Question for the experienced

It depends on what you are trying to do.  

You can rewire them in series which will slow them down.  

You can add a string of Diodes to drop the starting voltage.

You can gut the engines and install ERR boards, with or without cruise

You can use alternate power supplies e.g. modern ZW or new ZWL or TPC's.

First three involve opening up the engines and making changes to them.  They are also in order of increasing expense and complexity.

Last one is least complicated but most expensive.  I don't know if the new Legacy PM will offer much in the way of a performance improvement (it isn't out yet).  The original PM does use a modified sine wave but the speed step variation is stuck at 32.

Changes to the loco's follow the loco, changes to your power supply stay with your layout.

Another option not mentioned is to use a different transformer like a Troller Corp. TAC 2001 that has two voltage selections so you can use it with Lionel or Williams. Also has two outputs, so you can run one track at the 0 to 9 volt range and the other at 0 to 18 volt range, and has whistle control buttons.

I am using a postwar 275 watt ZW and never had a Williams start too fast for me.

Is it possible the newer transformers are putting out too much starting voltage? The newer ZW and CW-80, do they have a high starting voltage?

Lee Fritz

Newer units actually have lower starting voltages as they were mostly designed for use with can motored modern trains.  The PW stuff starts out at 5-7 volts because that's what you needed to get the older open frame motors turning.

Thanks.  I don't think a new transformer is in the cards.  I have a PW ZW that has been stored for over 20 years.  I am currently using a MRC 270 watt transformer that had the walk around controllers.  It has been very useful over the years but I have no idea what the starting voltage might be.  As a side note, the variable voltage on this unit does not play well with TMCC so I use the 14V fixed output for TMCC (which works great) and the variable output when I want to run conventional.  Since converting to TMCC I have enjoyed the freedom so that is the source of my question.  I did see the review of the WBB GP30 in the last ORG which indicated that it ran quite well at the lower starting voltage.  That's why I was wondering if a power master would provide a lower cost alternative (than upgrading or modifiying) to obtain finer control for my existing WBB locos.

New Legacy PM will support 32, 120 or 200 steps.  Original will only do 32.  Original uses a chopped sine wave and should have some impact on low speed performance.  Original works with CAB-1.  PM-L requires a CAB-1L or CAB-2.