Should I 2 rail a couple 3 rail locos?

The steamer  aprox 1000-1200 , Baldwin Forge would be the best at this . Joe does phenomenal machine work.

The Santa Fe F-units probably $400 , keep in mind that you can use the Lionel electronics in a 2 rail environment .

Do it! Why not? How many black bonnets are out there in 2-rail?

Price an All Nation dual power F-3/7.  That is the approximate cost of 2-railing a Diesel.  You drop the 3 - rail mechanisms out and bolt the 2-rail stuff in.

Then sell the leftovers on eBay.

I agree on the large steamer - send it to Joe.

The cars are easy - just stick 2-rail wheelsets in there and replace the couplers with Kadee.

The quoted price to convert the 2-10-10-2 is a bit higher than I would charge.  However, unless you are going to install large curves on your railroad, at least 72" radius (O144), this model will require a lot of tweaking and probably some blind drivers.   If you are coming from a 3 rail background where 072 curves are considered large, you may have a problem with running a 2 rail model of this size.  I test  all of my converted models on the 72" and 68" radius curves of my railroad.

Just some thoughts...

Joe Foehrkolb

rrjjf posted:

The quoted price to convert the 2-10-10-2 is a bit higher than I would charge.  However, unless you are going to install large curves on your railroad, at least 72" radius (O144), this model will require a lot of tweaking and probably some blind drivers.   If you are coming from a 3 rail background where 072 curves are considered large, you may have a problem with running a 2 rail model of this size.  I test  all of my converted models on the 72" and 68" radius curves of my railroad.

Just some thoughts...

Joe Foehrkolb

My layout will be constructed with 72" curves so that will not be a problem. I will email you for a quote and some other questions.

Thanks,

Adam 

adferraro posted:

rrjjf posted:

The quoted price to convert the 2-10-10-2 is a bit higher than I would charge.  However, unless you are going to install large curves on your railroad, at least 72" radius (O144), this model will require a lot of tweaking and probably some blind drivers.   If you are coming from a 3 rail background where 072 curves are considered large, you may have a problem with running a 2 rail model of this size.  I test  all of my converted models on the 72" and 68" radius curves of my railroad.

Just some thoughts...

Joe Foehrkolb

My layout will be constructed with 72" curves so that will not be a problem. I will email you for a quote and some other questions.

Thanks,

Adam 

Adam do you mean 72" radius or diameter?   Joe is talking radius which in the 3 rail world will be O144. That's a 12 foot circle.

I was once in the same boat as you. I sold most of my 3 rail locomotives, kept a few as 3 rail to run on my friends layouts that are 3 rail, and I had 4 steam locomotives converted. Nothing anywhere near as big as the one you have. If you absolutely have to have it as a 2 rail locomotive and can afford the conversion then my advice is to go ahead and do it with the understanding that you will most likely never get that money spent on conversion back. No offense intended toward Joe as I agree he is worth every penny he charges, and incidentally he is also a great guy but unfortunately that is just the way it is. The steamers I had converted I don't ever plan on selling so I don't care about their value. Good luck and keep us posted.

That is true of almost all consumer items.  When you buy a car, you do not expect to get your money back.  But for sure, if you buy a car, overhaul the engine and transmission, paint it, put new upholstery in it, in general when you sell you take a bath.

It is an unusual model train that really retains its value. The 700 series Lionel stuff did so for a while, assuming you did not modify it.  

The way to do this is to regard trains as consumables.  Enjoy them down to zero, because when your executor sells them that is what they will be worth to you.

Opinion.

Very well said.

Regarding the initial question, my response would be to say " why not?". If you would rather convert what you already have, instead of selling your 3-rail and buying 2-rail, then go for it. Enjoy the process, and be sure to take pictures!

Mark in Oregon

Tom Tee posted:

Adam, Joe's work is fantastic.  Well worth every dollar.  He will never lead you wrong. Believe what ever he says about conversions.

BTW, there is no comparison between a K-line Diesel and a Sunset Diesel.  All IMO.

I know how nice the Sunset F7's are, I have a Santa Fe Warbonnet ABA and Yellow Bonnet ABA. Missed out on the freight ABA, but I'll find it eventually. It's a matter of cost really. Also painters. I couldn't paint the black bonnet myself, but if there was a custom painter who was top notch, I might consider it.   

Hudson J1e posted:

adferraro posted:

rrjjf posted:

The quoted price to convert the 2-10-10-2 is a bit higher than I would charge.  However, unless you are going to install large curves on your railroad, at least 72" radius (O144), this model will require a lot of tweaking and probably some blind drivers.   If you are coming from a 3 rail background where 072 curves are considered large, you may have a problem with running a 2 rail model of this size.  I test  all of my converted models on the 72" and 68" radius curves of my railroad.

Just some thoughts...

Joe Foehrkolb

My layout will be constructed with 72" curves so that will not be a problem. I will email you for a quote and some other questions.

Thanks,

Adam 

Adam do you mean 72" radius or diameter?   Joe is talking radius which in the 3 rail world will be O144. That's a 12 foot circle.

I was once in the same boat as you. I sold most of my 3 rail locomotives, kept a few as 3 rail to run on my friends layouts that are 3 rail, and I had 4 steam locomotives converted. Nothing anywhere near as big as the one you have. If you absolutely have to have it as a 2 rail locomotive and can afford the conversion then my advice is to go ahead and do it with the understanding that you will most likely never get that money spent on conversion back. No offense intended toward Joe as I agree he is worth every penny he charges, and incidentally he is also a great guy but unfortunately that is just the way it is. The steamers I had converted I don't ever plan on selling so I don't care about their value. Good luck and keep us posted.

72 inch radius. I know the difference and just how big they are. A new house is in the future and there will be room for a 2 rail scale layout with 72 inch radius curves. I've already spoken with the CFO about right of way requirements. 

I know about the money loss. It's par for the course. It's just that the mallet is really really nice and there probably won't be very many 2 railed, so it will be kinda unique. It's also the first real engine I bought when I started seriously collecting so it is sentimental too.

Adam

Adam, since you didn't specify radius or diameter in your post I thought there might be some confusion. Just trying to help and be informative. 

I say go for it. You will certainly have an extremely unique 2 rail locomotive. I wish I had as much room as you. I can only afford 54" curves as a minimum. Although, after reading a recent thread on minimum radius I now feel that maybe I don't need larger curves than 54" although of course the larger the curve the better the equipment looks on it as I am sure you know. Good luck and keep us posted.