I've been looking for a full scale Pensy GG1. Would someone please advise on the differences - pros and cons?
Thanks - Ponz
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The Williams are good runners, with ABS shells, and basis sounds. The Weavers are far heavier, with brass shells and no factory sounds. Both are conventionally operated. Both have dual can motors.
The question is: how do you intend to use them? For looks and light use, nothing holds paint better than brass; the Weavers are beauties. They come with a QSI DCRU. If you want sound, you would have to add a sound card and speaker, or perhaps upgrade to an ERR control module/sound combo.
If you want at least some sound and want an off-the-shelf option you do not have to tinker with, the Williams is also a very attractive scale model.
DAB
David98 posted:The Williams are good runners, with ABS shells, and basis sounds. The Weavers are far heavier, with brass shells and no factory sounds. Both are conventionally operated. Both have dual can motors.
The question is: how do you intend to use them? For looks and light use, nothing holds paint better than brass; the Weavers are beauties. They come with a QSI DCRU. If you want sound, you would have to add a sound card and speaker, or perhaps upgrade to an ERR control module/sound combo.
If you want at least some sound and want an off-the-shelf option you do not have to tinker with, the Williams is also a very attractive scale model.
DAB
I'm looking at a Weaver brass 3 rail scale sized Brunswick green 5 stripe PRR GG1 that is several years old but has NEVER been run. It will have basic bell and horn sound, won't it?
I'm not a collector. Like you said - looks and light use. I understand it does not have magna traction. Should I be concerned? I'd like it to pull a flet of long and heavy Pullman cars.
Ponz
There is no sound on a factory Weaver. It is heavy, and will pull a nice long line of cars.
If you want sounds, you may also want to consider an early MTH GG1. It has a die-cast shell, so it is heavy like the Weaver; it was also available with MTH ProtoSounds 1.0, which works with conventional controls and the same QSI DCRU controller on the Weaver. I just saw one for sale here on this Forum for $195 plus shipping, or free delivery to York - listed under the heading "FS: More Locomotives, Lionel Subway, MTH Locomotives + Cars + Lower Prices.
David
Unfortunately the Weaver 5 stripe GG1s from the first run did not have a sound option as mentioned. The later versions in single stripe did have QSI Protosounds as a plug in option. I have two that have sounds, but they are the silver single stripe and the Tuscan single stripe.
With scale GG1s, they tend to be heavy enough to pull plenty of cars. The Williams versions with the plastic shells are great runners and for a while came with Ott sounds back in the 90's. The sound equipped versions are not easy to find these days, but all Williams locomotives tend to be very reliable. I double head my Williams ones for longer trains. The MTH GG1 is the heaviest of the bunch with a cast body vs. the brass body of the Weaver. Be careful with the early Protosounds versions though as they are prone to the sound chip scrambling which sidelines the locomotive. I have the original MTH 4876 and that is exactly what happened to mine.
Parts between these three models are more or less interchangeable to an extent. One of my MTH pony truck and pilot assemblies went onto a Weaver Single Stripe Green one that had broken. The same MTH G donated pantographs to my Weaver Tuscan 5 Stripe.
In terms of color, I like Weavers "green" the best. It is a bit darker than some others I have seen. The 5 stripe green road number 4814 is a good model if you can live without the sound. I like GG1's just a bit.
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GG1 4877 posted:Unfortunately the Weaver 5 stripe GG1s from the first run did not have a sound option as mentioned. The later versions in single stripe did have QSI Protosounds as a plug in option. I have two that have sounds, but they are the silver single stripe and the Tuscan single stripe.
With scale GG1s, they tend to be heavy enough to pull plenty of cars. The Williams versions with the plastic shells are great runners and for a while came with Ott sounds back in the 90's. The sound equipped versions are not easy to find these days, but all Williams locomotives tend to be very reliable. I double head my Williams ones for longer trains. The MTH GG1 is the heaviest of the bunch with a cast body vs. the brass body of the Weaver. Be careful with the early Protosounds versions though as they are prone to the sound chip scrambling which sidelines the locomotive. I have the original MTH 4876 and that is exactly what happened to mine.
Parts between these three models are more or less interchangeable to an extent. One of my MTH pony truck and pilot assemblies went onto a Weaver Single Stripe Green one that had broken. The same MTH G donated pantographs to my Weaver Tuscan 5 Stripe.
In terms of color, I like Weavers "green" the best. It is a bit darker than some others I have seen. The 5 stripe green road number 4814 is a good model if you can live without the sound. I like GG1's just a bit.
Wow! I'm envious!
I hired on the PC out of NYs Penn Station in 1974 and worked as a Conductor/Brakeman for 13 years Road and yard service depending on what job my number could hold. I pent a lot of time working with GG1s. They are my favorite as well.
I'm looking for a basic scale GG1 (green) with horn and bell that won't break the bank. I have a fleet of Lionel Pullman cars that would love to sit behind her.
Ponz
My WbB 5 stripe tuscan unit is a deal. Runs great, looks good.....I like mine.
Here are a couple of short videos of two Williams GG1s pulling a 12 car passenger train (Williams 18" HWs). I'm pretty sure one of the engines would have pulled it without problems.
These were taking at the National Capital Trackers' Kids Fairfax show last October.
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Weaver is out of business so getting warranty is out unless a dealer gives you one. William's is in business via Bachmann unless you buy used.
I would go with the Williams.
Mario's Trains has two green (single and five stripe) scale GG-1's (Williams) new for $329 each. Plus he is offering free shipping and a discount coupon. Good people to deal with. Both locos have sound. You won't go wrong here. He also has a silver and a tuscan.
Bob Severin posted:Mario's Trains has two green (single and five stripe) scale GG-1's (Williams) new for $329 each. Plus he is offering free shipping and a discount coupon. Good people to deal with. Both locos have sound. You won't go wrong here. He also has a silver and a tuscan.
I can't find them. Boy, his sight id hard to navigate.
John
do a search for: williams gg-1 (yeah, they just "improved" it, and it is hard to easily find anything.)
Bob Severin posted:do a search for: williams gg-1 (yeah, they just "improved" it, and it is hard to easily find anything.)
No luck. Search engine is pretty bad
John, give me a call.
Ponz posted:Bob Severin posted:do a search for: williams gg-1 (yeah, they just "improved" it, and it is hard to easily find anything.)
No luck. Search engine is pretty bad
You may be better calling Mario's. I couldn't find any scale GG1s either on his site.
I have 4 Williams GG1's one with the original sound system that you have engine sounds and horn, one Williams with true blast ( I have always disliked the true blast system ) and then 2 Williams By Bachmann with true blast II. I love all 4 of them. Although they haven't seen any track time in about 3 years as I haven't had a layout in 3 years. I do plan at sometime converting them to ERR TMCC just so they have it, although I will probably mainly run in conventional.
PONZ,
I own a Scale JLC TMCC/Odyssey Tuscan Green GG1. It pulls 20 Plus big Tin Plate Cars, and does not break a sweat. Remember however if you purchase these scale GG1's they all run on 072 and bigger curves. You got to have the layout space to run one! I love mine!
It you can get you hands on an Original Scale Williams GG1 they are stump pullers also!
PCRR/Dave
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I think the Williams plastic shelled units will run on 042...tighter than most of the others...not saying it looks great.
I think I took mine on a few laps on a 036 loop and it made it...
I own 5 scale GG1s; one Williams and 4 MTH. they are all great engines. The Williams looks and runs great and runs on smaller diameter curves than the MTH does. There is plenty of room inside if you want to upgrade to TMCCor DCS. The MTH are cast and are beautiful. They are equipped with DCS and two of them have pantagraphs that extend and retract automatically. My williams is a tuscan but my friend's brunswick green is a beautiful model too.
Here is my Williams GG1
Here are my MTH GG1s
The Williams GG1 has no problems pulling 8 passenger cars. Here's a video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...rQg&pbjreload=10
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If I were purchasing a new GG1 I would go with Williams. Weaver is out of business and may present a problem getting repair parts. Many Williams engines will pull an 8 car aluminum passenger set with ease as will those with two motors from Lionel, and MTH. On my layout even a single motor 5340 scale Hudson easily pulls an 8 car 20th Century Ltd aluminum car consist. If the rolling stock has the newer fast angle needlepoint wheels that's key.
The Weaver, by all means. It's brass. It looks better. It's metal. It's cool to the touch. And it's just cool. That thin cross-section on the body looks subtly better than the thick plastic. I have the Williams plastic scale GG1; pretty good, but I wish that I had the Weaver.
...when you can get a nice brass model rather than a plastic one...
I read many years ago that PRR's "Brunswick Green" is five parts black to one part green. I agree with GG1_4877 that Weaver duplicates it the best. And it has plenty of room if you want to upgrade the electronics.
DAB
Wanted to send you an email but there is none in your profile.
I’ve got a Williams 5 stripe Tuscan GG1 upgraded with TMCC, ERR Cruise and original Lionel Scale GG1 Railsounds 5.0 along with the Lionel seven car 18 inch PRR Aluminum Congressional Passenger Set that includes the Station Sounds Diner. It runs nicely on 054.
I’m changing my layout and eliminating the 054 curves so I won’t be able to run it. Also It will not go through my Lionel 213 Lift Bridge.
If you are interested I would sell the complete set for $1000. All original boxes paperwork and shipping carton. You can pick it up at York or it can be shipped for an additional charge. My email is in my profile.
Gentlemen,
D500 makes a great point, the Weaver is some fantastic piece of Brass, if Weaver was still in business the big heavy Scale Brass GG1 would be sitting on my FasTrack right now. With the addition of ERR or original TMCC if it was ever made. Their Brunswick Green is simply awesome!
Even though some scale GG1's can run on 042, they look a lot better on 072 and above.
PCRR/Dave
I passed on the Weaver for a couple of reasons. No sound and lack of customer support.
Ponz
