@Mister_Lee posted:One of my ideas for promoting two-rail would be a (relatively) inexpensive, widely-available starter locomotive—either DC powered or readily convertible to either DCC or battery power and one that uses Kadee or Kadee-compatible couplers. I think that Atlas had some good ideas but botched rheir implementation in the 1970’s: they would have done better to come out with a two-truck first-generation diesel switcher and something other than that Roco industrial switcher and those Euro-couplers, even if they were only Kadee-compatible dummy knuckle couplers. Better mechanisms would have helped, too.
I earlier stated my interest in shelf or modular/“Domino” layouts like Wingate and David Barrow’s O scale project. If we want the idea to grow, we need locomotives suitable for such projects: four axle switchers or road switchers (or perhaps an 0-6-0 or a 2-6-0) instead of another iteration of a 2-8-8-2 or an eight-axle UP Centennial.
Two rail has advantages that three rail doesn’t for people changing scales. People stepping up from HO or N can still use some of their “conventional” power supplies or DCC electronics. I run three rail with a local modular club and I’m reeling from Lionel Legacy throttle sticker shock.
i still think two-rail would do better with more widely-available locomotives. Infrequent imports and delays of more than two years squash interest, especially among those of us 60 years and up.
I tried ordering an Atlas diesel switcher six years ago. That was when Atlas started having problems with its factories. I then tried ordering a Weaver Baldwin switcher. That didn’t pan out either. I finally was able to get a pair of switchers: both are three-rail and I wish to High Heaven that someone would make a conversion kit.
shelf layouts aren’t just for full-time O-scalers either. Some O narrow gaugers would love to have a switcher move cars to the transfer table instead of moving them by hand.
IMO, the lack of a decent, readily-available diesel road switcher (or small steam power) is contributing to two-rail’s continuing decline.
I so agree! But may I add. The Hobby in general is in a state of decline , and not just 2rOS, , but across the board in all the scales, You have a couple of generations , that cant build a dam thing and for the most part dont even know how to use tools! And as long as the current manufacturers continue to load up there products with crappy over price electronics, over priced ready to run cars ( Make affordable kits) and Track Systens that are realistic , the hobby and 2R OS will continue to decline,
