I'm looking at a scale MTH Great Northern 4-8-4 that is set up for 2 rail operation. I was told that all I have to do is add the rollers to the engine, and move a switch inside the tender from 2 rail to 3 rail.
My concern would be using scale wheels on high rail track, such as Gargraves, Ross, MTH Realtrax and Lionel Fastrack.
Anyone have experience with this?
Thanks
RAY
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I routinely test MTH locos with scale wheels on RealTrax at MTH. They run fine.
The primary problem that a "scale" wheel can have in the 3-rail world is through the switches - the flangeways let the smaller flange/narrower wheel drop down and wander off; also, the scale wheels are more prone to picking switch points upon entering a facing switch.
This is case-by-case. The track proper should be fine, as Atlas and GG use the same track profile for 2- and 3-rail products.
Now, Fastrack...I doubt that the scale wheels would like its rounder, old-tubular-like rail top "soft" profile. Don't know, but I'd be wary.
What curves would it be running on? Not sure exactly which model you're looking at, but the MTH site for 20-3145-2 lists 54" radius, or O108. It would probably make it around a little tighter than that, but no guarantees. Another look shows 20-3508-2 at slightly tighter radius, though it could be a typo, since it show in 3-rail terms.
David
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