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I have been experimenting making operating outside third rail inexpensively. The enclosed diagrams show the basic idea. They are self-explanatory. Please don't ask for pictures. For the actual third rail I have experimented. Smaller 0 rail from micromark works well. I tried HO rail, but it is too soft and bends in the middle with use. At the end of a section the rails are champhored and bent down to permit the shoe to ride and not catch. I used machine bolts rather than screws. Adjusting the height is critical. Dimensions are not critical, but if you use a plastic tie and screw the bolt in you might crack the plastic. I made a long section of third rail with chairs and glued it into oversized holes in the plastic ties. You will have to sacrifice a section of track to get the extra tie pieces. You want an exact match with the existing tie. Hint the least expensive brass bolts  are easiest to file. from Home Depot  Thickness of the brass strip is not critical, but too thin is not a good idea. Use a jig to bend. For insulators I have used white plastic "Pony Beads" with a 4mm hole. Plastic beads can have the hole enlarged. Glass beads cannot.

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Last edited by Tommy
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Contact Joe Frank forum member if you just plan on operating 2r transit cars. He is the guy for that fine modeling stuff.

The plan shown above looks good but there are other things to consider.           

I made non-operating 3rd rails using H.O. rail but they are not practical in O if you plan on operating diesels, GG1’s and cars over 60 feet in scale on curves. There are too many sizes of bodies, overhangs, trucks, passenger – caboose steps and hanging air tanks in O, thus ripping them out during operation. O is not standard like H.O. I removed several sections of side 3rd rail because the top boards were destroyed by items other than subways. I think these sections were slightly higher than others. Very hard to install. If you move them back to accommodate clearance to run freight, it will affect the DC operation as well.

For me, it was months of extra work just to get the look. Not worth the effort unless you strictly run subways or known same size cars. I didn’t want to limit myself just to transit cars when there are so many other motive power units and freight cars out there to enjoy.

I don’t know where you will find 2r transit cars or all the parts needed for DC conversion either. Sounds very expensive and time consuming just to satisfy the goal. Good luck!

Last edited by SIRT

I also modified an MTH IRT set to run on prototypical outside third rail. It is easy, and you don't even have to remove the rollers. I placed a sliding contact arm under the body of a second unpowered car, connecting it to the first by a cable.  Am fooling with various assemblies, and thinking of offering it as a kit. The lights draw a lot of amps. It is somewhat limited in radius, but the two-car consist runs well and in a tunnel section on a test layout where I have regular inside third rail. With this set-up you can have prototype third rail in a station, and use regular track where it cannot be seen. No need to alter the motors. I did this because if I ruined the car I didn't want it to be the power car, but a less expensive trailer. I eventually added a second contact arm to the same car to cover gaps in the third rail. With a six car set,  and only one  car with outside pick-up,  with interior lights, the amps are two high for the small pickups, which heat up..

Last edited by Tommy

Q Car Company makes third rail chairs IRT type and IND BMT type. They are white metal and are for using HO rail. He also makes trucks for many subway cars along with third rails shoes and shoe beams. They are dummy's  but can be converted  for operation. The trolley poles are functional. All his motors are 12 volt DC and he can provide two rail insulated or straight DC using outside third rail and or overhead wire operation. Steve Olsen operates his cars using outside Third rail as does the Bay Ridge Model Railroad Club.  Joe Frank, Bob Olson and  I operate using Two rail with a dummy outside third rail. I have run 2 rail scale trucks on Gargrave track without issue. Mostly in a subway environment where the tracks are not readily visible. Gargrave made  2 rail track for many years with outside third rail mounted on longer ties every  4 or 5 ties. They also made chairs. They may still would produce the track if asked to. The chairs could be made quite easily. If you are serious give them a call.

Happy New Year to all.

Nate

 

prrjim posted:

The old timers put screws in the roadbed next to the track and soldered rail to them.    They did no put the covers on them because the ones I have seen were modeling steam or diesel powered lines, not electric ones.    

Your system looks great to model prototype outside 3rd rail.

I have a section of 2 rail track that has the outside 3rd rail insulators that look exactly like the very old brown porcelain one from the early 1900's ..they are so perfect complete with holders for the rail..this was done by modelers of the 1930's..will add a picture soon.

Anthony Casamassima posted:
prrjim posted:

The old timers put screws in the roadbed next to the track and soldered rail to them.    They did no put the covers on them because the ones I have seen were modeling steam or diesel powered lines, not electric ones.    

Your system looks great to model prototype outside 3rd rail.

I have a section of 2 rail track that has the outside 3rd rail insulators that look exactly like the very old brown porcelain one from the early 1900's ..they are so perfect complete with holders for the rail..this was done by modelers of the 1930's..will add a picture soon.

 

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