC compatibility (and seem to do that well), plus have none of the polarity issues that were present under Protosound 2.

 

By the way, MTH released the C44-9W's in Protosound 3 in ATSF, CNW and two other roads.

 Please Matt, stop showing those Warbonnets. I have a problem. I want to acquire everything I see! (I've got some CNWs).

I know how you feel. Right before the ATSF C40-8w's arrived, MTH listed the C44-9w's in ATSF and CNW in their catalog. I came very close to ordering the Santa Fe's but I had so much on order I didn't want to take things too far.

 What is too far?????????????????

When you are selling the children for medical experimentation to pay for your train habit bills.

 Nope, no kids

(good one though)

I wish someone would of told me this sooner......

 

Chris