Converting a Hornby 2 rail to a 3 rail. it is quite a simple process.

Mindful Model Maker. how to turn a Hornby 2 rail loco into a Hornby 3 rail loco. the loco is the BR 4MT standard tank loco, I think one of the best looking locos ever made. Always test a loco before you start work on it, so if it does not work when you finish you know it is something you have done wrong.

[@robertcrewdson8611]

I think converting a Deltic to 3 rail would be challenging as the chassis are completely different mouldings.

[@mindfulmodelmaker5602]

You would need to experiment with the position of the pick ups

[@robertcrewdson8611]

@@mindfulmodelmaker5602 You would need to drill through the chassis.

[@BritishRail60062]

I like this. I assume I can do this to convert a Hornby Class 60 to work on the Marklin 3 Rail AC system?

[@mindfulmodelmaker5602]

Hi that I am not sure about,but most things are possible.

[@chriswoods2681]

Hi is there a way you can set your videoing up differently so as we can see what you are doing better please .

[@robinjeffrey8480]

Hi Chris, I am still learning about the videos, the only thing That I did see is if you could watch it on a smart phone and zoom in. I will get better. Robin.

[@coreymitchell3900]

Will this work for o gauge as well?

[@mindfulmodelmaker5602]

Hi yes I have done it on 16mm

[@coreymitchell3900]

@mindfulmodelmaker5602 thank you so much

[@defibme]

I wouldn’t solder to the holding screw thread, just the small metal plate thats always with the 3 rail pick up. And your relying on one set of wheels earthing as of course the other set are isolated from the body, hence only one side of the wheels work.

[@mindfulmodelmaker5602]

Thanks

[@skin150263]

I too think it's better to use the small insulating plate and the metal plate and then solder the wire from the brush to a solder tag, rather than soldering to the screw. It's a bit more fiddly to wire up, but if you solder directly to the screw then it makes it much more difficult to dismantle the skate for cleaning and so on. What I do to make the insulated wheels connect to the loco chassis is to scrape away a bit of the insulating bush and then use some conductive silver paint to short out the insulation. You need to have both sets of wheels connect electrically to the track for three rail locos to work properly.

[@robinforrest7680]

I’m lucky enough to have two 2-rail City of London locos. I’m seriously considering one of them to three rail, so this should be quite useful. The tender already seems to be the same as the 3-rail City of Liverpool, so I wonder whether putting plunger pickups in the tender and rewirng it would be sufficient ? Do you think it would be possible to fit some sort of switch to enable me to switch between the plunger pickups and the two rail pickups. That way I could use it either for 2 or 3 rail. I’d be grateful for your opinion. Rob

[@mindfulmodelmaker5602]

I think it will work with plunger pick ups. And I can't see why a switch wouldn't work. If I have an idea I just go ahead and try it. Thanks Robin.

[@robertcrewdson8611]

Where do you normally obtain your pickups from?

[@mindfulmodelmaker5602]

Hi I use Marklin lighting pickups around £6.00 on eBay

[@robertcrewdson8611]

Thank you

[@simonbaker6962]

Why?????

[@mindfulmodelmaker5602]

Why not