I know that this is a 3-Rail Forum...but in case anyone is interested, I just got email confirmation from both MTH and Bachmann that neither of those manufacturers plan to do the 44 Tonner in two rail. They are both planning to live off those of us in the three rail world. I was asking on behalf of a friend who is into two rail O scale.
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Can't recall any Williams mass produced loco coming in 2 rail. Seen a few brass models advertised as 2 rail but never seen one myself. So no surprise there.
MTH not offering it in their 2-3 series is not a big surprise as it may be hard to do in such a small loco.
Nope..I ask Mike Wolfe about it at York and he said NO 2 rail for the 44 tonner. Some BS about the pilot and something doesn't fit. I don't remember his exact words, although I posted it another thread somewhere. They just don't WANT to do it.
You could probably convert the MTH model by swapping wheels and fixing the pilots, but that's a ton of work and extra money. AT $400 PLUS ...already
Nope..I ask Mike Wolfe about it at York and he said NO 2 rail for the 44 tonner. Some BS about the pilot and something doesn't fit. I don't remember his exact words. They just don't WANT to do it, no other excuse.
Oh! Really now 
. How about the dollars and sense end of the equation? Three rail will probably out sell five to one. How much R & D do you think goes into a 3Rail/2Rail conversion? I would say a bunch 
.
"Pappy"
Nope..I ask Mike Wolfe about it at York and he said NO 2 rail for the 44 tonner. Some BS about the pilot and something doesn't fit. I don't remember his exact words. They just don't WANT to do it, no other excuse.
Oh! Really now . How about the dollars and sense end of the equation? Three rail will probably out sell five to one. How much R & D do you think goes into a 3Rail/2Rail conversion? I would say a bunch .
"Pappy"
As costs continue to rise quickly.....manufactures look for something to reduce costs. This can be anything from fewer SKU's, simpler paint schemes of simplified electronics. No 2 rail 44 tonner kinda hits 2 of the 3 reasons.
If MTH felt they could make the margin they needed on a 2 rail version....they'd make it. They have no hate for 2 rail.....just an aversion to capital losses.
YEAH really! Mike Wolfe said it had nothing to do with money, the R & D had been done, but it was about the parts not fitting for a 2 rail fixed pilot. If I remember correctly it was because the truck block would not clear the fixed pilot with coupler mount. There was not enough room, therefore this model had to have a swinging pilot.
as a 2 railer a disappointment that neither is making a 2 rail version, but on the other hand
right now on the website that can't be mentioned 2 brass 44 tonners 529 for a yoder and under 160 for a custom brass with several days left. so i guess as Scott(sunset) says i'll stick with lifetime brass. and really how much r&d is necessary MTH already has the 2 rail locomotives figured out and a pilot that 3 rail scale guys would love when they replace the g scale coupler with a kd
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