Why does MTH offer this if the wheel flanges are to deep for 2-rail track?
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Versatility
Heres my guess...the ability to change wheel sets on the diesels makes them more versatile, imo. So, whether you run on 2 or 3 rail track or both, the same locomotive can used with a simple swap of the wheels. Of course there are a few like myself that run scale wheels on 3 rail track.
Or if you like, use true Hi rail , Gargraves and Ross make two rail versions of their track.
toddfilms posted:Why does MTH offer this if the wheel flanges are to deep for 2-rail track?
MTH offers many of their Premier locomotives, both steam and diesel, both ways, i.e. 2-Rail (with SCALE wheels), and 3-Rail (with regular hi-rail wheels). The biggest advantage for those of us modeling in 3RS (3-Rail SCALE) is, when ordering a 2-Rail diesel model, the pilots are fixed with full length hand rails and proper pilot opening for a scale size (Kadee) coupler. Thus, by ordering a "2-Rail" version, one can then order the hi-rail geared wheel sets, and then easily convert the model for operation on 3-Rail track, providing a model with a fixed pilot and scale sized coupler.
One thing that's not that well known is that the hi-rail flanges on the MTH steam locomotives are a bit smaller than they were in the old days. They'll run on code 148 rail. This would allow running larger locomotives on sharper curves (aesthetics aside). I just wish they would have narrowed the treads so they could better clear the guard rails on 2-rail turnouts.
