New and need suggestions

Try  Trainz | Collectible Model Trains for Hobbyists I have gotten a lot of scale 0 through them

Most of us old timers call it "O Scale" which differentiated it from 3 rail "O Gauge", but that term (scale) has been somewhat appropriated by the 3 rail scale crowd.

The secondary market (train shows, auctions, Ebay, Trainz, print ads in magazines, online websites, the buy and sell board  here on OGR.

The March Meet in Chicago, O Scale West, The O Scale National. (Denver this year, I think)

Depends a lot on your disposable income. You could learn a ton just going to the March Meet and talking to people.

I wish you all the best.....enjoy the trip!

ECI

@AdamD12 posted:

Hello, all. I'm new to O gauge and I'm going to start collecting 2-rail equipment for a future layout. I'm planning to model Norfolk Southern in the late 1990's to early 2000's. I haven't had much luck finding models in this era. Does anyone have any suggestions for shops/websites which would carry these models? I know Ebay is a possibility, but I honestly haven't had much luck there. I'm open to brass models as well.

I made the change from HO to O about 1.5 years ago.  My intention was to go with 2R.  I got so frustrated with trying to find equipment I ended up going 3R instead.  When ever I post this someone will say that 2R equipment is out there.  I sincerely hope you are more successful in your endeavor than I was.  I am sure this sounds very negative but just wanted to share my experience.  I must admit though that I am into the transition era, so your chances of finding equipment may be different.  Also your budget, and where you are located can affect the outcome.

I live in Poughkeepsie, NY.  I am not willing to spend the time and money to travel the country to buy equipment.  The O scale meet is in the Chicago area.  The national in Denver.

The thing to know going in though, is that there are FAR more 3R people than 2R.  So the manufactures produced many items accordingly.  With Williams Brass Steam locomotives, that I have bought, that were produced 25 years ago, the ratio of 3R units to 2R units manufactured was about 6:1.  I have sales brochures that document this.

Also I found some items, that I really like, that were only produced in 3R.  The cost to convert 2R just didn't make sense to me.

Hope this helps and doesn't discourage, but how much "work" you want to put into the purchases for your hobby, is up to you.  I rather accept some compromise, and just have fun shopping.  I like to "tinker" so rather spend the time doing that, than traveling to buy items.

Contrary to what Jim says, there is a HUGE secondary market in 2 rail O scale, and stuff can be mail ordered with no need to travel anywhere. Atlas and Sunset 3rd Rail (don't let the name fool you) also import 2 rail O, and both sell new 2 rail stuff. If you can get to the March Meet in Chicago (the Mecca of 2 rail O) you will see tons of stuff. There's enough O Scale brass out there to sink a battleship.

ECI

O Scale Central, the former was O Scale Kings, web site has a lot of information including companies that carry O Scale two rail.

Dick

https://oscalecentral.com/

ECI

https://www.oscaledirectory.com/index.html

ECI

I think most of the replies above forgot that you want to model a more modern time period (diesels only) and more modern railroad (NS).  There will be plenty of freight cars and some passenger cars (AMTRAK) that will work for you; the hardest part will be finding more modern locomotives in 2-rail.  There are some pure 2-rail locos out there by Atlas and 3rd Rail, but your best bet might be trying to locate (on the secondary market) some MTH "3-2" rail locos WITH scale wheels.  By making a few simple changes from the 3-rail status, they can be made to run on 2-rail track and perform quite well.  You might also do well to focus on MTH engines with DCC capability, but you will have to read up on that subject.

Notice that I emphasized scale wheels.  That emphasis is not for looks (but scale wheels do enhance the appearance), but for operability if you want to run your trains on scale looking track and switches which most operators do.  So, if you don't buy locos with scale wheels, you will have to do the work to swap out wheel sets or "fix" the scale track so that other wheel sets will work just as well.

Good luck with your search.

Chuck

Hi Adam,

I model a similar era.  Unfortunatley, collecting the equipment in 2-Rail O Scale is just as much the journey as it is building the layout, especially the more modern era stuff.  The trick is to take it steady but also "pounce on it" when it becomes available.  You don't get that many do-overs, or if you do get a do-over, you end up waiting a decade for it to be re-run or finding it in the second hand market.  I starting picking up my collection back around 2011 and I see that the picken's has definitely thinned out  with regards to the modern-era stuff due to lack of re-production in last five years.  Therefore, if you see something in production that you like, then get your reservations in. 

That being said, some good options for 2-Rail dealers that still have a pretty good inventory and can also reserve upcoming items:

https://www.publicdeliverytrack.com/

http://www.caboosestophobbies.com/

Also, there are seveal nice scale Lionel modern era pieces of rolling stock that can be eastily converted to 2-Rail with just truck and coupler swap.

The Lionel Aluminum ACF covered hoppers (the body is actually extruded aluminum and they have real nice etched roof walks) are really models from that era and convert easily.  Unfortunately, Lionel (and MTH) could have a lot more 2R-worthy cars if they would've just taken the detail level up a notch further with regards to more scale thickness roof-walks and ladders but they seem to much rather build models for people with "sausage fingers" .

The Lionel 66' Mill Gondola and their 86' Auto Parts boxcar offered a few years ago make a really nice 2-Rail models after conversion (there are threads on converting these cars by 2-Rail forum search feature and Lionel even made these models 2-Rail convertable from the get-go).   Lionel 89' autoracks can also be converted to 2-rail.  I am pretty sure Lionel offered all these cars in NS roadnames, so you can seach some of the big 3-Rail resellers like Mr Muffin's trains and Trainworld to see if they have any in inventory.  Or, of course, the online auction sites.  Or even keep an eye out on Lionel site for reruns as they do re-runs more frequently, especially on newly-tooled cars.

https://mrmuffinstrains.com/

https://www.trainworld.com/

I did a 2-rail conversion to an MTH 2-bay air slide covered hopper but it involved more than just a truck and coupler swap.  Nonetheless, the model came out really nice and comperable to an Atlas Master level freight car when all said and done.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...l-with-some-upgrades

Lastly, new modern era 2-Rail locomotives are rare as hen's teeth now a days due to Atlas moving at glacial pace with producing locomotives but Sunset 3rd rail has a real nice 2-Rail SD40-2 under construction (NS High Hood is included in their list of roadnames) and they are going to close down taking reservations any day now, so if this a loco is on your want list, then don't hesitate to put in your reservation.  They are starting production now and will be shutting down reservations since, like most new 2-Rail O scale equipment, they are only being built-to-order, so this is one of those classic "snooze you lose" cases.  Doing a re-run of this loco is not likely since Sunset made it sound like they could barely get enough reservations for this first run, but nonetheless it is a go and will be shipping them later this year, so you shouldn't have to wait too long to get it (they have been taking reservations for this model for the last several years).  These will be a real nice much-needed model for "modern era" modelers and Sunset models run and sound great. 

http://www.3rdrail.com/reservation.html#SD402

Hope this helps.

Scott

There are 3 1 day O scale shows in Strasburg, PA every  year sponsored by the Cherry Valley Model RR Club.    There is a show in the cleveland Ohio area on the first sat in November.     There is another in the PHilidelphia area I think.    There is O Scale West in the san Francisco area and there is one Dallas too I think.

A good option is get subscriptions to the O scale magazines that focus on 2 rail.    One is the "O Scale Resource" which is a free online magazine that has a ton of advertisers and usually list 2 rail meets.    The other "O Scale Trains" published by White River Productions.    It is a print magazine that focuses primarily on O 2 rail.  

Many of smaller 2 rail importers and mfg do not advertise in the 3 rail magazines.

There has been a lot if good information shared by others in this tread.  I wish I had asked the question posted here 1.5 years ago.

BTW I thought of one IMPORTANT thing that I should have put in the initial post.  My age/health was also a factor in my decision to move in the 3R direction.  If I thought I had 20 years to develop my railroad empire, I might have stuck to the 2R I really desire.  When in HO I had that mindset.  However I need to keep things moving along, because I have limited time to accomplish my goal of a Operating Layout with the items I want.  That leads to many of my comments about item availability.  In 1.5 years I have been able to get more items than I need in 3R.  Actually was "inventorying what I have bought.  There may be some thinning of the heard coming.  Also I have bought ZERO new items, they are out of my price range.

@MainLine Steam posted:

........ I have limited time to accomplish my goal....

Don't we all?

There may be some thinning of the heard coming.  Also I have bought ZERO new items, they are out of my price range.

I think you will find that thinning the herd can be a constant activity that will finance the acquisition of those items that are outside your price range.

@mwb posted:

Don't we all?

I think you will find that thinning the herd can be a constant activity that will finance the acquisition of those items that are outside your price range.

I appreciate your "Words of Wisdom".  I am still learning (which is good).  The day I stop learning, will be when my time has run out.

'There are 3 1 day O scale shows in Strasburg, PA every  year sponsored by the Cherry Valley Model RR Club'

Jim, to be clear. The Strasburg shows are put on by 'Scale 2 Rail Promotions'. Which is run by John Dunn (formerly) and Rich Yoder. John is a member of the Cherry Valley club. But the club has no direct involvement with the show.

Still, the show is a fantastic opportunity to pick up all manner of 2 rail items. At largely reasonable prices.

Beth has some 2R NS stuff at Public Delivery Track, including an Atlas O NS Dash 8-40B:

https://www.publicdeliverytrack.com/2-rail/

My experience in 2 rail is to buy it when you find it or reserve it when it's announced.  I missed out on the Atlas O MP15DCs in Mopac and MRS, and only managed to find a Mopac dummy unit a few years after their release.

I also have the Sunset/3rd Rail SD40-2s on order for mainline power on my future 2R layout in retirement.

http://www.3rdrail.com/reservation.html#SD402

@PRR Man posted:

'There are 3 1 day O scale shows in Strasburg, PA every  year sponsored by the Cherry Valley Model RR Club'

Jim, to be clear. The Strasburg shows are put on by 'Scale 2 Rail Promotions'. Which is run by John Dunn (formerly) and Rich Yoder. John is a member of the Cherry Valley club. But the club has no direct involvement with the show.

Still, the show is a fantastic opportunity to pick up all manner of 2 rail items. At largely reasonable prices.

Thank you very much Chris!  Strasburg I can do.  I went to York for the first time last fall (there in back in one "long" day).  Google Maps shows Strasburg being 20 miles closer for me (coming from Poughkeepsie,NY).

Looks like next show is April 15th, I know where my tax refund is gonna get spent now!

BTW I keep saying I have bought 3R, but with Weaver/CMP Freight cars have been buying both, with intention to convert all to 2R.  With Intermountain Reefer Kits I will build as 2R.

Amherst train show, West Springfield, Ma Jan 28, 29

I have just really started OS2R also.  About 2 years ago, I started getting out of 3 Rail and into 2 Rail.  I picked up some equipment via Ebay, the FS forum here, Auction houses online etc.  2 Rail isn't as prevalent as 3 rail, but equipment is there.  You can also take most newer Lionel or MTH freight cars and convert them with wheelsets and Kadee couplers easily enough.  As was said, engines in the modern era are more difficult to find.  If it is true 2 rail from MTH which has a -2 at the end of the model # on the box.  It will also say scale wheels on the box I believe.  PS 3.0 will be easier with MTH, but don't pass up a good deal on an older MTH 2 rail and put a decoder in it.  MTH has some modern engines.  There is an MTH genset switcher on ebay right now I have had my eye on in 2 rail, but it is a little too modern for me.

The time to buy it is when you see it if it is within your budget and time period.  I have only gone to one 2 rail train show in the last 2 years...but I am going to go to the Chicago show this year and probably all the Strasburg shows since I just moved to the NE.  I also think www.publicdeliverytrack.com has a good number of modern engines from both Atlas and MTH in 2 rail.

Not sure your background with model trains.  Many good threads on here that have helped me tremendously.  Most people here are willing to help even if you have a "dumb" question.  I have even had some of these generous men message me and ask me to call them because it was easier to explain on the phone than in email.  It really is an awesome forum.  I started a thread 2 years ago that has a lot of great info in it here.

Either way take your time and enjoy the ride.

I agree with everything that @roll_the_dice and @Scott Kay have said, as that is nearly everything that I would recommend. I will say that there is someone selling some 2-rail MTH NS locomotives on da bay if you are interested. Another good store that has a good working website with 2-rail stock is Peterson Supply. Also, not yet mentioned, Caboose Stop Hobbies has a weekly live show on their youtube channel on Monday nights that you can skim through to see what they have in stock. Finally, Spring Creek Model Trains has some 2-rail rolling stock that is still available.

I have a lot of 2 rail engines. I don't remember traveling anywhere to get any of them. Timing is everything.

OMI made premium 2 rail O scale engines and they stopped. Also Precision Scale and others like them.

Atlas had 2 rail engines with TMCC. They went away. MTH had 2 rail engines with DCS and later DCS/DCC onboard. They now went away.

3rd Rail offers 2 rail engines.

Atlas bought MTH molds and promises future 2 rail deliveries.

People want stuff easily and right away. The train business seems to come and go over the years. Enthusiasts get envolved, make products available, grow old and retire. Cycle of life.

2 rail O has been around for many, many decades. Hopefully, it will continue and become more available for the new generation. Your local train shop is just selling what they can easily get, and easily sell. If you want 2 rail, you have to dig a little deeper. It's still right at your fingertips.