I been thinking about williams trains

YES  they are great pullers

I know my two 4-6-0 locos run like a top....they are smooth and pull whatever I put behind them although I've never overloaded them to test.

hello guys and gals............

 

I have a Williams NW-2 and it is a smooth runner and I never overload any of my engines but there was a youtube of Williams NW-2 pulling 21 cars for testing and seems to have no problems. They are good pullers.  I wanted to say this,  I one time had a Williams Berkshire that had its drivers wobbling and one of the wheels is out of round too but it still ran. The Williams diesels don't seem to have those problems except mild wobbling.  One thing is for sure that is you can count on them to run every time you place a Williams locomotive on the track.  I fully trusted my NW-2 and no doubt that it will run every time I turn the throttle on.  If you decided to purchase one of the Williams locomotive make sure you check and or add grease and oil the axles before running it. My NW-2 had very little grease in the gearbox (both trucks) when I checked so of course  I put in red and tacky #2 in it before running it for the first time. After few hours of running it became the smoothest switcher I ever had.

 

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,623

Tiffany

I am a huge Williams fan.  I love the scale Hudson locomotives.  They are a huge bang for your buck.  I have several scale GG-1 locomotives converted to PS-2 and they are great runners and great lookers.    Everything made by Williams runs great.

Williams engines all have rubber tires too and will pull as well as any Lionel or MTH. 

Rob

Marty, I have one of the Williams Scale GG1's as well. I had it converted to TMCC/ERR Cruise and RS 5.0. A great runner. One curious thing though. When I back it up in reverse it makes a chirping sound. It did this from the very beginning. It has been routinely lubricated. Any ideas?

Wee've had many Williams models over the years and all have been good performers. Our most recent purchase in these handsome PRR Alco FA's that I intend to add roof antennas to and perhaps some other small details. Christopher had rewired them for smoother running and  they are great!

 

I have a Williams 746 J class and it will pull anything I've put behind it. I've had it pull 24 cars once with no problem. Just last night I ran it with my 9 car Polar Express passenger train and it ran perfectly. The same with Williams diesels in my experience, great quality and extremely smooth runners. 

Trainman9, is it in the sound or drivetrain?  Do you hear it with the sound off?  Any chance you can do a video and post it?

I had one Williams F7 do that same chirping sound and it turned out to be a squeaking pickup roller. Can be hard to figure out. 

Rob

I have a Williams Luxury Lines(now Long Island)berkshire. The smoke units are the main problem. They work fine but fail.

Williams can't be beat for the reasonable - even inexpensive - price they cost. They're great runners and lookers. I've got three Williams engines - a Texas Special AB F3 that I dropped an Electric RR sound unit in, a Western Pacific F3 and a Canadian Pacific FM Trainmaster, and all are treasured. I'm glad Williams by Bachman are now beginning to put decent sound units in engines. The old grade-crossing sequenced soundbox squawk is just plain ugly and hard on the ear. I wouldn't mind an extra few bucks for a decent sound unit on these solid performers... 

I have the Williams scale PRR GG-1 converted to TMCC, and the Williams Reading F-7 A-A converted to PS/2.  Both run well and have tons of pulling power.   I have the Williams brass K-4 waiting for a PS/2 conversion kit.

I'll turn the sound off and check that out.

I'll lube the pick up roller and see if that is the problem.

Turned off the sound and it still chirps. Lubed the roller pickups and the front and rear truck wheels and greased the gears. You can't lube the gear box without pulling the motors and that is a pain.

 

Anyway the noise seems to come from the front of the engine almost like it is inside the shell and not from the area of the wheels.

 

It only chirps when going in reverse not in forward.

Pulling the motors isn't that big a deal on the Williams, one screw and it falls out.  I'd at least check the gearbox, what you're talking about is clearly mechanical.  Since you've lubed everything else, the worm is the last stop.

I like to thank you for your replys.I was thinking about a williams class j or a berkshire.To me the only downside is the smoke unit.But other than that pretty cool locomotive.Oh I almost forgot I have 1 williams boxcar.

The lame smoke units are one of my major complaints with Williams steamers, they really need to come to the 21th Century and start using fan driven smoke.

I don't have a Williams steamer but owned a switcher, a GG, and GG dummy, an ho and an N scale f7 Williams by Bachmann(owns Williams now). Gramps had 5 or 6 early Williams, I never saw any problem with any Williams O train. With the exception of a new n scale motor burn out after about 7 hrs continuous high speed intensive labor by a rookie, no operation issues ever except that. The customer service was a pleasure for him to deal with. Once service dept contact was made by email things rolled along fine they seemed curious and anxious to resolve the issue. I also make stops at that sites forum too. Haven't really noticed complaints or reports of failings, (and oh wow, they complain there if it aint right), mostly just wishes for higher output elements or fan driven smoke. I modify most of my smoke units anyhow. From what Ive seen, Williams is the best bang for the buck period. Most have seen/held/ran had a real postwar-ish feel I like. My opinion. Its a safe bet, I don't think you'll hate it, and it could be a possible future favorite.  

Check out Trainworld they have several engines at buy an AA pair and ask for a Free B unit to go with them it does not always say this but ask and they have some available still.

 

Also they have posted sales on some of the Steam engines and the GG-1's

Although I don't have any Williams steam locos ( I love their looks however I prefer my steamers with sound ) I do have a Williams by Bachman FM Trainmaster diesel and it pulls great.  I also have an original Williams scale GG1 and scale William GG1 dummy which are on my mainline at this moment pulling a 24 car mixed frieght without any problem.  I think Williams trains are a great bang for the buck.  They are reliable and look great!  The only problem that I have encountered is that windows seem to fall out and must be reattached.  The folks at MB Kleins Train in Cockeysville Maryland have also said this same bit about the window/windsheilds falling out.   I would like to see this problem corrected.  All this said I will buy Williams locos in the future due to their operational reliability, looks and pulling power .... not to mention a lower price point over Lionel and MTH and others.

 

Patrick W

News from Patsburg.  Home of the Free State Junction Railroad ...... where the trains always run on time.

 

I've done that once and it is not really that easy. Getting it back in alignment is the issue. What I might do first is pull the shell and run the engine with the sound turned off and see where the noise is coming from.

If you are looking for conventional steamers that have good smoke units why not look for one of the recently released Lionel Conventional Classics Berkshires. They have a great whistle and good smoke. They even smoke from the steam chests. Check out the operation on You Tube. I think you will find the price right around the cost of a Williams Steamer.

I'm at a loss as to what "alignment" you are referring to.  I literally just stick the motor back into the truck with the correct orientation and put the screw back in.  The motor removal and replacement is very similar to many MTH locomotives, very easy.



Actually, I'm strictly a command guy, but when I convert a Williams steamer, I have to replace the smoke unit in addition to the command conversion.

Im a big fan of Williams. 8 of my last 10 engines are from them.

Maybe the motors on the diesels are different but I found it very difficult to re-align the gears on the motors when I removed them to add grease prior to the TMCC conversion.

I've had a number of Williams diesel motors out, and it's never been any sort of challenge to stick them back in.  Honestly, I really don't know what you're seeing.  I've had a lot more trouble with certain Lionel diesels, you have to take the truck apart to free the  motor in a couple of them.  Even that's not a big deal, but a lot more trouble than the Williams models.

 

Incidentally, I have the Williams scale GG-1 that I converted to TMCC, and I had both of the motors out of that one to do some metal work on the chassis, they went back in without any issue.

It is very simple to re-install Williams motors. Just turn the drive wheels a bit as you lower the motor in and it drops right in. The parts I don't like is the red power wire that goes down into the truck for the rollers. Sometimes that takes a bit of finess.

Rob

I turn the flywheel, but it gets the same effect.

Glad to see my old PRR Alcos are enjoying their new home