Williams by Bachman. Still around?

They’re still making product but not much.  I guess Bachmann doesn’t think there’s enough of a market for a wider product line, I don’t know.  I like their stuff as well and would buy more of it if they made more, and if they hadn’t jacked up the prices significantly.

Ask Bachmann on Facebook or Instagram about the Williams line to see if they respond.

Andrew

Williams by Bachman is definitely still around.  Some of our OGR Forum sponsors such as Trainworld and Marios carries WbB products at very good prices.  

This question comes up periodically. Yes, WBB is still around--officially. But they produce virtually no new product. TrainWorld and Marios have been blowing out NOS stuff from WBB for years. You can get it for very good prices, if you want it. Personally, I'm good with the Williams items I have and don't expect to add to them from the products currently available.

Thanks Guys, I have been buying my WBB things on sale at Trainworld and Trainz, but have noticed that there never seems to be very much brand new stuff around.   So, I thought that maybe it was all discontinued a decade or so ago.

Mannyrock

Williams engines are still generally available, although the selection is limited. I have used Williams engines for a lot of my wireless systems testing and have found them to be reliable and predictable.

I'm not sure what Bachmann is doing in HO, N or Large Scale these days since I don't follow either N or HO scale all that closely and have not been buying much Large Scale except LGB. But I I can attest that they do not seem to be doing much with their On30 and Williams O gauge lines. They are really missing the boat on On30 since there is a whole lot of untapped potential for that scale, not to mention some truly superb modeling. Williams products were also very popular and affordable.

In terms of new product, at least in the last year or two, I've only seen a few freight cars with new roadnames and/or markings. And I think the Eggliner is one of the most recent items they made that is motorized. But yeah, nothing on the level of Lionel, or at least Atlas.

They have only brought back a few K-Line locomotives and freight cars.

K-Line had a large number of freight cars that they could make in new railroads and paint schemes.

There were many more railroad schemes to apply to the EVANS PRODUCTS style covered steel coil car.

There were several more railroad schemes left to apply to the ACF CENTER FLOW long 2-bay covered hopper such as D&RGW, FRISCO, BN.

Andrew

Was WbB at York in April, '22?

@rthomps posted:

Was WbB at York in April, '22?

Nope.

Over the last 5 years or so Trainworld has had some good sales on Williams passenger cars and engines. I picked up their version of a GGI, Santa Fe ABA and steam engine (PRR). The engines are goof pullers and the passenger cars look great. My only complaint are the couplers on the passenger cars, non-operating and uneven to the point where cars separate if they hit a bump.

From what I can tell reading MR Bachman is still active in HO, N, and especially G, based on the new offerings I have seen . But from everything I have seen and heard, they aren't doing much with Williams, the last offerings i can recall were the scale 44 tonners. I think they are still producing stuff under the Williams banner but I suspect they are getting what value they can out of what they have. The other thing that could be going on is given issues with supply chain and issues with shipping, that Bachman may be giving preference to their HO/N/G gauge stuff that is likely more lucrative.

It's been years since Bachmann pulled back from Williams, long before the supply chain and shipping issues.

@Keith L posted:

It's been years since Bachmann pulled back from Williams, long before the supply chain and shipping issues.

They were , but even with whatever line they still support they aren't giving it priority in shipping (though I don't know if anyone is or isn't getting new units in from Bachman). Shipping container space is at a premium and they would prioritize I suspect HO/N and maybe G to maximize sales out fo what they can ship, that's all (and it is pure speculation). I know other places shipping from China are doing that.

Picked up this SAL RS-3 a few months ago for 199 to the door. Needed a cheap Seaboard diesel.

I have to say, the detail is even better than any Atlas or any MTH! Even has sound!

Not sure who made these for W.B.B but they are nice and accurate as well.

W.B.B. has so much un-utilized potential based on this engine they could sell a bunch of models like the GP-30 ACL.  Other OEM’s $339.00 diesels just a few years ago are now priced out of the 3r market pushing 550.00 today. I wonder how many buyers will remain paying those inflated prices going forward?

Seems W.B.B. has lost their way and uninformed about items really wanted in the market. If they offered a variety of items under 200, they probably would see some VOLUME Sales!

@SIRT posted:

Picked up this SAL RS-3 a few months ago for 199 to the door. Needed a cheap Seaboard diesel.

I have to say, the detail is even better than any Atlas or any MTH! Even has sound!

Not sure who made these for W.B.B but they are nice and accurate as well.

W.B.B. has so much un-utilized potential based on this engine they could sell a bunch of models like the GP-30 ACL.  Other OEM’s $339.00 diesels just a few years ago are now priced out of the 3r market pushing 550.00 today. I wonder how many buyers will remain paying those inflated prices going forward?

Seems W.B.B. has lost their way and uninformed about items really wanted in the market. If they offered a variety of items under 200, they probably would see some VOLUME Sales!

They are nice pieces.  Former K-Line tooling.  The added grab irons make the difference.