How hard is it to convert 2 rail dc to 3 rail ac

[Anonymous]

I was at my LHS that normally never has anything i am interested in. Well the prices are still MSRP even on 8-10 year old product. Well i saw a nice sunset brass 2-10-? sitting there with a lot of dust on it. At 569.00 it looks like an interesting conversion for my railroad. Pipe dream? Let me know. I enjoy small steam and this would look great. Anyway just curious. THanks Bill

[IRONROOSTER]

Assuming we're talking O scale here, you would have to change the wheels since 3 rail uses large flanges. Don't know if you can get large flange drivers to fit the current axles. You'll have to add an AC reversing unit and perhaps replace the motor if it is not a universal type. Then you'll need to add the third rail pickup (two of them so the loco doesn't stall at turnouts and crossings). Rods and valve gear may or may not work with the new drivers since the wheel diameters will have to be smaller to accomodate the large flanges. Don't know how much modification will be needed for it to get around the tight curves that 3 rail uses.

I think the real question is how much do you enjoy tinkering? making some parts from scratch? If you don't already enjoy this, you probably want to pass.
Enjoy
Paul

[areibel]

I don't think it would be too bad, if you can find the right motor to repower with, I'm not that familiar with the little AC motors? I think if you could fabricate a small wiper (or better yet some sort of roller) under the tender as a pickup for the third rail, insulate it and run a wire to the motor it shouldn't be too bad?