Williams by Bachman

Good news!

I've had nothing but good experiences with their service.  I haven't had cause to use their service department in a while but a new NW2 switcher got warranty quick service. Even better was service/replacement for a Williams Great Northern Train Master I  purchased on eBay.  When it arrived one or two of the truck side frames were broken, the seller made me a very nice offer so I kept it and shipped it off to WBB with the standard service fee, which I believe was $40 at the time.  I received a phone call from the tech assigned to my engine, he told me trucks were no longer available for the Train Master so he offered a replacement engine instead.  The issue was they no longer had the GN in stock, I had no interest in the road names they still had so I asked if he could put my GN shell on one of the available Train Masters and he said he hadn't thought of that  but would gladly do it.  So I wound up with a brand new engine for the standard service fee.  That combined with the price from ebay got me a new engine for $80.

@coach joe posted:

I've had nothing but good experiences with their service.  I haven't had cause to use their service department in a while but a new NW2 switcher got warranty quick service. Even better was service/replacement for a Williams Great Northern Train Master I  purchased on eBay.  When it arrived one or two of the truck side frames were broken, the seller made me a very nice offer so I kept it and shipped it off to WBB with the standard service fee, which I believe was $40 at the time.  I received a phone call from the tech assigned to my engine, he told me trucks were no longer available for the Train Master so he offered a replacement engine instead.  The issue was they no longer had the GN in stock, I had no interest in the road names they still had so I asked if he could put my GN shell on one of the available Train Masters and he said he hadn't thought of that  but would gladly do it.  So I wound up with a brand new engine for the standard service fee.  That combined with the price from ebay got me a new engine for $80.

WOW!!! Great story coach joe!!!   It's wonderful to know that WbB offers such stellar service!  

Unfortunately, looking at the selection of Williams on Bachmann’s website, it appears that WBB is cycling down to extinction. 😕

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Unfortunately, looking at the selection of Williams on Bachmann’s website, it appears that WBB is cycling down to extinction. 😕

Like with so much else, only the rich will play trains in the future. (Not that Williams was all that cheap in the MSRP department in recent years.)

@coach joe posted:

I've had nothing but good experiences with their service.  I haven't had cause to use their service department in a while but a new NW2 switcher got warranty quick service. Even better was service/replacement for a Williams Great Northern Train Master I  purchased on eBay.  When it arrived one or two of the truck side frames were broken, the seller made me a very nice offer so I kept it and shipped it off to WBB with the standard service fee, which I believe was $40 at the time.  I received a phone call from the tech assigned to my engine, he told me trucks were no longer available for the Train Master so he offered a replacement engine instead.  The issue was they no longer had the GN in stock, I had no interest in the road names they still had so I asked if he could put my GN shell on one of the available Train Masters and he said he hadn't thought of that  but would gladly do it.  So I wound up with a brand new engine for the standard service fee.  That combined with the price from ebay got me a new engine for $80.

Some guys have all the luck!

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Unfortunately, looking at the selection of Williams on Bachmann’s website, it appears that WBB is cycling down to extinction. 😕

They have been extinct for a while. Only some fossils remain.

It's a shame. They had a good product line for a long time. Like most things these days, most folks only want stuff loaded with tons of features and will pay lots of money for them. Gone are the days of simple and affordable.

I am glad that the OP found the part he needed. I visit the WbB site from time to time looking for a restock of out of stock parts. None that I need so far.

@Mike D posted:

... most folks only want stuff loaded with tons of features and will pay lots of money for them. Gone are the days of simple and affordable.

Mike,

I hear ya, but ...

This is news to me, and probably many others too.  Is this another portent of imminent doom for the hobby?

I think not.  Where I am (Detroit) most of the folks we see at train shows every week seem to be looking precisely for simple and affordable, and apparently finding it.  I see many people  walking out with purchases of all sorts but very few walking out with $1000+ engines.

Maybe we're heavy in tinkerers here, and light on collectors.

What are you seeing that leads you to your conclusion?

Mike

If you go to the Wiliams by Bachmann parts site, the number of parts seems to be limited and growing more so.  It looks like they are closing down the shop.  The offering of new models has greatly been reduced.  It is a shame because at one time Williams had a great line of product.  Also, you had the option of upgrading them with ERR systems.  It is sad to see the demise.

Marty

What's really a shame is that the excellent drivetrain and gear ratio from their Turn-of-the-Century 4-6-0 never made it into the majority of their traditional-sized locos.  If they had retooled the other locos with that drive, I would have bought two of each!  The Ten Wheeler was their crown jewel as far as I'm concerned.  But I prefer the Transition era, and no matter how well it runs, it doesn't really fit in or make me want to own one.

The rest of their product lineup isn't that unique.  If you need a low-priced diesel, find a non-working MTH or K-Line on the secondary market, strip out the electronics and install an e-unit.  You can even use an old-style Mechanical e-unit if necessary.

I've seen it coming for a long time.  "Peak train" was probably 2000-2005, and the Golden Age was definitely over by about 2016.  This is our reality.   How do you suppose Postwar aficianados felt after about 1962? Or 1967??  The hobby has merit, and practitioners will find a way.  Maybe someday, thanks to 3D printing, AI, CNC, or unknown future technologies, we'll have a large variety of new models once again.

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

Mike,

I hear ya, but ...

This is news to me, and probably many others too.  Is this another portent of imminent doom for the hobby?

No portent of doom. Just my observations of the market from my vantage point.

I think not.  Where I am (Detroit) most of the folks we see at train shows every week seem to be looking precisely for simple and affordable, and apparently finding it.  I see many people  walking out with purchases of all sorts but very few walking out with $1000+ engines.

Back to that vantage point thing. You live in an oasis of model trains, I live in a desert. Up north trains are a lot more popular than down here in the southeastern US. Naturally we will have a different view of the situation.

Maybe we're heavy in tinkerers here, and light on collectors.

What are you seeing that leads you to your conclusion?

Plenty, but I really don't want to hijack this thread with a discussion about the market and the situation at WbB.

Necrails posted about his positive experience with the folks at WbB, lets not ruin that for him. We can discuss it in a new thread if you start one. It would be interesting to see how folks from around the country perceive the state of affairs of our hobby.

Mike

I am glad the two posters got the parts they want for their Williams RDC and Trainmaster.   But I have those units myself and it looks like the rest of us with them are gonna be just S.O.L. if we have trouble.

@RadioRon posted:

But I have those units myself and it looks like the rest of us with them are gonna be just S.O.L. if we have trouble.

That is why I peruse eBay regularly for junkers and parts for my K-Line and Williams locos. I am always on the lookout for parts sources.

I like the GE 70T but I wish there were 2 rail wheels and Kadee pads to make it easier to 2 rail.

@Ted S posted:

What's really a shame is that the excellent drivetrain and gear ratio from their Turn-of-the-Century 4-6-0 never made it into the majority of their traditional-sized locos.  If they had retooled the other locos with that drive, I would have bought two of each!  The Ten Wheeler was their crown jewel as far as I'm concerned.  

I agree wholeheartedly. That 4-6-0, released circa 2012, was a pleasant survive for the reasons that you state. And it offered promise that Bachmann would enhance its Williams line by adding models Bachmann was introducing in its other scales.

The Williams by Bachmann blue C&O 4-6-0 in O gauge was also offered in N scale, with a diecast boiler, and HO scale, which undoubtedly reduced Bachmann’s design costs for each. I bought both the O and N versions, and I love them both.

But it was not to be. The Williams by Bachmann line is either dormant or gone. Only Bachmann knows for sure.

Gentlemen,  the purpose of my post was to compliment in a public forum what I perceived as excellent customer service.  Especially since this was for a discontinued product manufactured prior to the current owners.  I did not intend it to be anything more. 

Moderator please close this thread.

@necrails posted:

Gentlemen,  the purpose of my post was to compliment in a public forum what I perceived as excellent customer service.  Especially since this was for a discontinued product manufactured prior to the current owners.  I did not intend it to be anything more.

Moderator please close this thread.

It most likely has something to do with your general, inviting title, “Williams by Bachmann,” instead of something more focused such as “Positive customer service experience with Williams by Bachmann.”

Also, I assume you know the correct procedure for requesting a thread to be closed. It certainly isn’t done by adding a reply hoping moderators will see it. Click the gear button on this reply, select Report Reply and then type something like “Please close this topic” and explain why. That will flag moderators immediately.