Wheel Conversions 3 Rail to 2Rail

PS1 models and older PS2 models and ALL RAILKING PS1-PS3 have pressed-on wheels sets.  You are going to need a wheel puller to get them off, then you will need to press on the new ones when you get them.  NWSL can sell you the wheel sets you need.

I have looked at doing this just to make non-powered 2-rail locos out of my old ps2 diesels, but decided it was too hard. 

If you do get the 2-rail wheelsets removed, all you have to do is install wipers on the isolated side and connect them with a wire to where the pickups used to be (after you remove the pickups).

Good luck!

Thanks I'll check out NWSL   Just to make sure now, I'm trying to make three rail engines 2 rail so that I can get rid of the center roller as well as the three rail track to get a scale look. I have such an investment in 3 rail engines, 30+ that I would lose probably 75% or more if I sold out to start over, plus a lot of the PS 1 models need new boards, a lot of us have had that Mth growing pain. Just want two rail o scale on 2 rail track with electrical pickup on both rails, will convert controls and sound to a more standardized and modernized  DCC  System . 

Don't forget - it is a hobby, not an investment.

Cheaper to start buying 2-rail, then if you really want to go all 2-rail, start to sell the unwanted stuff at maybe a loss.  It is all about happiness, not $.

bob2 posted:

Don't forget - it is a hobby, not an investment.

Cheaper to start buying 2-rail, then if you really want to go all 2-rail, start to sell the unwanted stuff at maybe a loss.  It is all about happiness, not $.

That's great advice.

You'll always have more money in a 3R converted to 2 R model than just buying the 2R originally.  Saw this repeated many times...

Johnny, I was once in your shoes although I had about 16-18 locomotives not 30. It was about 12 years ago. After thinking long and hard about it I decided to sell off the bulk of my 3 rail locomotives, convert some, and keep some as 3 rail locomotives. All of my friends are 3 railers and with those locomotives I can run them at their homes. My conversions were 4 steam locomotives (2 MTH and 2 Lionel). If I decided to sell any of those four locomotives today ALL of the money spent on converting it would be lost and then some. That's because these locomotives are older and not as detailed as what is produced today. I have two more locomotives that I would like to convert someday. One is PS1 Premier C&O Greenbriar and the other is a Rail King scale sized 0-8-0. Both were purchased at very attractive prices. The Rail King was $50 (blown boards). If I convert those locomotives now basically I will be at what it would cost new so I figure that isn't so bad. When I'm gone my wife and step kids won't get hardly anything for these trains but I am enjoying them now and that's what counts. I could accept most of the compromises that 3 rail has but that center rail really, really bothered me every time I looked at it. If there was a track system for 3 rail that had the third rail on the outside like John Armstrong had I would still be a 3 railer today. Good luck.

hello , just for info , here in europe , 3 rails is few on layouts , 2 rails seems to be more realistic , but for me its more easy and cheapest to convert rolling stock ( 2 rails to 3 rails ) curves drive better ,rail and spare part cost less and the noise is quit better and engines are more powerfull

I appreciate everyone's feedback and your right bob it is a hobby and we are supposed to have fun and not get stressed. This year I bought 3 brand new Mth engines and two of them had problems that have yet to be resolved, all 3 were PS 3 items in premier line. I don't have a per and t layout yet so we set up a 12 x 12 Christmas layout every year, that is the only way I can even test a new engine after purchase but soon to change. But you know all of the sore back and bloody knuces earning the money to buy these things, you get all mentally psyched up to run all of this hard work then wham of, 2 out of 3 are bad. What a bummer man and it didn't help spousal relations either, so it kind of robbed me of the CUN part of the hobby this season.

the point of starting this topic was really born from the recent completion of a couple of Sierra west O scale kits and when working them into a small  diarama, no layout yet, and messing around with putting some track in the scene, the three rails  just took so much away from the super detailing effort that went into this scene, I mean it just killed it. The of course our most recent edition of OGRR features Joey Ricards coal, spruce, and timber layout which is close to my modeling skill level but still from a kit, then the 3 rail just kills it. I love my MTH shays and they do look and work good and give you the wow factor in 1/48 , mated to the Sierra west sawmill series and a few other fine scale kits my dream of a logging themed layout could really happen. 

So aggain I really appreciate everyone's input and send more if you have it, I just learned from the comments above that I won't be needing a cab fwd,  sd90 Mac,s, fp45, sd,s , and most of all our other equipment  on a logging layout so I don't have to convert 30 engines, or maybe just buy the two or three that I need in two rail and move on. Thanks for stimulating thought! 

John