Ah, much better. Thank you, Stan. I'll splurge and get a few. 
Did you answer the question if there's any voltage to the motor in Reverse?
Also, when you cycle the Direction button do you hear the relays click? Those white boxes are relays. There are different ways to configure 2 relays to perform the reversing function but, for example, you might here one relay click when shifting from active-to-neutral, and the other relay click when shifting from forward-to-reverse. If the relays are clicking then I don't think your transistors are an issue.
Since you say you are seeing 0 voltage at the motors, did you test or consider the bridge rectifiers? I'm not clear on whether there are one or two bridge rectifiers on your particular board but if you indeed have the Williams board in the photo GRJ posted, those are bridge-rectifiers on the other side of the board according to a Williams drawing I found:
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Stan,
Yes, there are two bridges mounted underneath the board. I noticed yesterday that the board seems set up in duplicate (I'm thinking one for reverse, one for forward). I tried a tentative test on them last night, but wasn't sure how to go about it (especially when they are part of the existing circuit). But I think the point is moot for now (at least for the relays) as I already cut off the transistors as my plan was to replace them anyway (good practice and......cheap). If the diodes and transistors don't solve it, I guess I'll move on to other components. But now that I think about it, I think I did hear some clicks. Wasn't sure where it was coming from.
In any case, I'm hoping I'll have this Hudson completed this weekend. This project got a lot more complicated than I assumed. A good thing, though. It was one of those projects where each step came up with issues that had to be resolved. Thing is.....when my friends come over to watch this stuff run when I finish it, they have no clue what went into it. Kind of thing where when you remove a shell to reveal the innards, you can see the eyes glazing over. And as noted above, I went with your idea of using a 1/2 rectifier to fine tune my smoke output.
Oh.....about your question about voltage to the motors in reverse. No, BUT. When I first noticed the engine stop and not respond to direction control, I took the shell off the tender to look at the reverse board for visible damage. I messed with it for quite awhile when suddenly, the wheels turned (kind of out of nowhere) and then stopped. And never happened again. Dead. So, I think something got damaged on one side and then ultimately gave up the ghost.
John,
I wish I'd known. Ordered one yesterday. I was going to put up a WTB on the Forum, but found one on the Bay. Bummer
Thanks!
Roger
Well, hopefully, this is the finished product (tender wiring). ERR Railsounds board in rear, 2 1/2 rectifiers next, Fat Boy baffled speaker, vertical mounted reverse board and battery behind. Just track tested it and it runs, sounds and smokes exactly the way I wanted. I want to get a short video of it but have to do more temperature readings on it (so far 160 high with no shell) and have to sort out an issue with the rear engine truck shorting my 91s over some switches (always an issue with new engines until I find the spot that it hits). It only takes a tiny spark to set off those breakers.
Roger
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Stan,
You were right about the transistors (at least it appears). Yesterday, my components arrived and I removed and replaced the two diodes and all 3 transistors. No go. In fact, now there isn't any relay click. It's possible that heat from the soldering process could have done something in. But it's a dead horse now. On the plus side the Hudson runs great. I also figured out where the trips were coming from in my breakers. The rear truck on this is almost identical to the one on my PW 773 (which also tripped the breakers). Some electrical tape under it and some Super Glue on some switch rails and all is good.
Roger
Just completed a second engine with the bridge rectifier mod. This one was also a Williams......an FM that I've had for quite a while. Typical stump puller, but too quick off the line. Used 2 rectifiers in this one as I wasn't operating smoke. Perfect. It can do slow controlled starts now in conventional. I like this a whole lot better than the series solution.
Roger
