The 2 rail versions of some atlas engines come with tmcc, my question is are those engines ac?. I currently use 3 rail but I would like to switch over to 2 rail( I want to build a around the wall point to point switching layout and I like the 2 rail scale look better)I want to use as much of my 3 rail stuff as possible. Thanks
The two rail stuff is all DC track powered, but so are your new 3 rail trains, once your past th the intital electronics. Once the AC power gets to the circuit boards in your trains, it becomes DC as all the electronices and the can motors are all DC powered. This goes for all can motored locomotives, true AC locomotives are only the Lionel ones that have the old Pulmor motors in them. You will have to get ahold of each company to see whats required to convert each engine to run on DC power. I know some trains are convertable. Cheers
TMCC engines should not be fed DC, as it will damage the Railsounds electronics. They should not be getting any more DC than the 1 volt generated by the whistle/horn and bell controls when operated in conventional mode.
In other words, they’re AC.
nkalbrr,
Atlas O’s 2-rail TMCC locos are AC powered (They also sell 2 rail DC powered locos equipped for DCC).
Something you will have to investigate is rail height. Atlas 2 rail track system is code 148 or 0.148 inch in height. The Atlas 3-rail track is 0.200 inch in height for the larger and deeper flanges of 3 rail rolling stock. I am not aware if Atlas sells a code 200 2-rail track.
Some 2-rail rolling stock will operate on Atlas’ 3 rail track, but the 3-rail flanges are too deep for 3-rail rolling stock to operate on code 148 track. Some 3 rail rolling stock today have problems on the Atlas 3-rail track due to the profile being lower than most 3 rail track currently in use (the exception being MTH’s Scaletrack which may nave a slightly lower profile than Altas 3-rail track).
So your issue will be possible conversion of 3-rail rolling stock to accommodate 2-rail track.
Regards,
Roy