On converting Atlas O and Trainman cars to 3-rail

It's easier to swap the complete trucks out. To remove the couplers, carefully pry back the retainer at the back of the draft box and the cover will pop off exposing the coupler, spring, and mounting screws. Next step is to find someone with similar three-rail trucks who might be willing to trade. What types of trucks are you switching out as I have several three-rail Atlas Masterline and Trainman cars I've been thinking about converting?

Mr Jackson

Let me correct myself; I have 3 (not 4) Atlas cars, two Trainman, one Master Line that all appear to be the same trucks (Bettendorf)...the trucks on the Master Line car came painted brown to match the car (a Frisco 50' double door)....

The three rail trucks attach to the car with the original screws?

Tim

Ok, I never did this before so if I sound dumb please laugh off line.

My question is, if you have two rail trucks are the couplers scale? Also, if they are scale can they be changed out without removing the trucks?

Would there be a wheel flange size problem with 2R on 3R track? 

I know three rail trucks will not run on two rail track because you would have a dead short and our giant wheel flanges would not go through a switch. But, other then the above coupler issue two rail cars will work just fine on three rail track unless you need to use the trucks as a triger per a track sensor.

So, my real question is, do you really need to change the trucks? 

I have run cars with scale wheels in trains with three rail trucks on a layout with Gargraves track and turnouts. They work reasonably well except for an occasional derailment. The Kadee couplers will grab onto a Lionel style knuckle but Atlas scale couplers not always.