Williams FM Train Master Question

There were many variations of the Williams Train master. The earliest ones had no reverse, no horn and plastic side frames and handrail stantions. Later the handrails went all metal. Then the buzzer horn just like postwar models.

If your box does not mention horn or Truesounds then chances are good that you don't have any sounds. But thanks to today's technology, you can add it if you like.

Don't think those have horns - at least that era.

Later ones - orange box have True Blast Horns

The good news is - you don't need a repair!

Thanks for the replies. Its a nice looking train.  I'm glad i got it, even though it's a behemoth. Any reason it makes that godawful noise when I hit the bell button on the transformer though?

Who would offer the service to install TrueSounds? I'm not up to tackling that yet. Would obviously like someone trustworthy and well recommended. Thankd again everyone.

The later ones will run on 031 just like their post war brothers. I assume this early one will as well. As for Williams True blast one, two, or plus, they only need connection to track power and a speaker. They frequently show up on the auction sites.

Pete

Deuce posted:

Thanks for the replies. Its a nice looking train.  I'm glad i got it, even though it's a behemoth. Any reason it makes that godawful noise when I hit the bell button on the transformer though?

That's the Lionel 3 position E-Unit making that sound.

I have the exact same loco they had NO sound. Use a Lionel type mechnical E-unit that will buzz.  J

Once again, in our continuing education program...

A Trainmaster is a middle management company officer at a railroad.

A Train Master is the proper name for a large diesel locomotive manufactured by the Fairbanks Morse Locomotive Company.

Way to go Rich!

Learned something this evening!

The Williams FM Train Master looks so large because the real FM Train Master was a big locomotive for its time, and your Williams FM Train Master is basically scale proportioned for O, just like the Postwar Lionel version it replicates.

The Williams FM Train Master was an eye opener in terms of performance for us hard core types who swore by Magnetraction and open frame motors. The Williams versions had two big can motors and could pull huge consists of freights (we had one that pulled 16 feet worth of Postwar  cars) for hours without heating up . We did not know it at the time, but that was the beginning of an evolution where it was all right to own and run something other than Lionel.

So it doesn't have sound yet, you own a piece of history as well as the solid basis for a a fun locomotive that will be even more enjoyable to run when you put sound in it. Wouldn't hurt to put in an upgraded electronic e unit in it either.

Ed Boyle

OGR Webmaster posted:

Once again, in our continuing education program...

A Trainmaster is a middle management company officer at a railroad.

A Train Master is the proper name for a large diesel locomotive manufactured by the Fairbanks Morse Locomotive Company.

Your pettiness regarding the spelling is getting old.

FCS - It says TRAINMASTER on the Williams box...!

Lionel used TrainMASTER as a marketing brand and logo quite a bit in the PW era...we see it all the time on Transformers.

Don't you think those examples are likely the main source of confusion and "misuse" of the term?

And less likely that were all just a bunch of dummies...?

As large as it is they will run on 031, it won't be pretty, you will have to move stuff away from the track but run it will.  I have a williams sound board and speaker I pulled from a gp-9, bell and whistle only.  If you want it PM me.  $10 plus shipping to you.

necrails posted:

As large as it is they will run on 031, it won't be pretty, you will have to move stuff away from the track but run it will.  I have a williams sound board and speaker I pulled from a gp-9, bell and whistle only.  If you want it PM me.  $10 plus shipping to you.

Thanks! I sent you an email.

I purchased my Williams FM unit when they first came out around 1980.  The unit features two instrument grade US made Pittman DC motors, headlights, a Lionel eUnit, a full wave rectifier, and magnets between the wheels. It does have metal railing.  Great running engine.

why not just remove the 2 screws ,take off the body and remove all doubt ?  

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

There were many variations of the Williams Train master. The earliest ones had no reverse, no horn and plastic side frames and handrail stantions. Later the handrails went all metal. Then the buzzer horn just like postwar models.

If your box does not mention horn or Truesounds then chances are good that you don't have any sounds. But thanks to today's technology, you can add it if you like.

LOTS of variations is correct......

Williams even sold kits were people could provide motors and trucks.

I have a SD-45 w/o horn or bell....just a DCRU. 

Open the FM and see,,,,it's very easy.

AMCDave posted: 

...I have a SD-45 w/o horn or bell....just a DCRU. 

I have a SD-45 w/o horn or bell.... & just a diode for forward only operation on half-wave DC. Well, that was until I put an E-unit in it anyway. I still have a F7 that is unmodified as new with just the diode.

joe krasko posted:

why not just remove the 2 screws ,take off the body and remove all doubt ?  

Mainly trepidation, but I'll bite the bullet as soon as it warms up, maybe this weekend if time allows.

Dennis LaGrua posted:

I purchased my Williams FM unit when they first came out around 1980.  The unit features two instrument grade US made Pittman DC motors, headlights, a Lionel eUnit, a full wave rectifier, and magnets between the wheels. It does have metal railing.  Great running engine.

Yes hit the nail on the head i have 4 in different road names of these no horn no bell and exactly like Dennis mentioned in his post. Those large pittman motors are very strong no flywheel just brute pulling power and you can see the magnets on bottom of each truck. One screw on each end and the shell comes off the end lights are not attached to the shell.

If one is not afraid you can even open up the pittman motor as there are screws on it but there are no replacement brushes that i have found but bought some other pittman motors with the brushes for spares.

One was jerking really bad as it ran  the problem was the bridge rectifier bought one on the bay very cheap and i soldered it in and works great.

They are plain jane engines but can pull a ton with those twin large pittman motors as you may have realized they will not coast to a stop (no flywheel) but thats not a problem if you dial the transformer down very slowly near the end.

I added TMCC to mine and as mentioned they pull like crazy but the lack of flywheel makes them a bit jerky at very low speeds when operating in TMCC with it's PWM speed control. I do favor the MagnaTraction of these early Williams TM's over rubber tires. I think Lionel had a role in the removal of the magnets though the slots in the truck frame remained allowing you to add the magnets yourself.  J