WBB PRR S2 SMOKE UNIT QUESTION

I have been using nothing but mega-steam in my WBB 4-6-0 which also has the sleuthe unit, and I have not had any issues. The only thing is that if you go to refill it when it has been in use, it will spit a bit, and it is very possible to burn yourself on it (don't ask me how I know that...lol)

I think some smoke fluids work better in the Seuthe units.  I know that the couple I have only last a few minutes at most with Megasteam, I'm guessing that the WBB fluid is formulated to last longer in those units.  I don't think it'll hurt it, but you'll be coming in for "fuel" quite often.

The Williams steam engines don't smoke that much when compared to other brands. Try to run several passenger cars(seven to nine) or freight cars(12 to 18) behind your engine as this will increase the voltage needed from the transformer to run your engine and it will smoke better.

I had the Pennsy S-2 by Williams, before Bachmann, and it needed a little more voltage to smoke decently. Also do not over fill your engine with smoke fluid, Williams won't burn off excess fluid that easy.

Lee Fritz

Even with a 3 PW boxcar load at 12 volts, the engine puffs quite nicely with the smoke fluid included with the engine as purchased.  I suppose if I load up the consist, it might smoke like an MTH!

That's interesting! WBB must have changed the smoke unit design or put a lower volt smoke unit inside.

The older Williams never smoked that good.

Lee Fritz

Unless they put in a fan driven unit, the WBB will never smoke like an MTH!  They're the champ of pollution.  No way a Seuthe unit smokes like an MTH.

How do you get a Seuthe unit to puff, that must be another neat trick?

My advice would be to use the smoke fluid recommended by WBB.  

POTRZBE, which steamer did you get?  I purchased one of WBB's 'newer' Baldwin 10 wheelers, and it works real well with megasteam...here's a crummy video to kinda demonstrate what it looks like...

I went back and got a WBB ATSF Berkshire, that I'm waiting to be delivered, but have been told the older WBB seuthe's don't smoke as well, and don't have an on/off switches.  So I'm thinking about upgrading it.

Another member (Liam) suggested using about 7 drops was the right number on WBB's seuthes and that has worked great on the Baldwin (actually using about 7-9), and as John mentioned I never add it while running and let the element cool down.  It smokes for about 10min.  I'm anxious to see how what I assume is an older style WBB Berkshire does.  Congrats on your WBB steamer

My pre Bachmann Williams S2 has the best smoke unit of all my Williams steamers. It seems to work better than either the small Hudson or Berkshire. I know the one in the Turbine is a 5 Volt unit. It may be the others have a 12 volt Seuthe unit but I have yet to verify that. 

Boxcar Bill used to offer a upgrade for these engines, maybe still does. If you like lots of smoke you might want to check out his website.

Pete

It's not real hard to add a fan driven smoke unit into most Williams steamers, though a bit of surgery will doubtless be needed many times.  There seems to be plenty of room with the old smoke stuff removed.

Making the Grade, I have the WBB Pennsy S2 turbine.  The packaging all says WBB but the steamer itself say Williams only.  I don't know if this makes it an older Williams or not.  Perhaps I have a rare and valuable factory error.  In any event, I love smoke in steamers and this is my first Williams after about 5 diesels.  I love Williams and WBB product and I just didn't want to mess up the smoke unit cuz it's doing a real good job right now!

I'd stick with what the instructions say.  It is under warranty so follow the recommendations.  When out of warranty, feel free to try something else, but at that point you may be more than pleased with your train.

It sounds like it smokes to your satisfaction, so I would let it be and enjoy it.

Congrats on the purchase.  I think you noted in another post you got it from Charlie at Nassau.  He has some great deals going.  Thank goodness he is getting a new floor - his need to clear out some inventory for the floor installation allows us to get those great prices!

The only fuid that worked well for me in Seuthe units was Williams or LGB fluid.

Seuthe unit in Lionel B&O wagon top caboose quit long  ago using Lionel smoke

fluid.

Al W.

Yes, folks, I got this l0oco at Nassau Hobbies.  I have wanted this engine for a long time to pull PW rolling stock and operating cars like the milk car.  You sure couldn't beat the price!  I am set for a while with locos til the NS Heritage SD70ACe s come out.  Thanks so much to all who responded.

Gunrunnerjohn, you are correct.  After further review, this loco does not puff, it simply pours out smoke like a house afire.  That works for me.  I don't even know what chuffs per revolution is!

Apparently, with the WBB locomotives, it's infinite.

As the prototype S2 was powered by turbines rather than pistons, the smoke pouring out would be more realistic.  I want a WBB S2 someday myself, and I wondered if the S2's smoke unit "puffed" or "poured".  With this confirmation, I can rest assured that it will smoke prototypically right out of the box .  On a related note, does the S2's sound system have a steam chuff?

GCRailway, the sound is a generic 7 second clip which, I am sure, is in all WBB steamers in the way that the diesel horn sound clip is in all the diesels.  I am not overly picky about the sound, just so it works.  On another note, it does have a powerful 8 volt grain of wheat headlight which really lights up the wall as it turns a corner.  This little engine reminds of the the 2026 set I started with as a child so I am enjoying it a lot, infinite chuff rate and all!

You have an excellent point about the S2, I forgot what steamer we were discussing!