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17 replies

Williams Trainmaster

LW Lee WillisOGR Forum Member
I was at my LHS this weekend to pick up a couple of track cleaning erasers and my eye fell on a Williams F-M Trainmaster on display. I've wanted a Trainmaster for some time, its period fits my layout perfectly (1955), this one looked good in the store display even if it was a foreign roadname to me (Virginian), and I have never owned a Williams although I have heard many good things about them. Seemed like enough good reasons to buy it, even over a Lionel Trainmaster nearby for $6 less.

Now I know why people rave about how smoothly Williams locos run: this loco rivals the best running/smoothest diesels I have (Lionel U-Boat with the new-for-2011 revised electronics) and has the most linear response to voltage I have ever seen. Nice.

My next comments are not knocking this loco - I like it a lot, but I think I will re-paint it and maybe add a bit of detail. The molded detail is okay - but the paint, particularly on the top of the unit looks a bit too glossy and toyu like-satiny and this one has a lot of bright, chrome-like railings and such I don't see in photos of the real thing.

Did trainmasters have chrome/shiny railings, etc?

My intention is to re-paint this in UP Armor Yellow and Gray with silver trucks. I'm fairly certain UP never had any Trainmasters, but that hasn't stopped me in other cases and it would be a fun project to do that and add some more detail and cab figures, etc.

Anyway, it sure is a nice runner.
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FM Former Member
Some time ago, just when I had the itch to buy my first FM, OGR did a three-way comparison article between MTH, Lionel and Williams Trainmasters. The article played a big role in my decision, which was to go with the Williams model. As Earl said, it was more of a copy of a postwar Lionel than it was an accurate model of the prototype, which was just what I wanted. I first got the tangerine and blue CNJ FM, then the green with yellow stripe one when it came out. Like my other Williams engines, they are bullet proof and problem free. Enjoy yours
Ralph DRalph DOGR Forum Member
Hi Lee
Part of the beauty of Williams engines is that if you feel like painting or modifying the paint scheme you can do so without much concern. I'd be less inclined to paint any Lionel post war unless I was doing a complete restoration.
I have 4 Willimas engines including an FM trainmaster in JC paint scheme.
I also have a GG1 in PRR colors. I found it much to glossy and hit it with Dull Coat and was very happy with the result.
cheers
Ralph
SR scale railOGR Forum Member
I would get the K-line Trainmaster. Way better detail and much, much more. This one is on E-bay now. http://www.ebay.com/itm/K-LINE...c6c7f#ht_1200wt_1143
K-Line #2499-0053CC Virginian O gauge FM Trainmaster diesel engine:
http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/gro...91BA0C04358166AD.jpg
metal wheels
knuckle couplers
powered (untested)
lighted
TMCC
RailSounds
other very nice features
original box
still in the original inner wrapping
I have three of these and think they are great.
Don
very nice details
very nice color scheme
Condition: Grade C-8/C-9 (See Grading Standards Below for Details)
Last edited by scale rail
FM Former Member
quote:
Originally posted by Lee Willis:
My intention is to re-paint this in UP Armor Yellow and Gray with silver trucks. I'm fairly certain UP never had any Trainmasters, but that hasn't stopped me in other cases and it would be a fun project to do that and add some more detail and cab figures, etc.



Lee: Here's a link to a page full of Custom Trains FM's including one already painted in UP colors:

http://www.robertstrains.com/Frank52.htm

HTH
LW Lee WillisOGR Forum Member
Another advantage of these Williams beauties: they are easy to disassemble. I already have mine apart and primed. I sanded all the shiny metal with #400 wet dry to scratch it up so primer would adhere better and intend to pain it all. I'm also adding some grab bars and cab crew/details - not out of dissatisfaction with the Williams loco actulaly as much as -- well, its apart, why not?

Thinking of adding a sound card, too.
LW Lee WillisOGR Forum Member

I don't know, but this was first posted about three years ago, so as Paul Harvey said, the rest of the story.  I ran it on and offi for about a year maybe 200 hours total and one of the motors failed: I was shocked and spent a lot of time tryying to find the problem  before I determined is was simply a bad motor - I have never had a can motor fail in any loco . . . I replaced it, and about a year later, after maybe another 100 hours of running, the other motor failed.   Wow.  This is not what I expected from my only Williams diesel.    I took the thing apart for parts, etc. -- the one good motor left in it I mounted in the converted  Corgi 1:50 Scenicruiser I run on my 'Streets loops now. 

 

 

P phillyreadingOGR Forum Member

Hey Lee W.

You will love the Williams Trainmaster, if they run as good as the rest of the Williams line does.

I have about 12 Williams before Bachmann engines and all run great with no problems other then not running the direction that I wanted one or two to run, but I fixed that with a bridge rectifier after taking out the circuit board.

 

Lee Fritz

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