Modifying two rail rolling stock for use on 3 rail layouts

Why not just use Kadee 805 couplers? They will couple to 2R and 3R couplers. No need for conversion cars. Just a thought.

Depending on your brand of track & turnouts, the scale wheels may or may NOT work very well, no mater what couplers you have.

What did you do about the wheels?

2 rail flanges usually don't track on 3 rail.

The attached photos show an Atlas ACF 60 foot single door auto parts boxcar (2 rail version)

 

(Converting the car to 3 rail was not practical in itself.)

Since Atlas sells this car in a 3-rail version, just how was converting the car to 3-rail "not practical"??

 

That really depends on your brand of track, as I stated. Our layout is all Atlas, and after modifying the guard rails on all the turnouts, I now have quite a few pieces of freight rolling stock with 2-Rail SCALE wheels, that operate juts fine.

Try visiting the 3-Rail SCALE Forum. Simply remove the Atlas coupler & box assembly and replace with the Kadee #805 or the Kadee #740 gearbox and coupler assembly.

Looking to trade this car for a 3 rail version. Would consider placing this car up for sale on the forum.

What wheel are you using hi Rail with larger flanges or the scale wheels. The rounded over track like Lionel and Gargraves might pose an issue and cause derailments.

Steve

AGAIN,  it all depends on the track!

Been doing that for years. All my new rolling stock comes with 2-rail wheels/Kadee [compatible] couplers if available in that configuration. All of my new MTH diesels are ordered with scale wheels. I run at the club on 3-rail track (Gargraves/Ross/Atlas). The six-axle diesels have issues with bad spots on the track; the 4-axle diesels are more forgiving. The cars don't have a lot of issues.

Matt

So in general 2 rail trucks will run on ĢARGRAVES track and through ROSS switches?

Thanks

Richard

Scale wheels on rolling stock don't work at all well on Atlas switches.  No problem on the track, but forget going through a switch!

 

Might have issues going through switches and cross overs, other than that nothing else as far as I know.

That issue can be easily corrected by glueing styrene strips on top of the guard rails, in order to make them the same height as the running rails. I have modified all my Atlas O turnouts that way, and run many 2-Rail SCALE wheel equipped freight rolling stock on our layout.

What about operating 2-rail scale trucks on RealTrax O-72 turnouts?

I have no idea, as I do not have any "RealTrax", however I am aware that 2-Rail SCALE wheeled equipment operates VERY well on MTH "ScaleTrax" track and turnouts.

Correct, running through Ross 11-degree (#5) turnouts. On our #8 curved turnout, we put in a "frog point" for the wheels to ride on because the frog gap is so large (we even had derailments with some hi-rail equipment). The caveat is on the curve-replacement turnouts (i.e., O-72). Those have to be taken slowly but I don't get as many derailments as I expected. Usually the problem is with a locomotive picking the frog. The cars are pulled through. Backing moves through them are more problematic.

 

Atlas turnouts need shims on their guard rails. Why Atlas chose not to make them full-height escapes me.

 

On a couple of my YouTube videos you can see scale-wheeled trains crossing Ross turnouts.

 

Thanks Matt,

 

I will have to give this a try. I was fortunate enough to get a few 2 rail O scale freight cars off the West Tennessee Central before it was torn done. I need to install a scale coupler on one of my MTH cars(I hear they are the easiest to convert) and run the two rail cars. I guess I will have to keep them out of the yard.

 

I appreciate your help,

 

Richard