Upgrading Williams brass Challenger to TMCC

Bunch of things to consider, I’ll start with what I know, and let others chime in,……Williams locos from this era are noted speed demons with hi-reving amp hog motors……..naturally, amp hog motors make electronics run hotter than they should. Best to know the motor in the locomotive won’t tax the planned electronics package to be installed. Some on here have swapped in better motors that aren’t as amp hungry,….

Pat

Pat certainly has a great idea, putting a Pittman in that locomotive would be a plus!

If you want the "full" upgrade, you'll be using the ERR Cruise Commander, ERR RailSounds Commander.  My solution for chuffing smoke is using the MTH fan driven smoke unit and my Chuff-Generator and Super-Chuffer.

You mention you have not done this before. I would suggest taking one of your TMCC engines apart and getting an idea of the components, their locations, and how they are mounted. Some shy away from upgrades because of their unfamiliarity with the electronics buts its actually the mechanical modifications that can require the most skills. Making brackets for smoke units, making holes for switches and pots, modifying shells for tethers and antennas.

Because ERR/TMCC requires an antenna that limits where you can put the receiver boards. Putting it in the engine means fewer wires to the tender but on this brass engine creating the antenna which has to reside outside the existing shell very complicated. So the boards will likely end up in the tender which is easier to isolate but means many more wires in the tether to drive the motor, lights, smoke unit and maybe synchronized chuff sounds.

Doing a TMCC upgrade on a plastic diesel might be a better first project to get your feet wet.

Pete

Pete has a good plan there, diesels are very easy to do with ERR.