MTH Dummy 2r/3r capabiity question

Well, if it's a dummy, i.e. NOT powered, why you need a "slide switch" anyway, if there are no electronics? 

Because if the axles are not insulated, the dummy unit will short out two rail track. Have access to a large 2R layout with no switches.

OK, but aren't all MTH 2-Rail wheel sets "insulated"?

Maybe, but this would be a 3 rail dummy as MTH does not appear to carry 2R dummy units. 20-20244-3 is the listing

Then all you have to do is:

1) Contact MTH and make sure that all their locomotive truck 2-Rail wheel sets are indeed insulated for 2-Rail operation.

2) Order a 6-axle diesel 2-Rail wheel sets from MTH, and change out the wheel sets.

I checked one of my catalogs and could not find an answer to your question. I don't believe the -3 indicates 3 rail. We know that -1 is Hi-Rail wheels and -2 is Scale Wheels. I could be wrong but I thought -3 indicated Non Powered. Why would MTH go through the trouble of putting 3 rail only trucks on a dummy? Wouldn't they use the same 3/2 trucks that they use on a powered model? Only without a motor?

After reading the catalog again it does say "-Proto-Scale 3-2 3 Rail/2 Rail Conversion Capable". It doesn't say that this is only for powered units. Unless everything listed under features is only for powered units. I too would like to know the answer of this question. If you find it please post it here.

I think the problem might come up that the dummies do not have solid pilots or full length hand rails.

Our guess is the -3 is the dummy p/n, not anything specific to 3 rail, but there is no 2R dummy p/n listed while there are 2R and 3R locomotive p/n's.

Maybe the two rail units need to all be powered lacking those enjoyable to replace rubber tires for pulling power. Would a rubber tired 2 axle truck with rubber tires on one axle have enough electrical continuity to operate reliably?

Anyon have a dummy unit to test?

I just checked the latest catalog (2012 Vol 2-- not next weeks catalog) and in the European section it does list a -6 for Non-powered Scale Wheels. This would indicate to me that the all -3 Non-powered engines will come with the Hi-Rail wheels. But does this mean that the -3 and -6 are not 3/2 rail capable? Can one buy the -3 and put the scale wheels on it? Or buy the -6 and put Hi-Rail wheels on it? My guess would be yes that they are 3/2 capable but I honestly don't know.

The dummy units (-3) are Hi-Rail wheels only, you would have to buy the 2R wheel sets. Then the other problem becomes the pilots are NOT fixed as they are with 2R versions (-2) making it a coupler issue as well. You'd be better off in the long run just buying two of the 2R (-2)units.

How would one test a dummy unit for electrical pickup when there's nothing inside of it?

I can tell you the 3R version has much better pulling power with its traction tires than the 2R version with scale wheels.  

Thanks. That's what I thought but I wasn't sure. I would buy the -3 for an F unit or and E unit because it shouldn't be too hard to fix the pilot but on a locomotive with handrails, IMHO, it will be a lot of work to get it right. I don't even know if I could do it. Maybe someday MTH will come out with a -6 for American locomotives.

Just tested an SD-90 3rail dummy that came with a 3/2 powered unit. Sadly the wheels are not insulated from each other. The only switch underneath just turns the cab/headlight light on and off.

Too bad, this ends purchasing any 3rail power/dummy combos to operate on a two rail layout on occasion. Not sure it is worth the cost to attempt to purchase insulated 3/2 power unit insulated axles because of cost. Why not just make all the trucks the same rather than inventory all the extra parts?

Heck think how much money Lionel saves using bright rails for all three FastTrack rails now rather than the center black. And it looks better!!

 When you purchase a dummy unit that is labeled as 3/2 capable, you just install the 2 rail wheelsets correctly and it will be good on 2 rail track. Now, some have interior lighting that unfortunately will not work once you change the wheels. The pilots and couplers also will need attention if you are a pure 2 railist. I have a couple dummies that I have never fixed the lights on because I want them mainly dark, in consist anyways. I believe it would not be too difficult to get the power pickup out of the truck. It's a shame that MTH does not include this pickup point for us.

Hi Guys,

The wheels and axles on the MTH Premier -3 dummy diesels are indeed insulated.  They are the exact same axles and truck blocks that are used on the 3-2 powered units.  Lima noted that the wheels seem to be electrically connected.  That's true, but the connection is made inside the engine where the wires from each side come together, not in the trucks or axles.  That makes is very possible to convert them to 2-rail with a little more work than a standard powered unit.  As mentioned earlier, you do have to resolve the issues of couplers, a swinging pilot, and replace the hi-rail wheelsets with scale wheelsets.  You also need to remove the shell and find the two wires coming from either side of each truck (should be black and light green).  You can separate these wires inside the engine or unscrew them from the truck and be done with it.  However, as Joe noted, you'll loose the interior lighting option.  If you want to keep the lighting you can disconnect the wire coming from the pick-up rollers and replace it with one of the wires coming from the wheels.  It takes a little effort, but you can do just about anything you want with these trucks and wheelsets.

 Dave, on the dummies I've bought, there is no wire coming from one side of the truck. That's the power point I was describing as missing. It seems they leave the trace off the bottom of the dummy trucks only?

Of course they aren't, it is a 3-Rail unit!

As stated earlier, the MTH 2-Rail wheel sets ARE insulated, so all you need to do is change out the 3-Rail wheel sets and replace them with INSULATED 2-Rail wheel sets.

Now, the swinging pilot & vertical hand rails are a different story. Thus, why not just purchase an additional powered 2-Rail model?

Hot water, I agree with Dave Hikel that the wheels are insulated. They would have to be if the engine has 3/2 capability. If what you're saying were true then MTH would have to use different wheels in their dummies than they use in their powered units. Just because a locomotive doesn't have the scale wheels doesn't mean it loses it's 3/2 capability. One could run the larger flanges on 2 rail if the track will handle it.

 Well, it would short if the 3/2 switch was thrown  to 2 rail and the three rail wheels were in place and non insulated. I'd also have to check to see if the three rail wheels are insulated. They might work better on three rail if they weren't (tying ground rails together?).

 I'm not sure if any 2 rail track would handle those flanges?? Maybe code 2000