Going 2 rail

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy it as much as I.

I have always enjoyed my 3 rail stuff, having grown up with Lionel.  Have run HO as well till my eyesight started to go south.  I have G outdoors and overhead, built when I could afford it a few years ago.  O scale isnt very affordable for me, so a small switching layout will be the plan.  With the Chessie GP35 and NS GP38-2, I am thinking maybe a West Virginia branch to a coal mine, could be on the Chessie or NS system depending what I wish to run that day.  Basicly a single track line to a coal tipple with the main line disappearing behind a tree line/mountain so as to be a hidden staging area so to speak.  Now to see if I can fit this into a "C" shaped shelf layout in a 9' by 8 foot room!  Trains will be short(small tipple!).  I am thinking a run down branch with weed grown tracks and looks to be on the verge of being embargoed or abandoned by the railroad, yet still carries on.  Need to get a couple 3 rail pieces sold, Weaver PRR M1a mountain and a Lionel 225e prewar engine.   Mike

If you tell us more about the NW-2 we can tell you if it is a good deal.  Look for all eight wheels powered, steel (not sintered iron) drivers, and sideframes that are not falling off the axles.  Some go as high as $150 if they are in spectacular shape.

Welcome to 2 rail O scale Mike.  Your GP35 is probably a US Hobbies import built by KTM around 1970.  I have a similar USH GP7 that was my first O scale diesel.   One relatively easy upgrade you may want to consider is replacing the open frame motor with an 8000 series Pitttman can motor and flipping the drive so that the motor sits in the long hood.  Adding 8 wheel electrical and a higher torque can motor will improve slow speed performance.   Relocating the motor will make it possible to detail the  interior If you so desire.

 

Ed Rappe

She is 8 wheel drive, huge open frame motor,  steel wheels, no play in the side frames, beautifully painted and decaled, has it listed for $200, which seems to be typical in my area as there is a large O 2 rail club and I have seen worse listed for that much at the shows.  Need to get the old US Hobbies/KTM GP35 paid for first.  If the NW2 is still there when I can put a down payment on it, I might.  Although the two small road units should be plenty of power.   Ed, replacing the open frame with a Pittman was already in my mind.  For awhile it would run on the OEM motor while I concentrate what funds I do have on benchwork and track.  Already have a small stash of older Atlas(austrian production) flex track and sectional curves.  Going to start working on track plan ideas  next.  Mike

welcome to the dark side artfull dodger.....

9' x 8' room?? No problem - go for it!! 2-rail can get around 36" radius curves, possibly a bit tighter - just avoid S-bends in the trackwork. Stock doesn't look too bad viewed from the inside of the curve.
Rickety, weedy branch line? Great - my kind of layout! Will watch out for this one!!
O scale has heft & presence that overcomes issues such as short trains or length of run.

Remember - lack of space is merely a challenge to the imagination.

Thanks for the encouraging words.  I think my C shaped layout will work just fine, might build a removable bridge section so I can run a continous loop to break in engines ect.  Then room access for us won't be difficult.  Planning to use mostly all older Atlas/Austria track, and I am looking at picking up a second Atlas/Roco F9 in C&O. They are cheap and reliable power.  Need to get this Weaver PRR M1a gone so I can pay for the Chessie GP35.  That will give me 3 engines with a fourth coming if I get another F9. Cheap/free and afforable is the key words.  Only way I can get the GP35 is selling the 3 rail Pennsy Mountain. I have a bad habit of flipping scales and prototypes.  By making that brass GP35 my wife's xmas present, then I can dump it when my autistic mind wants to change gears again. She has several HO scale Chessie engines in our display case, along with Chessie shirts ect.  I just cant see or work in HO anymore.  Mike

If it is absolutely perfect, runs smoothly and reasonably quietly, has paint and decals you like, and headlights illuminate, offer him $150.

Congratulations. I was in 3rail for about 10 years, joined the TCA did the York thing twice a year etc. When I finally purchased the original Lionel J1e  scale Hudson that turned the tide. I joined the PRRT&HS and the NYCSHS sold all my 3rail and bought 2 rail I never looked back and have really enjoyed this hobby and the great people in this o scale culture. May I suggest you join the O Scale Kings. It is a great organization that will put you in contact with people in the know in 2 rail o scale. Enjoy! Sam