MTH 3-2 Loco on 3 Rail Track

sxe60 posted:

I'm considering a MTH 3-2 Challenger with scale wheels and would like to get opinions on how well it would operate on non-tubular 3 rail track and switches like GarGraves.

George

Just my opinion but, "Scale wheels" generally do NOT like tubular track & turnouts, especially locomotives on small diameter curves.

Not very well.  I had a 3-rail Berkshire with scale wheels, and it really did NOT like tubular or Fastrack.  It ran OK on Atlas track, but it had issues with the Atlas and Gargraves switches.  I doubt other three-rail switches would be much better, but I didn't check them all.  In the end, it was enough trouble that I sold it.

Why? do you prefer the look of the scale wheels? is it some engine you came across for sale? or??

If you want to run on normal 3 rail track, get the 3 rail version. If you are planning to run 2 rail, get the 2 rail version.

I had two MTH PS3 2 rail steamers, that I ran in 3 rail mode. Track is all Gargraves flex and Ross numbered turnouts. Most curves are 120" and 096" and super elevated. The Hudson with standard tender stayed on the track well except for my curved turnouts 120&096 (super elevated), really didn't like the the diverging route. The drivers never jumped but the lead truck or engine truck like to derail, Larger flange wheels on the lead truck would probably solve that problem. This was also a problem sometimes on other switches. That Hudson was a real smooth runner but a poor puller on my 2.2 % grade. The locomotive was to light and the Tender to heavy, did a lot better with the die cast tender shell off. The other engine is a 0-6-0 in 2rail, it never derails and pulls a good load. It had a stalling problem on turnouts. I had a MTH train tech tie all the grounds together and install a extra third rail roller to the locomotive, it is now my favorite switcher  

Clem

I have two MTH steam locomotives with scale wheels -- an ATSF "Blue Goose" 4-6-4 and a UP 4014 "As Restored" 4-8-8-4 Big Boy. Both negotiate most of the club layout, but the sections where they have problems is a function of bad/uneven track rather than the curve radius. Both negotiate 36" radius (O-72), but it's a tight squeeze with the Big Boy. I would suspect that the Challenger would have an easier time, but the key is that your track can't have kinks in the joints or high/low spots in the curves that would cause the locomotive to ride on the pickup rollers and derail. On my YouTube channel, I have some examples of various scale-wheeled engines running on the club layout. Also note that Lionel FasTrack is measured at the outside rail rather than the centerline and the Big Boy took offense to FasTrack O-72 curves.

Thanks guys, it's as I suspected, a rather iffy situation. I had the opportunity to get the loco at good price, but it doesn't look like it's worth the problems.

George 

Phil runs his 3/2 Mohawk on GarGraves track on the CNY-NRHS' modular club layout without any issues...