Dead-Rail Conversion of a Sunset 3rd Rail (3-Rail) 2-6-6-6 Allegheny

Introduction

This Sunset 3rd Rail (3-Rail) 2-6-6-6 Allegheny was purchased on eBay in March 2021.

Box information

While perusing the Zimo sound projects, I found the only Allegheny sound file that I’m aware of by Heinz Daeppen. I was very excited to try it out!

Dead Rail Conversion Outline

The dead rail conversion involved the following steps, most of which have been described in other posts:

  • Removal of center-rail pick-ups
  • Cutting down the 3-rail flanges on the locomotive drivers and all locomotive and tender wheels to approximate 2-rail flange profiles
  • Fan-driven smoke unit installation
  • Replacement of all lighting with LEDs: front/rear lights, marker lights, cabin light, and firebox glow
  • Zimo MX696KS DCC decoder installation in the locomotive with a Zimo coded Allegheny sound project from Heinz Daeppen (detailed information can be found here).
  • Dead rail components installation in the tender: battery, power switch, charger plug, antenna, ProMiniAir wireless receiver, and DCC amplifier

Sound Project Additions

I made the following additions to Daeppen’s superb sound project:

  • F3: Turn on/off maker lights
  • F4: Turn on/off the firebox light (a red LED with a random pulsing)
  • F5: Turn on/off the cabin light
  • F6: Turn on/off the fan-driven smoke unit

Photo Gallery of the Dead Rail Installation

Cut down flanges on front drivers
Cut down flanges on rear drivers
Cut down flanges on trailing truck
Cut down flanges on the leading truck
Cut down flanges on the tender’s trailing truck
Cut down flanges on the tender’s leading truck. The Hall sensor was NOT used for synchronizing the steam chuffs.
Smoke unit and mount side view. The smoke unit is a Lionel 6108057200.
Smoke unit and mount front view
Smoke unit and mount top view
Smoke unit and mount bottom view as installed
Smoke unit and mount front view as installed. The bottom brace was later narrowed to fit the slot formed by the thick brass mounting plate.
Kadee coupler mount side view
Dead rail components tender installation bottom view: antenna, power switch, and charging plug
Dead rail components tender installation top view: antenna connector, power switch, and charging plug
Dead rail components tender full installation top view. Note the ProMiniAir receiver on the upper left of the tender shell and the DCC amplifier on the lower left.
Dead rail components locomotive complete installation. Note the plastic cover over the transmission belt to prevent wiring from tangling with the drivetrain. A Zimo MX696KS DCC decoder with a coded Allegheny Sound file from Heinz Daeppen was installed.

Conclusion

As the photos above attest, this dead rail conversion was not too tricky, fostered by the large size of the locomotive and tender.

Demo. The coded Zimo Allegheny sound project from Heinz Daeppen is outstanding! See this information on the project.