Regarding GGD and 3rd Rail/Sunset two rail trucks - I would like to convert their two rail trucks to three rail trucks. Kadee couplers will be retained. Has anyone removed the first and third wheelsets and replaced them with hi-rail wheelsets? The center wheelset should not have to be replaced. John
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Might not work. Typically, two rail trucks are narrower than 3-rail. You would have to make wider bolsters - cheaper to buy three rail trucks.
When I made that conversion to my first set of GGD PRR P70s the 3 rail wheelsets were needle point while the 2 rail wheelsets were not. I had to drill out the trucks to get the longer needle point axles to fit. It works. I did not add the pickup to light the cars though. I have since gone to 2 rail for all my PRR so I will be converting them back.
As an aside the 36" three rail wheels look great on K-Line trucks in lieu of the 33" wheels they came with.
There's another way. Northwest Short Line makes custom replacement axle sets. Order a set of 36" wheels with a code 172 tread and they should work with 36" radius curves given the wheelbase of the heavyweight coaches (coupler swing aside). Give them the axle measurements and type (pointed/blunt/shouldered) and order the axles pre-assembled/gauged.
NWSL used to make custom axle sets in code 200 tread for hi-rail use. If those are still available, that's another option.
Hope this helps.