Questions about electronics in AEM-7's (Atlas and MTH)

Atlas made their AEM [ and ALP ] models in both 2 and 3 rail, so no conversion is necessary.  If you can't find the Atlas road name you need in 2R but you can in 3R, I'd suggest buying a 2R unit in any other road, swapping body shells, and sell the resultant 3R unit. [ I've done that, because I need undec's.]   The 2R models are set up for conventional DC operation;  the 3R ones have a proprietary and unique control system.  Both versions have internal provision for cantenary pickup.

I'm not familiar with the MTH AEM's, but they have not been offered in 2 rail.   Others on this forum who have both have indicated the Atlas is the better model.  I have some ideas on what I would do if I HAD to have a 2R MTH AEM without the machine shop approach, but they are only ideas.....

Does that help ?

Best regards, SZ

Steinzeit posted:

Atlas made their AEM [ and ALP ] models in both 2 and 3 rail, so no conversion is necessary.  If you can't find the Atlas road name you need in 2R but you can in 3R, I'd suggest buying a 2R unit in any other road, swapping body shells, and sell the resultant 3R unit. [ I've done that, because I need undec's.]   The 2R models are set up for conventional DC operation;  the 3R ones have a proprietary and unique control system.  Both versions have internal provision for cantenary pickup.

I'm not familiar with the MTH AEM's, but they have not been offered in 2 rail.   Others on this forum who have both have indicated the Atlas is the better model.  I have some ideas on what I would do if I HAD to have a 2R MTH AEM without the machine shop approach, but they are only ideas.....

Does that help ?

Best regards, SZ

The Atlas AEM-7 is a very good model, but that depends on how far into the Amtrak Phase III era you go. Eventually ditch lights were added, and paint schemes changed. I'm not sure how hard it would be to install DCC in a 2-rail Atlas model, but you could certainly try.

As for the MTH AEM-7s not being offered in 2 rail, I'm not sure that statement is completely accurate. If a manufacturer designs into their product easy conversion to 2 rail as they know customers will do it, it is technically offering the product in 2 rail. Proto-Sound 3.0 has an on-board DCC decoder, so unless the MTH AEM-7s truly aren't compatible with 2 rail operation, conversion is fairly simple. Typically all that needs to be done is the DCS/DCC switch needs to be in the DCC position and all pickup rollers need to be removed. I also don't think that it's impossible for the MTH AEM-7s to have both the DCS/DCC switch and the Track/Catenary switch. 

GenesisFan99 posted

As for the MTH AEM-7s not being offered in 2 rail, I'm not sure that statement is completely accurate. If a manufacturer designs into their product easy conversion to 2 rail as they know customers will do it, it is technically offering the product in 2 rail. Proto-Sound 3.0 has an on-board DCC decoder, so unless the MTH AEM-7s truly aren't compatible with 2 rail operation, conversion is fairly simple. Typically all that needs to be done is the DCS/DCC switch needs to be in the DCC position and all pickup rollers need to be removed. I also don't think that it's impossible for the MTH AEM-7s to have both the DCS/DCC switch and the Track/Catenary switch. 

Well, there's more to it than just the internal electronics, which by comparison is, if it were a problem, a readily solvable one.  The real stumbling blocks are (1) the wheel / axle assemblies, both their electrical isolation for 2 rail operation, and also provision for electrical pickup; and (2) wheel contours and axle mounting suitable for a 2 rail model railroad.

As far as (1), I'm unaware of MTH offering an AEM with the "Proto 3-2 capability" which has the 3R-2R selector switch on the underbody and, more importantly, wheel /axle sets which are removable through  a screw-on access plate on the underside of the truck.  Have you [ or any Forum member ] ever seen an MTH AEM like this ?

Regarding (2), EVEN IF MTH did offer the above, they would also have to provide replacement 2 rail scale wheelsets, because their 3R ones will not go through 2R turnouts or other similar trackwork, as the back-to-back of the flanges are too close together.  The MTH AEM does have a larger wheel dia than their standard Proto3-2 wheelset conversion kits, doesn't it ?

Unless you have either easy solutions for the above or firm knowledge that recent production MTH AEM's are 3-2, I would say that MTH did / does not offer AEM's in 2R, even using your criteria.

SZ

GenesisFan99 posted:

Steinzeit posted:

Atlas made their AEM [ and ALP ] models in both 2 and 3 rail, so no conversion is necessary.  If you can't find the Atlas road name you need in 2R but you can in 3R, I'd suggest buying a 2R unit in any other road, swapping body shells, and sell the resultant 3R unit. [ I've done that, because I need undec's.]   The 2R models are set up for conventional DC operation;  the 3R ones have a proprietary and unique control system.  Both versions have internal provision for cantenary pickup.

I'm not familiar with the MTH AEM's, but they have not been offered in 2 rail.   Others on this forum who have both have indicated the Atlas is the better model.  I have some ideas on what I would do if I HAD to have a 2R MTH AEM without the machine shop approach, but they are only ideas.....

Does that help ?

Best regards, SZ

The Atlas AEM-7 is a very good model, but that depends on how far into the Amtrak Phase III era you go. Eventually ditch lights were added, and paint schemes changed. I'm not sure how hard it would be to install DCC in a 2-rail Atlas model, but you could certainly try.

As for the MTH AEM-7s not being offered in 2 rail, I'm not sure that statement is completely accurate. If a manufacturer designs into their product easy conversion to 2 rail as they know customers will do it, it is technically offering the product in 2 rail. Proto-Sound 3.0 has an on-board DCC decoder, so unless the MTH AEM-7s truly aren't compatible with 2 rail operation, conversion is fairly simple. Typically all that needs to be done is the DCS/DCC switch needs to be in the DCC position and all pickup rollers need to be removed. I also don't think that it's impossible for the MTH AEM-7s to have both the DCS/DCC switch and the Track/Catenary switch. 

I think the spirit of the inquiry had to do with the ready availability of an MTH suitable for two rail; not so much whether it would be possible to effect a conversion.

Hi guys, I have been chatting with Nate Murry after seeing his articles here and his videos online. The AEM-7's and the subsequent catenary system needed for a complete layout are, well, yes, a lot to take on....I believe that I will stick to the MTH models because of functions (that I like) and run them on 2 rail by using the built in track/catenary switch set to overhead power and just remove the pick-up rollers.. The biggest problem outside of a catenary system will be as was pointed out above...the wheels are hi-rail and MTH does not offer the proto32 system for these locomotives. I am not sure how hard the job would be to try and change out the wheels on a non proto32 locomotive.....For ease of use, I think that I will go with something other than Atlas, as their 2 rail is code 148 and I would assume cause problems for those deep flanges. Any suggestion on the best 2 rail track for hi-rail wheel-sets???

Thanks guys!