I’m an H0 modeller since many years. I model both native European prototypes(I’m Swedish) andUS prototype railroads. But in the recent year I have become more and more fascinated by O-Gauge both the increased mass and the more freespirited approach that toy trains appear to have. I do not intend to scrap HO. I belong to a modular-club and I want to continue t develop my modules but for relaxation I am thinking 3-Rail O-gauge. I’m planning to use Atlas track for a combined indoor/outdoor railroad. Outdoors will be trains running, indoor switching and working accesories. American 3-rail O gauge is virtually non exsisting in Sweden so all my purchases will be from US dealers and e-bay. So. am I pursuing an impossible search for happyness or am I on the right track?
Heres an outdoor 3 rail layout to look at. I dont know too much about 3 rail trains outdoos but hope this helps you.
[#welcome] ami6, for three rail O gauge trains outside you will want to consider going with stainless steel track as it don’t rust even a third as quick as regular steel. GarGraves makes stainless steel track, it may cost (US money)$10 to 12 for an almost one meter (37.25 inch)section of straight track and the curves are almost as much a piece for stainless steel.
Don’t know if Atlas makes a stainless steel track.
Another thing is that you may face a power issue if you pursue TMCC or Legacy or DCS as their power systems are set up for 60hertz or cycles and I have heard that people in England have 50hertz power, don’t know about other parts of Europe. The voltages are not a big problem but the hertz issue can be a major problem.
Also try www.choochooauctions.com for three rail trains, ebay is a little high price and has junk trains at times.
Lee F.
Plenty of Europeans run American 3 rail trains. You aren’t alone by any means. There are several Europeans on this forum. Maybe they will chime in about how they acquire and run their trains.
Jim
Hej, Bertil!
If you are willing to avoid some of the newer stuff and run more traditional toy trains, you should be able to power them at 50 hertz with no problems. Many of the older Lionel transformers were specified for 50 hertz; so you can run them on 115 volts, 50 hertz from a step-down transformer or autotransformer. Lionel also made a 100-watt transformer, the RWM250, which you can use directly on your Swedish power line if you can find one. (Ebay?)
Did not think of the 50/60 hz issue with command control in O-gauge. Does anybody have more information on this?
Lionel’s TMCC and TMCC2(legacy) only operate on 60Hz. MTH’s DCS system can be set to run on 50HZ power. All of the modern(post 1985) transformers currently available are 115/120V input, so you would need a step down transformer too.
this is the basics— I’m sure that someone else can provide more specific information—
As I have no experience with 3-Rail I have to ask questions where the answers might be obvious.
I have no problem transforming 240VAC to 120VAC but i’m stuck with 50Hz
A TMCC/Legacy loco under conventional AC/50Hz will it run, will I have Sound?
If I run DCS on 50Hz, can I control a TMCC loco ?
A little more explanation about running conventional transformers at 50 hertz: Those that were specified as okay for 50 hertz can be run at their full rated voltage at 50 hertz of course. However, those specified only for 60 hertz (generally the larger ones) will likely overheat at 50 hertz and full rated voltage. Since you can’t (easily) turn the frequency up, you can compensate by turning the voltage down. A transformer rated at 120 volts, 60 hertz will operate just as well at 100 volts, 50 hertz.
So, if you have an option of transforming your 230 volts to something a little less than 115, you will put less of a strain on a 60-hertz train transformer. The output voltages will be lower in proportion; but several of the popular larger postwar transformers probably put out more at 115 volts than you will need anyway: KW–20 volts, ZW–21 volts, Z–25 volts.
Hi ami6,
Your choice in the Atlas track was a Good one, I not only like the appearance, but for your outdoor portion, this is also a Good choice. The Atlas 21st Century Track System uses a Nickle Silver for the Rails (unless you get the Steel version) which is impervious to rust, and Atlas seemed to recognize the potential of the outdoor 3 rail market, so they made the ties of a UV resistant plastic to avoid UV damage from the sun.
Three rail can be VERY relaxing, I am also a member of a Large HO club, and don’t care to give it up either, but the 3 rail trains are much more forgiving in the respect of out of scale, or non-prototypical operations. And they are JUST SIMPLY FUN TO PLAY WITH!!!
In case You were not familiar with it, the whole reason that Joshua Lionel Cowen, the founder of Lionel Trains, went to 3 rail originally was so that a kid could take a pile of track and not do anything electrically WRONG. You are probably familiar with the extra effort in 2 rail that reverse loops and Wye’s create. In 3 rail, the center rail (the “HOT” rail) is always the center rail, so what is an inconvenience in two rail, is not an issue in 3 rail. Also by insulating an outside rail and using it as the grounding side of an accessory circuit, you can use the track to operate accessories such as crossing signals automatically with no complicated or expensive detection circuitry needed.
I doubt that You will ever regret adding 3 rail to your modeling enjoyment, I would say that, YES, You are on THE RIGHT TRACK.
Doug
Pay a visit to the “Coffee Pot” thread and look for “Nick12DMC”, he is in the U.K. and can give you some insight to the 60 vs 50 hz problem. Just find one of his posts and drop him an e-mail, there are a couple of others as well but I think that Nick has had the most experience with this issue.
Look forward to hearing of your progress and [#welcome] aboard !
Thanks for the encourgement guys,
I think I will order my first O-gauge trains and tracks soon[:)]
Hi Bertil,
Welcome to the forum. I have replied to your email.
The Lionel Collectors Club UK are working on a new upgraded club website. Which will contain information and tips for running American 3-rail O here in Europe. The site should be live by the summer. I am working on a FAQ and a section on using 60Hz inverters.
Enjoy the hobby
Nick