is this even possible? documenting every 3 rail o gauge train and accesory ever made or proposed

When you get it done let me know.  Would love to see everything

Sorry, Cody, but your 3-rail quest would be impossible to complete primarily because so much is already lost to history, way back before the internet.  On the other hand, there is so much historical data from the PRR era that, with some effort and luck, your quest could be successfully completed.  START HUNTING!!

Chuck

@PRR1950 posted:

Sorry, Cody, but your 3-rail quest would be impossible to complete primarily because so much is already lost to history, way back before the internet.

I don't think it would be impossible, but it would require an enormous amount of work and a lot of time.  Everything made or proposed by Lionel has been fairly well documented, but that took the efforts of dozens of people decades to accomplish.

Andy

@paigetrain posted:

i honestly have an itch to see everything ever made or proposed for 3 rail o gauge

There are a number of ways to scratch at this itch that can keep you busy for a long long time.  Pretty much every catalog MTH put out is available on their web site (and can be downloaded) if you dig a little.  Quite a few of Lionel's recent catalogs are available on their web site, and if you join LCCA, you can browse 100+ years of Lionel catalogs.  A lot of K-Line production can be found on the Legacy K-Line web site, and they also published a book on their early production that can often be found on eBay.  Many Weaver catalogs and Weaver's production lists can be found with some serious digging on the Wayback Machine (Internet Archive).  If you are a TCA member, you have access to digital copies of the TCA Quarterlies going back to the very beginning of the TCA, and many articles have been written on quite a few of the smaller manufacturers.  The TCA Western Division has a section of their web site devoted to manufacturers and their histories with lots of photos.  And last, but not least, if you subscribe to the digital edition of OGR, you will have access to digital copies of the magazine going back to issue #1, and you can learn a lot by reading product reviews and by looking at the advertising -- you will see a lot of things you never knew existed by just looking at the advertising.  I know some of these resources costs money, but even if you stick to the free online stuff, you can see and learn a lot.

Andy

@Andy Hummell posted:

There are a number of ways to scratch at this itch that can keep you busy for a long long time.  Pretty much every catalog MTH put out is available on their web site (and can be downloaded) if you dig a little.  Quite a few of Lionel's recent catalogs are available on their web site, and if you join LCCA, you can browse 100+ years of Lionel catalogs.  A lot of K-Line production can be found on the Legacy K-Line web site, and they also published a book on their early production that can often be found on eBay.  Many Weaver catalogs and Weaver's production lists can be found with some serious digging on the Wayback Machine (Internet Archive).  If you are a TCA member, you have access to digital copies of the TCA Quarterlies going back to the very beginning of the TCA, and many articles have been written on quite a few of the smaller manufacturers.  The TCA Western Division has a section of their web site devoted to manufacturers and their histories with lots of photos.  And last, but not least, if you subscribe to the digital edition of OGR, you will have access to digital copies of the magazine going back to issue #1, and you can learn a lot by reading product reviews and by looking at the advertising -- you will see a lot of things you never knew existed by just looking at the advertising.  I know some of these resources costs money, but even if you stick to the free online stuff, you can see and learn a lot.

Andy

i also keep an eye in classic toy trains mag

there's this dude that collects rare postwar mockups including an alaska GP9 , Frisco F3 and original Norfolk Southern boxcar that could've become part of the 6464 series

i'm thinking of joining the LCCA and i own a 2023 greenburg pocket price guide of lionel and a 1996 3 rail price guide from TM Books

and i am actually just sticking to the North American market

@paigetrain

Cody,

If you could do exactly what you proposed, you would become the greatest model railroad historian of all time, but I don't think it's worth your time and effort. You would be happier working on projects that you could realistically accomplish, such as building a layout and buying whatever model trains you like or can afford. Do you have a layout? I would like to see it.

MELGAR

Over the years, there were many folks making variants of three rail trains, usually without Lionel's or anyone else's permission.  Would be hard to document these although some were advertised in hard copy publications.  This was particularly common in the 1970s and 1980s as I recall.

Agree with others that unless this is going to bring you personal pleasure, it's not a great use of time.  No financial reward, and probably few thanks either .  But everyone has their own preferences for how they spend their hobby time.

@MELGAR posted:

@paigetrain

Cody,

If you could do exactly what you proposed, you would become the greatest model railroad historian of all time, but I don't think it's worth your time and effort. You would be happier working on projects that you could realistically accomplish, such as building a layout and buying whatever model trains you like or can afford. Do you have a layout? I would like to see it.

MELGAR

i don't have a layout yet - no room for one . every once in awhile i put a loop on the floor and run my stuff my family and i might move soon anyway and me getting a train room is hopefully a priority in whatever new house we get

i have the lionchief hotwheels set, santa fe dash 8 autorack set , 628 switcher , rmt rock island beep, and a k-line CSX MP15 in my active roster plus various secondhand freight stock

i would like to get a 90s era lionel dash 8 , lionchief et44, and some alaska railroad and Pennsy diesels , and a lionmaster t1 duplex and i think after i get those engines my roster should be complete. i only plan on owning 16 engines - why 16 - 16 is the number of engines my local shortline the carolina  coastal owns

and its a nice even round number

This would be a job for AI -  Seriously my understanding of the popular use of re-generative AI is:

1) Use Bots to scrap data, including websites, databases, forums, stories, photos, video,
2) Save data somewhere, or maybe use links,  (then maybe ask permission )
3) Create a search algorithm designed for O Gauge train associations.

Creating a traditional database and maintaining it would be crazy expensive.  Creating an unlimited AI driven search also expensive.

However I can see manufacturers doing this with their data.  Could be happening right now!

I would say that it would be hard to begin with even though there are a number of guides on stuff made by Lionel, Ives, and some of the other companies that made stuff in the Prewar era. With that said there are plenty of items that never made it into production since the beginning. I believe that some had been published in the 1990's under one of the magazines of the day, maybe even touched on in the 80's. Lionel's original lift bridge that ran production I think in the 90's was originally a much older idea that never made it past early development if I recall correctly. IIRC, the original was mostly if not all metal, but they never got to putting in the gearing or lifting mechanism.

There have been a bunch of proposed engines as well as failed custom runs. The failed ones would be harder to track as there is going to be no real record that they existed since they are uncatalogged. If they were made it might still be hard as well because you would have to rely on someone telling you that it was made, that they have it, or some other positive proof.

When I was trying to list all the Vision Line engines made, this was a bit of an undertaking especially since I had to rely on online Lionel catalogs that weren't easy to find. Add the fact of some of the custom runs, and then you get what you are up against but even harder since you want everything.

@paigetrain posted:

i honestly have an itch to see everything ever made or proposed for 3 rail o gauge almost as bad as my obsession of seeing every thing the Pennsy built or proposed and i feel like i can't rest until both those itches are scratched

I have a problem

@Landsteiner posted:

..... it's not a great use of time.  No financial reward, and probably few thanks either . 

You do have a problem! I agree with Landsteiner. It's not only not a great use of your time, but a waste of time, which is a precious thing!  Best if you solve your problem by finding more productive things to do with it.

Just my opinion, of course.