The one problem I have noticed with the scale track companies, at least what I see available on E-bay. Atlas has the ends of their rail even at the end of each piece, many of the other brands have one rail out farther then the other rail......
Micro Engineering also sell's Proto48 track, which is O scale but instead of 5' gauge it is the proper gauge of 4'8 1/2". The Proto48 or P48 will be narrower than the Atlas, Peco or Lenz and the two will not mix. Both are 1/4" = 1' for the models in all dimensions. Atlas and the rest you described would work for the old Panama railroad which did have 5' gauge for the rails.
Hi, Enjoyed your video about different tracks. Do you know if the Atlas rolling stock will fit onto the PECO 2 rail O gauge track? Would the rolling stock have to be modified since it’s made in the U.S. and tracks are made in U.K.? Thank you for your help 😊
I quit model railroading long ago but I purchased 2 Atlas O, 2 rail cars today for a modern day scene on a diorama. No wiring required but I'll be detailing it pretty good. Also, question. Do you prefer medium or coarse ballast for O scale 2 rail track?? I'm leaning towards coarse but I'm not sure
Hi Niner6, I require your expertise. Can I run high rail trains on 2 rail track? I prefer the appearance of 2 rail, but don't have the space for large radius curves (42 inch radius is my max),
Omega - to answer, no, you cannot run hi-rail/3-rail trains on the 2-rail track above. 2 reasons. One reason is, the flanges on the wheels of 3-rail rolling stock are too deep, and will "bump" over each tie because of the decreased rail height (.148" vs .215" for 3 rail). (the other reason is the 3-rail rolling stock wheels are not electrically isolated from each other, a requirement for 2-rail equipment so the transformer does not get shorted out) As far as radii go, it sounds like you are on the border of having to do 3-rail; What you could try out is the Atlas #7011 2-rail curve, 40.5" rad. from blueridgehobbies (151-7011), Wholesaletrains, jdstrains (note the 's'), etc to see if that will work. You will then need 2-rail rolling stock and engines of course.
3 rail offers the easiest and cheapest path - don't have to modify cars. 2 rail is harder, because it takes up more space (40.5" radius or O-81), and you have to modify the rolling stock by paying for and installing the 2-rail truck sets (unless you buy Atlas or Weaver 2 rail cars for ex. - good out of the box). But, I don't like the appearance of 3 rail track at all (unrealistic center rail) so I prefer 2 rail somewhat.
3 Rail because it looks better, get better power connections, easy to find and you don't have to convert to 3 Rail when you get rolling stock or any type of locomotives and it will be cheaper.
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The one problem I have noticed with the scale track companies, at least what I see available on E-bay. Atlas has the ends of their rail even at the end of each piece, many of the other brands have one rail out farther then the other rail......
Micro Engineering also sell's Proto48 track, which is O scale but instead of 5' gauge it is the proper gauge of 4'8 1/2". The Proto48 or P48 will be narrower than the Atlas, Peco or Lenz and the two will not mix. Both are 1/4" = 1' for the models in all dimensions. Atlas and the rest you described would work for the old Panama railroad which did have 5' gauge for the rails.
Hi,
Enjoyed your video about different tracks. Do you know if the Atlas rolling stock will fit onto the PECO 2 rail O gauge track? Would the rolling stock have to be modified since it’s made in the U.S. and tracks are made in U.K.? Thank you for your help 😊
Do these 2-rail tracks from country fit the Rolling Stone is a yes or no
Cool
I quit model railroading long ago but I purchased 2 Atlas O, 2 rail cars today for a modern day scene on a diorama. No wiring required but I'll be detailing it pretty good. Also, question. Do you prefer medium or coarse ballast for O scale 2 rail track?? I'm leaning towards coarse but I'm not sure
For O Scale, a lot of folks including me prefer the Brennan's Model Railroad ballast. brennansmodelrr dot com
Hi Niner6, I require your expertise. Can I run high rail trains on 2 rail track? I prefer the appearance of 2 rail, but don't have the space for large radius curves (42 inch radius is my max),
Omega - to answer, no, you cannot run hi-rail/3-rail trains on the 2-rail track above. 2 reasons. One reason is, the flanges on the wheels of 3-rail rolling stock are too deep, and will "bump" over each tie because of the decreased rail height (.148" vs .215" for 3 rail). (the other reason is the 3-rail rolling stock wheels are not electrically isolated from each other, a requirement for 2-rail equipment so the transformer does not get shorted out)
As far as radii go, it sounds like you are on the border of having to do 3-rail; What you could try out is the Atlas #7011 2-rail curve, 40.5" rad. from blueridgehobbies (151-7011), Wholesaletrains, jdstrains (note the 's'), etc to see if that will work. You will then need 2-rail rolling stock and engines of course.
Niner6 Thanks, this was the clarification I was looking for.
I can run 50s Lionel stuff on my atlas O track
Do you prefer 3 rail or 2 rail
3 rail offers the easiest and cheapest path - don't have to modify cars. 2 rail is harder, because it takes up more space (40.5" radius or O-81), and you have to modify the rolling stock by paying for and installing the 2-rail truck sets (unless you buy Atlas or Weaver 2 rail cars for ex. - good out of the box). But, I don't like the appearance of 3 rail track at all (unrealistic center rail) so I prefer 2 rail somewhat.
3 Rail because it looks better, get better power connections, easy to find and you don't have to convert to 3 Rail when you get rolling stock or any type of locomotives and it will be cheaper.
But 2 Rail looks more scale