Williams by Bachmann 2014 Catalog

WBB is no different than Lionel or MTH.  The price you see in the catalogue is not what retailers will charge.  It will be less (more reasonable).

And just as with MTH and Lionel catalogs, nobody is forcing you to buy anything.

Merely editorializing.  I have my own percieved value as to what these things are worth.  If a dealer has them for that, I'll buy them.  If not, I'm not gonna worry about it.

Rusty

There were not a great amount of railroad names applied to the K-Line O Scale sized and detailed GP38-2 diesel-electric locomotive.

They can still make more railroad graphics, road numbers, and color scheme variations. As an example, nobody has put Wisconsin Central paint scheme and the 1977 Soo Line graphics & numbers on the O Scale GP38-2.

Andrew

Larry - I bought this same set last year.  You're right, that's Atlas Industrial Rail track.  I recently picked up some additional pieces of track at Wholesale Trains.  Be careful, though.  Unlike FasTrack, the pins in this IR track tend to fall out.  Atlas also makes some transition pieces if you want to mate it with another type of track. 

Is this not 'Jack' from Bachmann.  If so I'd guess that's pretty definitive.

It does look like they're focusing on vertically integrating models through the different scale lines (like the 4-6-0 and RS) much like they stated a year or more ago in one of their York videos if I recall correctly.

Cheers,

Robert

Perhaps Jack can explain why most (not just a few) traditional Williams locomotive models have been discontinued or have disappeared from the catalog.  Most of these subtractions have been listed in this thread.

Are we seeing the phasing out of most (or all) pre-Bachmann Williams tooling?

Will these discontinued models be replaced by only one new (or formerly K-Line model each year)?  This seems to be the pattern with the GP-30 and the RS-3.

The catalog states that the GP-38 will be a reintroduced classic.  Does that mean the old GP-38 with True Blast Plus?

Are the NS SD-90 Heritage diesels with True Blast Plus selling well?

Overall, where is the Williams brand headed (softball question)?

And, more for Forum members than for Jack:  Does it matter?

I hope that Williams can pull a rabbit out of their hat next year and surprise us!

Even the N5C caboose is offered in only a few roadnames.

Maybe Bachmann is trying to shrink or sell off old inventory first before going with new items. However there are a few internet dealers that are blowing out remaining Williams at  very low sale prices. So I would look for something new from Williams within the next two years.

Like many have posted on here, there are very few engines or passenger cars in the new catalog. I know as I am checking for the Reading Company passenger cars by Williams, seems to be none are offered again this year.

WBB has not taken on new roadnames either, example Reading & Northern railroad; a regional railroad in northeast Pennsylvania for almost 26 years.

Lee Fritz

STILL, no Posting of "PREORDERS"!

FREDSTRAINS

Sometimes you need to empty the pitcher before you put more water in it. Many of the models mentioned in this thread are still readily available at our retailers. Do the other manufacturers keep every single piece that they have produced in their catalog every year? (Me thinks not). It's not as if we destroy the tooling and will never produce these items again. They will most likely show up at a later date in an upgraded form. Trust me the sky is not falling! We examine our sales records to determine what is selling and what needs to take a rest for a while. We would rather concentrate on bringing you new items than just rehashing old ones.

Williams by Bachmann introduces it's new items every year in April during the TCA meet so most of the "New" items in the catalog were shown at the previous York meet. Trust me we have a few surprises in store for you guys in April!

I'm looking forward to seeing you (and the trains) at York next month, my friend!  Ditto for Larry, who I assume will also be there.

Always a pleasure to see you as well Allan!

Well, it better matter, because if Bachmann can's it kiss affordability goodby in O-scale.

Even Lionel now with their revamped train-sets have seen the handwriting.

Sustain growth in this hobby cannot be solely dependent on equipment that rivals a house payment.  Simply absurd.  I enjoy the bells as whistle as much as the next person but it's not really necessary to enjoy this hobby.

Let's be thankful that a company such as Bachmann got into O-scale because they can weather the crazy ups and downs in this hobby.

I think one area that they might want to explore is putting together some train-sets.  Let's face it that how most of us got into the hobby.  There is enough out in the market for the 'hobbyist'.  What is lacking is decent and wide availability of stock to operate on O-27 track.

The small family starting out simply does not have the space.  How many times have we heard, "I don't have the room".   But some nice train-sets easy to set up and take down with quality equipment, yeah that's a winner.

Anyone seen a "PREORDER" Post yet? I need to order an Engine!!!

FREDSTRAINS

Hey Fred,

Have you tried going to www.trainworld.com and looking at their site to see if they offer the new Williams items? They have some great prices on most brands of trains and may take pre-orders.

Lee Fritz

Fredstrains, just call your favorite dealer and order the item you want.  They may tell you it will be awhile before the item will be in stock.  I've done this several times, including the last two WBB engines I bought (B&M F3 and CN RS3).  Worked fine for me. 

I like the F3, but I wish it had the new sound board.  I think Bachmann had developed it by the time the B&M came out.

Blah, blah, blah.  Why even post your response?

Seems like the analogy about the pitcher might be stated as emptying out the old pitcher - and then replacing it with a new pitcher.

Since Bachmann purchased the Williams company, the catalog has changed from a huge number of road names to dwindle down to just a few road names per model, and now many of the old models are no longer in the catalog. In their place, we are seeing a small number, albeit slowly growing, of upgraded models (many old K-Line molds) with better details and sounds in just a few road names, but also at a higher price than the old models.

It appears WBB has determined the market wants better details and sound, and is willing to pay more for it.

Judging from the comments on the internet train related forums, it appears many fans of the Williams products like inexpensive, rugged and simple.

It is going to be interesting to see over time if:

1) WBB gains new customers who like the "upgraded" product.

2) Existing customers make the leap to pay more for an "upgraded" product.

3) Existing customers don't want to pay more for "upgrades" they don't particularly desire, so they stop buying the new product.

Good analogy.  I think the new pitcher is turning out to be a much smaller pitcher.

I have always thought of Williams trains as refined, quiet, reliable, and smooth-running successors to PW Lionel.

I have not expected them to compete with Lionel and MTH in the electronics-intensive and higher-priced market.

I do think that if Bachmann drops (or "pauses") production of the classic Williams, the new locomotive roster (or "pitcher") should include more than road switchers and should restore dummy A units.

A dummy FB1 is less expensive to manufacture than a dummy FA1, but I prefer AA or ABA or even ABBA.

With regard to sound, I have a few units with the original Williams "True Sounds"; but I really prefer just the sound of engines pulling cars on metal rails.

But to each his own.

Speaking of analogies, I think Williams by Bachmann's Spring 2013 York video, with the analogy of the 'tortoise and hare', still seems to be on track.

I don't think they'll make any rushed judgements on dropping the older lines like J Class and Scale Hudsons altogether.

Even with all the blowouts that I saw last year, it seems there is still plenty of stock in the pipeline.  Although I did just snap up a J Class steamer for ~$200 (partly wondering if changes are coming) but mostly because of the price.

If these units are still available at these prices, and not listed in the current years catalog it could just mean they don't plan any current production runs because there is plenty of new stock still out there.

I also notice the TB Plus being added to a number of models for 2014 according to the catalog, Genesis, SD90, GP38, FA-1, etc.

Also with TB Plus now available to add to older Williams engines (@ $99 the street price ought to be very affordable), I'm curious if we won't see models like the F7 back with the new sound.  I definitely would not mind having an add on version available to my TBII F7's.  I really like the prime mover running sounds.

It also make me wonder or hopeful that we might see a version available in the steamers before long

Cheers,

Robert