how to convert my dads 2 rail mth 20-3300-2 premier daylight steam engine, inherited by me, to use on my 3 rail trainboard

It looks like the roller is attached to the same plate as the axle wiper. That may be the problem.

Trying to figure this out from the manual since that is showing pickups on the tender, however, I highly suspect there should be an insulator under the pickup, between it and definitely not shorting it to the same plate that is the axle wiper.

You also have to flip the switch, but again, right from the start, clearly we cannot have metal on metal contact between the pickup roller and an axle wiper contact.

Again, that said, it appears other PS3 versions of the same basic engine are done entirely differently with pickups at the engine.

Also, the parts breakdown for this engine shows the pickups at the engine, however, being honest, I know this is not the best source for the most accurate information by model. https://www.mthpartsandsales.c...lists/154?type=lists

and then no pickups at the tender

But then also showing PS1 electronics, so we know that's not correct.

This I think is the engine insulator plastic pieces

But then  the manual shows these huge gaping empty holes in the engine like it was never wired for pickups and not even the standoff threaded posts are there with the upper insulator

I tried finding a recent sale on ebay of the 3 Rail version 20-3300-1 however, the most recent sold one did not include an upside down picture to show the pickup arrangement.

why?

Email MTH Parts and they may be able to help you figure this one out. I know they have answered so pretty tough questions for me in the part and parts controls all the diagrams. You could reach out to GunRunner John he is really Sharpe on this stuff.

@Dave Koehler posted:

why?

Maybe a question better posed on the 3RS section of the forum.

@bucca mwb is probably correct in that this belongs in the 3R forum. From your compressed image it looks like you have scale wheels not high rail wheels. You may find this engine will not run on 36 dia 72 radius curves used in 3R. I have the 3R version and it wants only well laid track common in 2R often uncommon in 3R.

Send me a private email if you have questions to get this off the 2RS forum.  Jeff