ERR upgrade for Williams Mikado

If it's a DC motor, I'd use the Cruise Commander.  OTOH, some of the old Williams stuff had open-frame motors, in that case the AC Commander is the ticket.

Thanks John, I will verify the type motor.

I've never personally seen the Williams with the AC motor, but I've been told repeatedly that they exist.  I'm more into the modern stuff, and all the Williams stuff I've seen and worked on have had the DC motors.

The very first Brass engine made by Williams was USRA 2-8-2. It had a DC motor and didn't run very well. I think they all came unlettered. Some time later they came out with a much better USRA 2-8-2 lettered for different roads. Not sure if this one was made by Samhongsa or not but its a much better engine and worth upgrading. It also had a DC motor.

I don't know about AC motored Williams but have heard some came without E units but included a diagram of how to install a Lionel E unit.

Pete

Wasn't the first Williams brass steam loco a Pacific?

Bob posted:

Wasn't the first Williams brass steam loco a Pacific?

Bob, I was not into 3 rail in the early '80s but did own one of the early Mikados about 10 years ago. Williams may have produced a Pacific at the same time since they both would have used the same bodies.

This is the early Mikado. Lettering done by the PO.

Pete

Not a Williams expert

Norton posted:

Bob posted:

Wasn't the first Williams brass steam loco a Pacific?

Bob, I was not into 3 rail in the early '80s but did own one of the early Mikados about 10 years ago. Williams may have produced a Pacific at the same time since they both would have used the same bodies.

 

This is the early Mikado. Lettering done by the PO.

Pete

Not a Williams expert

That's a Pacific. A Mikado is a 2-8-2.

- The first Williams brass locos (2 Hudsons, a Pacific and some Baldwin Sharks - I think that was all) were made by a builder whose identity I do not know. They were visually pretty good, but ran fairly poorly sometimes; they can be improved with modern electronics. Delicate, a bit, but I like them. Some, I think, came only with a rectifier and ran only in forward. The ones I have - a couple - came with a reversing unit.

- The Middle Period Williams brass steamers were Samhongsa-built, and really very nice. Good, basic detailing. Excellent value now. USRA Pacifics and Mikados; Niagaras. Love them. Weaver offered some locos from the same builder. 

- Last Period Williams brass steamers ("Masterpiece") have yet to be discovered by most; high-end; excellent models. Prices are still low. Don't tell anyone.

- After that, all became die-cast, most sub-scale toys. And they run like it. (Except the 4-6-0.)

Some very early Williams electric and diesel body kits (E60, for example) were intended to be used on Lionel AC-motored chassis. This may be where the O-gauge "AC-motor-Williams" myth (if it's a myth...) came from.

Williams also offered Standard Gauge Tinplate repros way back when; these would have had AC motors, I suppose.

Oh yeah - after all my blather - put an ERR Cruise Commander in it; you could do sound, also, but the Railsounds Commander could always be added later, and you can keep this very simple at the beginning. Comfort level, and all that. I have a Williams brass Mike with ERR Cruise Commander (no sound, at least not yet), and with that excellent brass loco gearing plus ERR Cruise, it runs smoother and slower than the Legacy locos that I have seen. Quiet, too. Very adult model.

RoyBoy posted:

Norton posted:

Bob posted:

Wasn't the first Williams brass steam loco a Pacific?

 

That's a Pacific. A Mikado is a 2-8-2.

Ooops, well thats embarrassing. Speaks to my memory or lack of it as well as my lack of observation. I should have caught that when I found the picture. Bob is absolutely right, this Pacific was Williams first  brass engine.

I was going to put command in it but found it too many mechanical issues. Later Williams is much better and worth the effort.

Pete

D500 posted:

Some very early Williams electric and diesel body kits (E60, for example) were intended to be used on Lionel AC-motored chassis. This may be where the O-gauge "AC-motor-Williams" myth (if it's a myth...) came from.

Williams also offered Standard Gauge Tinplate repros way back when; these would have had AC motors, I suppose.

I've often wondered why I never saw a Williams AC motored locomotive, so maybe it really is a myth.

The Williams E-60 with a Lionel Chassis and AC motor is no myth.  I have one.  I purchased it in 1980 from Charles Ro.  The Chassis and motor is for a Lionel GP7/9.  Runs OK.  I added OMS sound for an E-60 and TAS UCUB  board.  Sound is OK, not anywhere near todays standard.

Norton posted:<snip>

<snip>

This model fairly shouts B&O P-7. Anyone ever measured one to see what the nearest prototype is? Also, how does it run?

Those first run Williams Pacifics have a horrible reputation as a runner. 

Bob posted:

Those first run Williams Pacifics have a horrible reputation as a runner. 

What Bob says. Not worth upgrading unless you like challenges. 

Pete

I have 2 Williams Crown Edition (Samhongsa?) 2-8-2s and a single 4-6-2, LOVE them!

When I got them I installed PS2 in them and they ran and sounded great, now I have BPRC installed (no sounds) and they still run great.

PS2 does require a bit of machining (Dremel) and playing around with the tach tape but it was easy enough I could do it, so anybody with a bit of skill can do it too.

Of course they've been modified to look like SAL units (except 492).  492 and 411 were initially the same model.

Oh, forgot about the Williams brass N&W 611:

rb2hogger posted:

The Williams E-60 with a Lionel Chassis and AC motor is no myth.  I have one.  I purchased it in 1980 from Charles Ro.  The Chassis and motor is for a Lionel GP7/9.  Runs OK.  I added OMS sound for an E-60 and TAS UCUB  board.  Sound is OK, not anywhere near todays standard.

Thanks, so it's not total fabrication.  I've never seen one, so I was beginning to wonder if they existed.