Rip...try www.protolocos.com   They advertise with OGR and have a banner above.

Alan

I get almost all my steam engines from Scott @ 3rd Rail Sunset.

http://www.3rdrail.com/instock.html

ncng

Justrains of DE has a nice selection of 2 rail stuff. Also JD's trains and Petersen supply co.

A good start would be to check in our magazine for those that advertise 2-rail and of course there are choices right here on the forum from many of our sponsors... 

Alan

  Norms O'Scale casco maine. 90% 2 rail MTH, Overland, Sunset , Atlas and more.OGR magazine doing a feature spread. open for retail fri and sat.The listings on there website do not include all inventory.

"Where Get O-Scale 2-Rail Steam Locos?"

    The best place would be ebay, almost everything ever made eventually shows up there. I'd set up a search for steam loco 2 rail O scale and follow it for a while and see what turns up. Also search completed listing to see what has been offer in recent months...DaveB

Alan, I'm not complaining or knocking them in any way but I've been to their homepage many times. The homepage has said "website coming soon" for several months. I signed up for their mailing list and I never got any emails from them whatsoever. I wish them the best and sincerely hope that they are not having any problems getting the business off the ground. Has anyone else been in touch with ProtoLocos? I am very curious as to what their website will have. I was wondering if it may have a listing of all the -2 locomotives MTH ever produced.

P&D Hobby

http://pdhobbyshop.com/

Go to O Scale West in February and be overwhelmed by the selection......

Call Scott.  Sometimes he has models in the warehouse that are not shown on the website or in advertising.  

Joe

Although it is not available yet Sunset Models has announced reservations are being taken for a Santa Fe Prarie (2-6-2).

Rip Track,

I have a very nice Williams 4-6-6-2 loco with tender that works on the radius you're looking for, unfortunately it's a N&W.  I run 3 rail and this was purchased by mistake, put away, and when I pulled it out to run it around the Christmas tree for the first time I discovered that it was a 2 track.  When I bought it, it was advertised as new.  If you'd like to see pictures, let me know. 

txvt

Sunset has announced a proposed Canadian National 4-6-0. 

 If you find a MTH dealer of your choice, it looks like there's a couple mid sized steamers at MTH. I see a 4-6-2 with a bigger tender in SF!

Check this out:

https://ogrforum.com/t...20#29446211856933320

If you scroll down, you are the gentleman I was referring to.  Glacier Park models are expensive but they will do what you want.

Peter

I recall Sunset imported a nice SP 2-6-0 a few years ago. Perhaps someone on the forum can advise of its minimum radius.  Given the absence of a trailing truck and a sister in 3 rail it May meet your tight radius requirement.  They show up from time to time on eBay.  When I'm in the hunting to buy mode I create a standing search on eBay to alert me to new listings.  oAnother approach is to post a WTB entry on the OGR forum and on the Yahoo o scale Yard Sale.

Ed,

That's the one Hal sold as it did not handle the 43" radius on his layout.  Pay attention! (tongue in cheek!)

Peter

I reviewed some of the  (2 rail) offerings on the Third Rail website.  I saw a few 48" radius offerings, nothing less on a quick look.  Interesting, 43" radius or less. Looks like a hard find. Small 0-4-0???? 

May be an MTH 3/2 offering with high flange wheels would work???

I have 3 Glacier Park models that will handle 36" curves.

Peter

Gentlemen,

I want to thank all of you for the many steam resources offered to me! I intend to explore them all!

If my 43" radius is still too tight, then I could go for blind drivers on the center axle of locos with 3 driving axles.

RIPTRACK  (This was my SP 2-6-0 Mogul on a 43" radius loop...it didn't derail, but it didn't have Walschaert valve gear either!)

HEY MARK,

Canadian National does not fall under the requirements I've stated for acceptable road names.

To re-state, they are Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Union Pacific.

Cheers,

RIPTRACK HAL   (Note the mountain goat!)

Not trying to be mean or rude here, but maybe you ought to do as your handle suggests and Rip Track and put in a little larger radius. There are piles of 2R steamers out there, but precious few that will navigate your narrow radii.

Simon

Remove the lettering and re-letter it to suit your requirements. 

Interesting thread that gets to the heart of a major difference between two rail and three rail O modeling.  

 Thanks to all who have posted  

Mike CT

I just got a MTH 2-10-4 that needs 72" radii or more. I also got a MTH 0-4-0 that will probably go around any curve available.

 There are catalogs released constantly and at times, there's not much demand so things get cancelled. Then guys clammer that they want it now! They also want it cheap!

 So who wants to stock engines incase someone later wants them, and you can't charge enough to make a profit let alone cover interest on money stuck in inventory??

 and did I mention, some are too lazy to even look for them!

You want it, order it!

"So who wants to stock engines incase someone later wants them, and you can't charge enough to make a profit let alone cover interest on money stuck in inventory??

 and did I mention, some are too lazy to even look for them!"

Who?  Well obvious the guy who started Proto-locos does, as he invested in a website and signed up to be a ogr forum sponsor.

Joe, are you criticizing Proto-locos for starting their business? Or are you criticizing me for being interested in being their customer?  Or both?

"There are catalogs released constantly and at times, there's not much demand so things get cancelled. Then guys clammer that they want it now! They also want it cheap!"

Huh? Catalogs released constantly? We all know MTH releases only 2 catalogs per year with the "-2" locomotives offered. I would not call that constantly. Yeah I agree that sometimes there aren't enough pre-orders to get something made but that really does not have much to do with what Martin H was asking.

I've missed one or two locomotives I wanted and I wish I could buy them now but these locomotives were made in such small quantities (especially steam) that it is rare to see one for sale. 

Joe, I think Martin H may have been looking for both a dealer and for some older releases of the scale wheel locomotives. There's nothing wrong with that. I assume he knows he can pre-order something going forward but maybe he just got interested in the scale stuff recently.

Martin H: I talked to the owner of Proto-Locos at York. He's a really great guy. I won't mention his name because I don't know if he wants me to. I don't know why he hasn't expanded the website. I would have no problem buying something from him but I try to give all my pre-orders to my LHS as long as they are still around. If you don't have an LHS or prefer mail order I recommend Mr.Muffin's Trains.

Sorry guys, this rant wasn't at U. It was at the poster, and at people like that.

I searched at the time of the post, and ever since. I have got too many engines since then. They are all around.

 Yes I know as well as U, that the catalogs of the major manufacturers are twice a year. That is plenty as the products are coming in at intervals. But If you rant that you can't find them, maybe U should at least look around? I see five dealers that have plenty to choose from. Yes, twice a year, but how many models in each and every catalog??

 They cancelled twenty some locos one year, but still released plenty more.

 As far as "Proto Locos" goes, I know nothing about him and wasn't talking about him. It seems a little strange to me that there's no product available from him yet? It has been a few years now. Maybe he's a slow starter???

Take a look at how many engines he has available right now!!

Alan, I maybe wrong about this and I see he's a sponsor. The last time I contacted him there was nothing available. I realize you would think to help a sponsor, it was right to post this. However, I still believe, there's nothing available from him!

 Maybe he's building up inventory?? I know I am.

OK, I have purchased from him and some of it was already sold. He's constantly getting in more and taking preorders now too. He is just one of the dealers! How many nation wide are there????

So again, and to everyone, maybe preorder if you want something made that's advertised in the catalog. Otherwise, it maybe cancelled.

 I've been watching MTH 2 rail releases over the past several years. There has been a ton. There has also been a lot of cancelled items.

I think the best bang for your buck in 2-rail locomotives is Sunset. They are well detailed, sturdy construction and run well.You have to be careful with ebay, but you can get some good deals depending on the bidding. I have quite a few large Sunset and I am well pleased.

Well, sadly old Rip has left the building, but for guys who are still interested, there is a vast "secondary" market as close as your nearest 2 rail show (Strasburg, PA is next Saturday) and 2R can even be found at York once in a while! it's out there, but you gotta break a little sweat!

Simon

If I were modeling modern diesels, sure, I would go for MTH, Atlas 2-rail because of the cost. If I were modeling 1st generation diesels, I would check out the shows for Central Locomotive Works kits or built up models. They have good mechanisms and are well constructed. They usually are not expensive, actually cheaper than the current MTH diesels. I have some Alco FAs. These may not be as well detailed as the current plastic models but they are very sturdy and run well.