... at least not too much, for his dismissive attitude toward 3RS which is under discussion elsewhere on this board. He’s misinformed, probably by what he sees here. I myself have been watching with no comment but much amazement as what was a straightforward concept has been become confused and cluttered with diversions into established model railroading practices that are utterly irrelevant here.
First principles matter, and the fact is that the O Scale Trains publisher’s comments show that like very many 3RS Forum participants, he either is unaware of or has forgotten what the first principles of 3RS were intended to be. They don’t get the simple, equipment specific original intent of 3RS. I can say this with some authority since, for better or worse, I coined the phrase (so blame me) a few years back to describe the methodology I applied to a project for Pete Kruimer. It involved the extensive remodeling of well-made, highly detailed cars that unfortunately had been – in our opinion – very poorly configured by their manufacturer.
Without belaboring this tale which was documented on the 3 Rail Forum before this one existed, Pete really liked his newly reconfigured train and asked me how to describe the result. I suggested 3RS for 3 Rail Scale (pretentious of me, I know), since my goal had been to remake these cars as close to scale models of the real equipment as could reasonably be done by any moderately skilled hobbyist. It had nothing to do with the quality of the layout (track, landscaping, structures, etc.) on which the train was intended to run. Perhaps this is because I see myself more as a railroad modeler than a model railroader. In other words, I was and am more concerned with creating accurate 3 rail equipment models (3RS) than I am with building a beautifully landscaped and detailed 3 rail model railroad (HiRail). In any case, 3RS as originally conceived and subsequently offered for consideration here involved only the trains themselves. It was not intended to be HiRail or HiRail-on-steroids but, thanks to the unfortunate leavening effects of the Forum, that is largely what it has become.
My opinion is that 3RS is all about the 3rd rail of 3 rail discourse: standards. It ought to become a set of modeling standards that ultimately specifies certain practices such as fixed pilots, maximum coupling distances, scale coupler compatibility, correct ride heights, and others that generally have not been widely followed by the various 3 rail importers on even their best products, although there are now encouraging signs that this is changing. The goal should be to maximize the realism of certain 3 rail model trains while minimizing the effects of the engineering concessions required for 3 rail operation. Simple stuff. Any hobbyist who wants to develop and/or apply the skills and effort required ought to try, as should any importer or/manufacturer who wants to satisfy the desires of the admittedly small market segment that desires more realistic 3 rail trains.
As Pete once noted on this Forum, “3RS, of course, will evolve as a concept and, if it lasts, as a practice, and if this Forum is any indication it will go places we never envisioned. That’s fine if that’s where the majority of participants want it to go. But if it’s allowed to become an ersatz substitute for HiRail, it will just fade away.” I agree.
- Mike
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