New Williams GP30 Union Pacific Loco Overloads Transformer

Sounds like a wiring issue in the engine. Either a CW-80 or a MTH Z750 has more than enough power to run that locomotive.

I run Lionel Legacy steamers 2 at a time with smoke units off and with a CW80 that was produced 2010 (those produced before 2006 had problems) with no issues.  Maybe a call to the dealer is next.

Should be fairly easy to remove the shell, and look for unsoldered or pinched wire for a start. Check for any foreign objects, that could short or jam. It is usually something simple. Just be carefull in case you have to return it.

Chris

 Do you know for a fact the loco you have is the one you saw run ?  Make sure nothing is jamming the motors. Remove the body shell then turn the flywheels on the motors. It should take very little effort to turn them. Hold the loco with a hand on the bottom  in the middle so no weight is on the drive wheels you should be able to turn the flywheels with one finger. The gear ratio on these locos is between 10;1 and 15;1 so spin each flywheel 20 or so turns so you make sure you have passed by any binding or obstruction.  If they are hard to turn look on the bottom side at the gears and make sure that the loco has not picked up some foreign object jamming the gear train.  Even something as simple as a piece of thread picked up by the wheels and wrapped around the axles can jam it.  Examine any wiring inside the loco for rub marks where they might be rubbing on the flywheels or even loose.  If you had not mentioned you live very far from the store you purchased the loco from my first suggestion would have been to return it without any attempt to find the problem. But since you are some distance away give it a shot.  Would be nice if you can make some clear close up photos from as many angles as possible of the inside and it's wiring.  The more photos the better.    j 

I have several Williams engines.  They run smoothly and quietly and draw hardly any current.  I have a Williams GP35 that I bought specifically to run at shows-the last show it ran for hours and never got warm.  Or made the transformer get hot. So it is almost certain that either something is jamming the mechanism or some electrical problem is creating a short circuit.  If you are not comfortable messing with it I would suggest you contact the dealer.

The more I think on this the more I think that you have one motor jammed or with a loose wire to it and one motor is dragging the loco around the layout and when you crank the throttle up your current draw exceeds what your transformer can supply.  j

Advice above regarding binding is probably the ticket.  Just unwrapped a NOS Williams F3 and put it on the track this week.  Lights came on, loco wouldn't move, amps were way high.  Took off the shell and removed the screw on the underside of the truck that holds the motor in place, made sure everything turned freely, put some grease on the gears, and away it went.  I'm guessing yours will do the same, maybe with reattaching a wire.

Suggest adding an ammeter or using a transformer with an amperage display - very helpful in catching problems before something melts. 

Thanks all! I will give all of these suggestions a try and will post pics when I can.