Very interesting read. When the poster starts converting 2 rail steam loco models to 3 rail, Puh-leeze photodocument and provide detailed articles to OGR. One reason to be in two rail is the diverse variety of locos and powered railcars ignored in three rail, but available in two. I was about to challenge the photo above with traction models and modern large round hay bales together, but remembered there was a running Iowa interurban and a "Sand Springs" Texas? interurban that may have existed into round bale era. Bales this then kid heaved up on wagon and then into loft were smaller and rectangular. I think they use fork lifts with round bales.
You do not need an entire basement for 2 rail. Besides the wonderful traction pikes shown on this thread, one could easily model a Class I down to a shortline using the old "black tie" 2 rail Atlas 24" inch radius curves and turnouts. I can run any first generation diesel and even some smaller steamers on my 12' X 4 1/2' foot layout. Weaver and Red Caboose 2 rail models can be had for a song, easily converted to DCC and made reliable with NWSL wheelsets. Jay at "Right O Way" can give advice about how to make them crawl at ridiculously slow speeds if switching is your thing. When I converted from 3 to 2 rails ten years ago I was afraid I would be limiting myself but I have no regrets and enjoy the realism of scale wheels on scale rail.
Lots of advice! Hey, if you like the looks of three rail track and sharp curves, go for it. It is just a hobby - there is nothing that says you cannot change your mind later.
As to conversion from two to three rail, I did not see the trigger for the question posed above. But I have been known to do such things in return for keeping the scale mechanism and trucks. That is a real bargain, considering my current rates are $90/hr, and it takes 20 minutes to open a properly shipped package, and maybe longer to repack and ship the finished project.
Check out the Lobaugh Berkshire converted to 3-rail for a fellow forumite. I smile every time I see that mechanism, just waiting to become another SP Mike. Six hundred dollars worth of labor for a used mechanism with cast iron drivers - am I nuts? Don't answer that. But it was a fun project.
I like 2 rail myself, but you have to make yourself happy.
@bob2 posted:Lots of advice! Hey, if you like the looks of three rail track and sharp curves, go for it. It is just a hobby - there is nothing that says you cannot change your mind later.
While completely true, all too many feel that they cannot change over later because they have "too much invested". That exact phrase pops up a lot more than you might think. Honestly, if there's that much invested and you wanted to change later, you'd have a decent nest egg to finance the change.
@bob2 posted:Lots of advice! Hey, if you like the looks of three rail track and sharp curves, go for it. It is just a hobby - there is nothing that says you cannot change your mind later.
The great thing about 3-rail is you don't need sharp curves and with many track brands, the blackened 3rd rail helps hide the fact that we're running toy trains. 
I run O72 and larger, wider curves than I see a number of 2-rail folks claiming are sufficient. I love the look of a well executed 2-rail layout, I just didn't choose to go that way.
@mwb posted:While completely true, all too many feel that they cannot change over later because they have "too much invested". That exact phrase pops up a lot more than you might think. Honestly, if there's that much invested and you wanted to change later, you'd have a decent nest egg to finance the change.
mwb has an excellent point. When I switched from HO to O gauge 3-rail ten years ago, I bought enough of each type of 3-rail track and one switch to make an oval with a siding to see which suited me. I then bought GarGraves track and Ross switches for my permanent layout and kept the Fastrack for my Christmas layout. Over time I sold or gave away the other types I didn’t use.
The decision of two rail versus three rail is a different story. After deciding HO was now too small for me, I bought one On30 Bachmann engine and a couple cars and ran it on my HO track. I then bought a 3-rail set and tried it. I settled on three rail and sold the On30.
I wasn’t out much money and decided on what suited me best.
It really is unfortunate that A.C. Gilbert didn't win the initial train war way back when. If it had, we'd have plenty of "hefty" 2-rail scale trains that could run in smaller spaces. Instead, we have limited S scale options, more O scale 2-rail options but not enough room to run them, and a ton of 3-rail options that look like toys on small curves.
