Why doesnt Williams by Bachmann release more stuff?

They have the 2013 catalog out

http://bachmanntrains.net/Cata...13/2013_Williams.pdf

I suppose Martin is right but for the most part WBB products own the conventional market.  Two of mine (CNJ FM and F-3) will be undergoing an upgrade to TMCC this summer.  I hope the upgrade is as easy as some say.  Now if only they could just make them move a bit slower.

being new to O gauge, I have seen comments about upgrading to TMCC. What is involved? Where do you buy the TMCC upgrade kit?

Thanks

RAY

Exactly.

By the way, for some reason all of my Post War vintage Lionel and Williams locos, all move very realistically,especially my Post War 2343 and 2353, i.e. they start out slow and I can add power in small increments to maintain realism. As much as I like this, I am beginning to wonder if there is an issue with my layout causing this? As everyone else has experienced the opposite.

Regardless of whats causing it, as long as its not harming the locos I like it.

My only wish is that Williams create a new smoke unit design and also add some box cab electrics to the mix.

As far as comparing WBB to MTH Dash 8...what I am talking about is take a MTH GG1 and put it next to a WBB GG1...yeah, of course I would expect a "Premier" to have a ton of more detail...but what I am talking about is take any MTH or Lionel GG1 and put it next to a Scale WBB GG1, which I got for under $200 from Trainworld, and based on what you are paying for the WBB versus the MTH or Lionel, the WBB is a much better purchase for what you are getting on a conventional vs conventional basis. Thats a ton fo detail for a great price, versus the hundreds more you pay for the others.

I do realize most of the cost is probably DCS and TMCC on Lionel and MTH locos; but still, for someone interested in conventional operation only....WBB in my opinion is king.

I like the quality of Willimas and the fact that I don't have to waist money on needless stuff that I may not use, like command control. Sometimes I can get great deals on older Williams before Bachmann on an auction site that I go to.

Brand "L" has been know to break down very easy and usually just after the warrenty is out. And brand "L" is overpriced compared to Williams.

Lee Fritz

maybe they realize they cannot compete against lionel and mth-there is only so much money to spend on trains-remember kline-mth and lionel were releasing 170 page catalogs when kline came out with their mikados and other scale items.

One you get hooked on DCS multi-train operation, and true O with it’s fine details, traditional items become just a fond memory.

Thats just it...I went that route, and albiet my lower level of my layout is DCS, but all of my new stuff on the upper level is conventional, and I must admit I am more hooked on Post War conventional growlers than all the bells and whistles on the new DCS stuff I have.

When I look at my beloved NYC&HRR 4-0-0's I do see and appreciate the detail and all teh bells and whistles. But, I also see $700 each for them, and then I think to myself and my stomach turns...I spent $1400 on 2 trains, am I insane?!

Because the masses do not buy O gauge trains. That is why there is not "more stuff."

There's people in this hobby who spend more than that per year on trains, so if insanity is measured by quantity, then you're probably safe for now from being straitjacketed.

There's an old saying... you don't get into a hobby to save money. 

WbB is playing it safe and smart. When your product line keeps up a somewhat steady cash flow year in and year out why take chances.

Ray,

The upgrade is pretty straight forward.  You can buy the "TMCC" upgrade kits from Electric Railroad (ERR):

http://www.electricrr.com/

For really fine performance, you'll need the Cruise Commander and the Railsounds Commander.  this will give you TMCC cabability with Railsounds 4 sounds.

I bought my Cruise Commander for my WBB E7 from MB Klein aka Model Train Stuff:

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/

I haven't got the Railsounds Commander yet, but will shortly.

Here's another place that sells the kits and will install them for a fee:

http://www.mttponline.com/

You can also buy them direct from ERR.

The basic upgrade is simple.  You cut the wires going to the 2 motors, remove the WBB electronics, and connect the motors to the upgrade kit.  You may have to drill a couple of holes (maybe not) and find the space to put it all.  It's probably a bit more technical than that, but not much (as best as I can recall).

You'll want to add a LED headlight, maybe a backup light, but you can also add any number of other lights as the kit permits.  Most folks who do these upgrades also make minor modifications to their WBB units like add wire handgrabs.  Us 3RS guys fix the pilot so it doesn't swing with the truck and add Kadee couplers.

Here's my WBB E7:

It was an unpowered unit that I powered, repainted/letterd, added handgrabs, rails, etc.  and a few other items to make it look more like the prototypical Seaboard E7.