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3 Posts
Hello all,
I've recently become aware that, back in the heyday of three-rail O Scale modeling (~1930s-1950s), it was not uncommon for modelers to modify their rolling stock to draw power from a more-prototypical outside third rail instead of the (in)famous center rail.
Out of curiosity, would it be possible to power an S Scale layout in a similar manner?
The two largest concerns I've got are the smaller size than O (not just in terms of laying the rail, but creating a suitable pickup/shoe that's not too large) and the fact that a powered third rail is somewhat of a superfluous addition to a two-rail scale. It's a given that any rolling stock on this hypothetical layout would have to be either scratchbuilt or extensively modified, but since there doesn't seem to be too much available in the way of S Scale traction, that would be an issue with a more conventional two-rail layout as well.
Now, since you might be wondering why somebody would willingly create all of this extra work for themselves, let's say that this hypothetical modeler is fond of both prototypical outside third rail operations (interurbans and rapid transit) as well as S Scale in general.
This can't really be significantly more difficult than building N Scale layouts powered by operational overhead line and trolley poles (which I've seen done), can it? :dunno:
I've recently become aware that, back in the heyday of three-rail O Scale modeling (~1930s-1950s), it was not uncommon for modelers to modify their rolling stock to draw power from a more-prototypical outside third rail instead of the (in)famous center rail.
Out of curiosity, would it be possible to power an S Scale layout in a similar manner?
The two largest concerns I've got are the smaller size than O (not just in terms of laying the rail, but creating a suitable pickup/shoe that's not too large) and the fact that a powered third rail is somewhat of a superfluous addition to a two-rail scale. It's a given that any rolling stock on this hypothetical layout would have to be either scratchbuilt or extensively modified, but since there doesn't seem to be too much available in the way of S Scale traction, that would be an issue with a more conventional two-rail layout as well.
Now, since you might be wondering why somebody would willingly create all of this extra work for themselves, let's say that this hypothetical modeler is fond of both prototypical outside third rail operations (interurbans and rapid transit) as well as S Scale in general.
This can't really be significantly more difficult than building N Scale layouts powered by operational overhead line and trolley poles (which I've seen done), can it? :dunno: