That wacko is me. Growing up in New York City during the war years, I had the opportunity to see some layouts using OUTSIDE 3rd rail. There was a lot of 3rd rail lines around NYC at the time. Model 3rd rail layouts were reliable. The pickup was a piece of coil spring sticking out from the side of the model, running on an outside rail. It eliminated reverse loops that plagued 2 rail systems.I used to visit the huge O scale layout that was in the old Hoboken terminal in new Jersey.
I haven't been able to find any 3rd rail layouts in operation recently. Do they still exist? or have they completely disappeared. Please note: I'm not talking 3 rail tinplate, but outside 3rd rail. It was common in O scale but not used on the smaller scales. I like the idea of 3rd rail because of it's authenticity with electric prototypes. Overhead pantograph operation also interests me. To see a GG1 running on 2 rail operation with a dummy pantograph and no catenary puts me off.
At any rate, I've committed myself to 3rd rail and overhead catenary on my next layout. It will be 1:8 scale with a 7-1/2" track gauge. This large a scale will make it easy to develop 3rd rail fixtures. The layout will not be a riding layout. Control will be by radio. The engines I have built so far are constructed from wood, metals and plastics. A typical model weight around 100# and is presently powered by internal storage batteries. I have plenty of room (8 acres)
Ever since the model railroad bug bit me 70 years ago, I have been mostly a scratch builder. I laid my own track with individual ties and used interlocking tower methods to control turnouts. I built my own turnouts. I guess I have a lot of patience to build rather than use snap track. My first HO layout was powered by car storage batteries and a giant rheostat. Storage batteries are still my choice of power.
Except perhaps for those modeling the NYNH&H, or interurban/rapid transit lines, I doubt anybody is till modeling O scale with outside third rail.
I remember the late Bob Hegge used it on a part of his Crooked Mountain Lines, but that layout disappeared when Hegge died, ca. 1983. The late John Armstrong also used outside third rail for his Canandaigua Southern, which was a steam road, but I thought he converted to two rail before he passed away.
Dan
Have heard of it in both prototype and O scale, never have seen it that I know of.
Since it was mostly used for O scale, you might go over to the O scale folks at the Classic Toy Trains forums and see if any one there know of any layouts still existing.
Good luck,
I would LOVE to see some photos of that 1/8 scale equipment! What are you doing for wheelsets and trucks?
Alex
Guilford GuyI would LOVE to see some photos of that 1/8 scale equipment! What are you doing for wheelsets and trucks?
I second that motion, all in favor say "Purty Pleeeze" !!!
John
http://www.members.tripod.com/~KnightTime/bayridgemodelrailroadclub.html
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
jwhitten Guilford Guy I would LOVE to see some photos of that 1/8 scale equipment! What are you doing for wheelsets and trucks? I second that motion, all in favor say "Purty Pleeeze" !!! John
Guilford Guy I would LOVE to see some photos of that 1/8 scale equipment! What are you doing for wheelsets and trucks?
PURTY PLEEEZE! I would love to see pictures of your 1/8th scale traction equipment!
- James
Mr Ron Please note: I'm not talking 3 rail tinplate, but outside 3rd rail. It was common in O scale but not used on the smaller scales. I like the idea of 3rd rail because of it's authenticity with electric prototypes. Overhead pantograph operation also interests me. To see a GG1 running on 2 rail operation with a dummy pantograph and no catenary puts me off.
Please note: I'm not talking 3 rail tinplate, but outside 3rd rail. It was common in O scale but not used on the smaller scales. I like the idea of 3rd rail because of it's authenticity with electric prototypes. Overhead pantograph operation also interests me. To see a GG1 running on 2 rail operation with a dummy pantograph and no catenary puts me off.
Forgive my ignorance but I wasn't aware that electric locomotives such as the GG1 ran on three rail track in real life. Instead, I thought they relied on overhead catenary alone.
Recovering former former model railroader.
I have some photos I took of my models, but they are not the best quality. I'm currently involved in a carpentry job with my son, so things are a mess right now. As soon as that's done, I wil try to get my camera to work and take some better pictures. I make my own wheels and trucks from aluminum and wood. The wheels are made from Baltic Birch plywood with a thin steel strip bonded to the tread. When painted, they don't look like wood. They work well and will not see any heavy loads.
The practitioners of 3rd rail O scale are dying off. While there may be a few others not so well known, I think the passing of John Armstrong in 2004 marked the final end to an era long gone.
This site has a writeup done shortly after his death has some pictures from 2002 http://home.comcast.net/~j.sing/Eulogy_for_John_Armstrong.html
I understand that some parts of his layout were salvaged and converted to 2 rail.
Enjoy
Paul
A few years back (sevend or eight!), my brother-in-law and nephew from California visited me in the Atlanta area. He asked me if there were any club layouts to visit. I checked out the internet, and we were invited to visit the Atlanta O Gauge club, which still used outside 3rd rail at the time. They allowed us to operate trains from their raised control tower, and it was quite a thrill, especially since the operator had to power up the next block as the train entered it, and de-power the block he was leaving. Quite a feat for some rookies, but it was still a thrill. As we left, I kept thinking that a more modern control system would enhance the enjoyment of the layout, and since then DCC has come of age. I even acquired a few outside 3rd rail locomotives, but have since sold them on eBay.
I was referring to model GG1's running on 2 rail track with the dummy pantograph raised.
Thanks for the John Armstrong link.
Mr Ron I was referring to model GG1's running on 2 rail track with the dummy pantograph raised.
Ok. Sorry I missed that I was really tired last night when I read your post and was left scratching my head. Guess thats what lack of sleep does to you.
Plenty of prototype electric railroads used outside 3rd rail, either over-running or under-running, and many subway and separated-grade electric lines still do. California banned the use of exposed third-rail in 1946 after a child in Rio Linda, CA was electrocuted on the tracks of Sacramento Northern Railway's right-of-way. SN used a mixture of third rail and wire overhead, with wire in towns and third rail in the countryside. If the train didn't have to stop in a town, sometimes motormen would just coast from the edge of third rail through town to the beginning of the next third-rail segment in order to avoid having to stop to raise a pantograph or trolley pole, then drop it at the end of the wire.
I plan on having some non-functional exposed third rail on my HO scale model of the SN--as well as some overhead wire.
I model in outside 3rd rail O scale.