3 rail to 2 rail conversion

You can ask Matt at Forsyth Rail Services if he’ll take the job

There is a guy in the Indy area that does p48 conversions.  He might also be wiling to do 3-rail to 2-rail.  If he can do p48, he can do 3-rail to plain old 2-rail.  I think his business name is Hanson Rail Service or something to that effect.  He had a table at the Indy show this year, and he's the guy that runs the p48 meeting at the Chicago and Indy shows.

Matt Forsyth is definitely a good option as well. 

EDIT: well, I got part of that wrong.  Wrong Hanson.  I think Paul Hanson does the p48 meetings, and Jim Hanson does the conversions.  I still don't have any contact info for him though.

Jim

I will give Matt a shot, thanks for the response guys!

Mike

Mike, I have Jim’s H’s contact info too if you need it.

John

Thanks John, I will probably be contacting you for that info.  

Mike

I assume you are referring to the Pennsy G5. Weaver produced this in both 2 and 3 rail. It would probably be less expensive to sell the 3 rail model and search for a 2 rail one. 

You are exactly right Dave, Weaver definitely made these in 2 rail BUT I have only seen 3 of them offered in the past 5 years and they were all priced at over $500, much higher than a conversion.  Because Weaver produced 10x more 3 rail versions than 2 rail, they seem to be pretty scarce?  I actually ordered a 2 rail version when they were new but was put on a waiting list because of the demand at the time. I purchased the 3 rail version with the idea of converting it down the road.  Here I am 25 years later, ready to pull the trigger. 

Cadillac Mike posted:

I purchased the 3 rail version with the idea of converting it down the road.  Here I am 25 years later, ready to pull the trigger. 

Why the big rush? 

Simon

68" drivers?  You might keep an eye open for USH drivers and just do a swap.  I have been buying those 68" drivers for $25/axle since the days of LocoWorks.  They work out to 63" in 17/64, a very common size.  They must have imported hundreds separately from the Alleghenies.

Cadillac Mike posted:

You are exactly right Dave, Weaver definitely made these in 2 rail BUT I have only seen 3 of them offered in the past 5 years and they were all priced at over $500, much higher than a conversion...............

The estimated $500 cost of a 2 rail engine will be offset with the sale of the existing 3 rail model.  The last engines we had converted came in at $55.00 per axle. 

Tom Tee posted:

Cadillac Mike posted:

You are exactly right Dave, Weaver definitely made these in 2 rail BUT I have only seen 3 of them offered in the past 5 years and they were all priced at over $500, much higher than a conversion...............

The estimated $500 cost of a 2 rail engine will be offset with the sale of the existing 3 rail model.  The last engines we had converted came in at $55.00 per axle. 

Was that Joe's price?  Have to expect that anybody else picking up this sort of work is going to charge more. Joe was very generous with his pricing.

Agreed.  We charged $80/axle two decades ago.  I still have a set of T1 drivers redone for that price.

Joe charges $60/ axle when he is able to take on the work. I have been quoted anywhere from $60-75/axle.  Since I have already done the pony trucks and tender wheels, I am looking at $180-200 for the conversion which is still a far cry from buying a two rail model at $500+ plus I can use my existing engine which has sentimental value.  I found a set of 2 rail drivers in my scrap bin that may fit the bill if the bearings are the right size. I have all of the needed linkage, etc. so I may not have to send out the model.  Going to work in this after the new year. 

That's the easiest way.  Often, though, you will need a new main frame.  My MTH Hudson and Lionel FEF have different drivers (Lobaugh and USH) and new main frames.  I got a hundred bucks each on eBay for the old stripped frames.

I wouldn't touch a Lionel driver for less than $120.  Maybe if I had an automatic screw machine for the tires . . .