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Offline heinrichhess  
#1 Posted : 30 July 2023 23:59:35(UTC)
heinrichhess

United Kingdom   
Joined: 20/05/2023(UTC)
Posts: 214
Location: Wales, powys
im looking for ho models 3 rail of the commodore vanderbilt, dreyfuss hudson and mercury i ave found large scale and 2 rail in ho
mercury.jpgcomador.jpgdreyfuss hudson.jpg

hess
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by heinrichhess
Offline dickinsonj  
#2 Posted : 31 July 2023 01:22:56(UTC)
dickinsonj

United States   
Joined: 05/12/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,728
Location: Crozet, Virginia
Good luck from a big US rail fan here. These are amazing locos but I am not aware of any 3-rail versions.

Hopefully I am wrong and someone will correct me. ThumpUp

Good luck!

Jim
Regards,
Jim

I have almost all Märklin and mostly HO, although I do have a small number of Z gauge trains!
So many trains and so little time.
Offline 5HorizonsRR  
#3 Posted : 01 August 2023 22:38:55(UTC)
5HorizonsRR

United States   
Joined: 05/12/2004(UTC)
Posts: 2,907
Location: CA, USA
The commodore vanderbilt JUST came out in 2 rail for the first time as a good commercially available model from Broadway Limited. I've seen it, and it is absolutely fantastic.

I have to wonder how hard a 3 rail conversion would be. Thoughts:

1- Electrically no problem, join the outer rail pickups and solder in a new center rail feeder
2- Mounting the pickup shoe I'd have to look at, I think the tender bogies are the only logical place to do so. Probably not terribly hard
3- Track behavior is the hard part:
- If you aren't running C track, I think its out of the question on anything more than an oval without turnouts, crossings etc.
- remember it is for 18" or greater radius.
- You will want to adjust axle spacing to the AC 13.8mm (easy with the correct tools)
- Assuming all of that works out fine, then you are good, but any surprise issues will be very difficult to fix/correct. Keep in mind the
manufacturer would not have tested anything for AC tolerances/flanges etc or marklin trackage


Hope that helps?
SBB Era 2-5
Offline heinrichhess  
#4 Posted : 01 August 2023 23:56:36(UTC)
heinrichhess

United Kingdom   
Joined: 20/05/2023(UTC)
Posts: 214
Location: Wales, powys

hess
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by heinrichhess
Offline heinrichhess  
#5 Posted : 02 August 2023 00:12:34(UTC)
heinrichhess

United Kingdom   
Joined: 20/05/2023(UTC)
Posts: 214
Location: Wales, powys
Originally Posted by: 5HorizonsRR Go to Quoted Post
The commodore vanderbilt JUST came out in 2 rail for the first time as a good commercially available model from Broadway Limited. I've seen it, and it is absolutely fantastic.

I have to wonder how hard a 3 rail conversion would be. Thoughts:

1- Electrically no problem, join the outer rail pickups and solder in a new center rail feeder
2- Mounting the pickup shoe I'd have to look at, I think the tender bogies are the only logical place to do so. Probably not terribly hard
3- Track behavior is the hard part:
- If you aren't running C track, I think its out of the question on anything more than an oval without turnouts, crossings etc.
- remember it is for 18" or greater radius.
- You will want to adjust axle spacing to the AC 13.8mm (easy with the correct tools)
- Assuming all of that works out fine, then you are good, but any surprise issues will be very difficult to fix/correct. Keep in mind the
manufacturer would not have tested anything for AC tolerances/flanges etc or marklin trackage


Hope that helps?


Thanks out side my skill set how ever adapting a shell to fit a BR 78 is in my skill set

78.jpg
Offline heinrichhess  
#6 Posted : 04 August 2023 23:51:11(UTC)
heinrichhess

United Kingdom   
Joined: 20/05/2023(UTC)
Posts: 214
Location: Wales, powys
just won a Rivarossi HO Streamlined Hudson so time for my firs 3 rail conversion Crying

hudson dryford.jpg

hess
thanks 2 users liked this useful post by heinrichhess
Offline dickinsonj  
#7 Posted : 05 August 2023 01:37:51(UTC)
dickinsonj

United States   
Joined: 05/12/2008(UTC)
Posts: 1,728
Location: Crozet, Virginia
Wow - that is one beautiful locomotive, well worthy of a conversion.

Good luck and please share your outcome. ThumpUp
Regards,
Jim

I have almost all Märklin and mostly HO, although I do have a small number of Z gauge trains!
So many trains and so little time.
Offline 5HorizonsRR  
#8 Posted : 05 September 2023 17:05:03(UTC)
5HorizonsRR

United States   
Joined: 05/12/2004(UTC)
Posts: 2,907
Location: CA, USA
Hi all,

I thought I'd update this thread, as I bought a Broadway Limited Commodore Vanderbilt LOL I couldn't help myself

The locomotive is fantastic. As to conversion, I don't think it would be terribly hard (caveat- I did not open it to confirm this on the electronics end). My concern would be the RP25 DC profile wheelsets. Not a chance with M track, K maybe?, C would be your best shot due to the smaller rail profile.

The loco body and tender shell are metal, and it has some heft, so it tracks well- I'd just make sure that trackage itself is flawless.

Unrelated- I know Marklin and BLI shared costs on the UP 844 project, it was funny to see the packaging for this locomotive practically being a Marklin box!
SBB Era 2-5
Offline heinrichhess  
#9 Posted : 05 September 2023 20:11:31(UTC)
heinrichhess

United Kingdom   
Joined: 20/05/2023(UTC)
Posts: 214
Location: Wales, powys
Originally Posted by: 5HorizonsRR Go to Quoted Post
Hi all,

I thought I'd update this thread, as I bought a Broadway Limited Commodore Vanderbilt LOL I couldn't help myself

The locomotive is fantastic. As to conversion, I don't think it would be terribly hard (caveat- I did not open it to confirm this on the electronics end). My concern would be the RP25 DC profile wheelsets. Not a chance with M track, K maybe?, C would be your best shot due to the smaller rail profile.

The loco body and tender shell are metal, and it has some heft, so it tracks well- I'd just make sure that trackage itself is flawless.

Unrelated- I know Marklin and BLI shared costs on the UP 844 project, it was funny to see the packaging for this locomotive practically being a Marklin box!



i brought a Rivarossi Hudson the whees would work may be swap them over

roisy.jpg
Offline 5HorizonsRR  
#10 Posted : 05 September 2023 20:28:48(UTC)
5HorizonsRR

United States   
Joined: 05/12/2004(UTC)
Posts: 2,907
Location: CA, USA
Those wheels might be marginally better, but in theory would give you the same trouble. RP25 (the DC standard) flanges are much smaller/shorter/"less deep" than Marklin's

I run DC for american prototype, so my loco is good to go as-is
SBB Era 2-5
Offline heinrichhess  
#11 Posted : 06 September 2023 11:02:02(UTC)
heinrichhess

United Kingdom   
Joined: 20/05/2023(UTC)
Posts: 214
Location: Wales, powys
hhd.jpg

hess
Offline joseluisvalde  
#12 Posted : 27 September 2023 19:09:49(UTC)
joseluisvalde

Spain   
Joined: 02/04/2014(UTC)
Posts: 94
Location: san sebastian

I have that BLI Commodore Vanderbilt locomotive converted to 3 rails, and some others. They work perfectly on via C Marklin.

Regards


thanks 1 user liked this useful post by joseluisvalde
Offline joseluisvalde  
#13 Posted : 27 September 2023 20:45:21(UTC)
joseluisvalde

Spain   
Joined: 02/04/2014(UTC)
Posts: 94
Location: san sebastian
5HorizonsRR wrote:

"- I know Marklin and BLI shared costs on the UP 844 project, it was funny to see the packaging for this locomotive practically being a Marklin box!"


Yes, it seems that there was a Marklin / BLI collaboration especially over the dynamic smoke issue.
I bought the Marklin UP 844 and the problems I had with the smoke made Marklin ask me to return it (after two repairs) and they returned my money, because they did not guarantee a good result.
I now have a BLI UP 844 that works perfectly with smoke.
thanks 1 user liked this useful post by joseluisvalde
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