When I made my 12 foot test track I used Atlas 21st century 3-rail and pulled off the center rail for a 2-rail run. (It's just what I had on hand at the time in long sections.)
Works just fine aside from the aforementioned scale fidelity.
I have it connected to my Lionel ZW-L using one of my old-New Stock Lionel G scale ac-dc converter boxes. It works great for the test track. Allowing me to use the same ZW-L to conventionally power three different tracks 3R, 2R, and HO.
Besides the test track, I doubt I would use that same power set up on anything larger than a small room loop.
Since I have quite a bit of 3R and 2R locomotives my previous layout was multiple loops and my next one will be as well. (If I ever get around to building it)
Currently, I'm experimenting with a layout using one loop of Atlas 3R track to be dual purpose 3-Rail and 2-Rail. (A simple round-the-room shelf layout, the center rail wouldn't really be visible at that height.) Atlas track rails are isolated so I'm working on a simple switch out section of track for the power. I can then flip a switch to dedicate the same tracks as either three rail or two rail depending on how I want to power it.
(If I was smarter, I would have thought of it earlier and just made the test track that way.)
Heresy??!! Maybe.
But it keep things fun for me. An around the room shelf layout in my poker room isn't exactly "scale" anyway.
3rd Rail's E7 (2R) on the closer track...
(I previously posted this vid on my other thread.)
