Williams Trains WoW!

So do I!  

Welcome to the club!! I am a conventional runner so no command is a plus as I hate paying for it and not wanting it. Now I started as a MTH for most of my equipment....but as loco sounds was pushed out and cost went up I turned to Williams. I got this one for under $100 brand new sealed box from a major internet retailer.

Some may say the detail is coarse compaired to the big 2 but it's rugged and looks good running by you!!!

My only fear with WBB is they get full of themselves and prices go way up.....but then there is always the used market and I really have plenty now!!!

They have a new sound board without too much price increase. I too hope they hold the line on prices.

What worries me is the guys who keep asking Bachman to put more electronics in the Williams engines. That would drive the cost way up. We buy Williams because it is affordable and reliable. I just bought a kit to power a Williams F3 B unit for only $99.00. Try that with Lionel or MTH. Williams is the best bang for the buck.

Rob

I really want to see their new GP-30, it's suppose to have a 16-bit sound card and more individual (not cast on) detail.  Hopefully they'll also have a better slow speed than some of their older engines.

 

If they can hold the prices down they ought to sell out fast.  I hope they do more

I'd be much more interested in WBB locos if they had sound, so the could card they have talked about will be welcome.  I also would like it if they would gear more of their locos so they would run slower/smoother.  Clearly they can (e.g., the new ten-wheeler).

The first all WBB loco too......all other were Williams heritage  units that are still good units....I have rewired some of mine to slow them some. If it lowered the price I'd be happy with a no sound option with DCU only!!! 

Big fan here too. I also hope they don't try to join the features competition and end up raising both price and number of things that can go wrong. Their trains are today's version of what Lionel was in the post-war era.  

Hello guys and gals.........

I am still waiting for some mail order stores to have a williams #21698 black Santa Fe NW-2 on sale for 99 dollars.  Trainworldonline doesn't have that road name for that price oh well.

 

the woman who love the S.F.#5021

Tiffany

I have been running some conventional off and on and really enjoying it. Thinking back I may have been prompted somewhat by Lee and others conventional posts.

 

I do like the look and feel of the post war stuff. My LHS has some Williams, actually my local hardware store.  Great looking and very reasonable. I'm heading to town today and may pick one up. Especially with holidays coming I find myself running more and more conventional. Even dug out all mu coal dump cars, log car, aquarium car, all post war. Fun tiring to get them to work just right on the old operating tracks

 

Plus I can run at night and not wake anyone. Cant wait to run a Williams tomorrow. 

You know whats funny when you guys mention "Sound"?

I used to love all the sounds my MTH DCS locos make, that is until I took out my 1963 vintage Lionel Post War Growlers SanteFe Alco's passenger set for the first time in 25 years and man oh man is that post war growl addictive.

I find it very relaxing to just hear the sound of the electric motor, click clack of the rails and occassional odd noises these trains make.

I hope these Williams Trains sound that way, as I have not started them up yet....just been drooling over them sitting there on the track LOL!

 

Oh by the way, went to an actual hobby/train store (Hobby Town USA) for the first time in about 7 years (been 100% online), and got some track I needed for last nights track laying, and I can say that I miss that.

Cant imagine the fun of going to an actual Hardware Store, especially an old hardware store for trains...that would be the ultimate cool.

I have about 12 Williams engines and had only a minor problem, started in the wrong direction for me, so I took out the circuit board and wired it to a 6 amp bridge rectifier, it was an older Crown Edition engine.

Some of the older Williams engines had a QSI sound board that has engine revving sounds for the diesel engine, and train leaving announcement.

The newer Williams by Bachmann have the True Blast 2 sound system installed, horn and bell features.

Only the steam engines have smoke if so equipped.

For better prices on Williams try either Westrn Depot or Choo Choo auctions.com

 

Lee F.

 

Hi Lee, even better prices than Trainworld?

I thought $149-$169 was pretty darn good?

Also, do you use the 3 types of "Bachmann" oil Williams/Bachmann states in their instruction sheet or do you use the standard MTH oil for the roller, gears, and pivot points?

This was the first time i was instructed to use Oil instead of grease on the gears.

I have six Williams/ Williams by Bachmann locomotives and I really enjoy them all. They are all excellent runners and I operate only conventional mode equipment. I prefer it thay way, which ofcourse is a personal choice. I am hoping to pick up an NYC GP30 when they come out. I can't wait  to hear the new 16 bit sound system. Way to go WbB, keep up the great work!!
Cobrabob.

Nice layout cobra!

Of the last  ten engines over the last three years I've purchased eight are Williams. In reverse order they are WBB NW2, K-line Plymouth, WBB E7, WBB Rectifier, WBB GG1, WBB Peter Witt trolley, WBB BL2, WBB GP38, K Line Empire State Express Hudson, WBB J Class. I have been running conventional and quietly I love mine. I think I want the GP 30 next.

You folks who are waiting for the WBB GP-30 will, I believe, not be disappointed once you receive your locomotive.  I will be buying at least one, and possibly more, when it is released in my chosen livery.  And I'm sure our product reviewer, George Brown, will be giving one a thorough testing once they are available.

I have gone over to the Williams engines as well. I find this a very interesting thread and I am enjoying all the posts. I have gone to the conventional operations because it has become very interesting to me. I have Legacy and DCS but do not turn them on any more and in fact have turned off the Smoke and Sound on my TMCC engines. I really like the horn on my Williams Southern F7's AA. I just ordered a GP9 L&N and F3's AA Southern Black/White. Please keep posting about Williams and the conventional operations.

I just ran my Williams train for the first time (GG-1 scale), and it ran like a charm!

Used the MTH Z-1000 transformer and control and it ran nice and slow too.

Lubricated the rollers and pivot points with the MTH Oil, and used MTH grease on the external gears per the instructions.

I had to stop because it could not clear the wall on the elevated side of the layout, so I had to pull up the 48' curve, set back down with T-pins, glue and allow it to set hopefully with better clearance.

BTW, there is only one sorta bad thing about these Williams trains....as previously mentioned because you can get them for such a great price you end up buying more and more of them.

LOL..I am trying to justify my 3rd and fourth loco's now!

Chipset, I think the GG1 (scale) and the E7's are the very nicest locos Williams make, you should get many years of happy running with them too. As you said, at the price, you can't beat them.

Thanks Dave! I am thinking about getting a Green GG-1 next since I already have a Brown GG-1 an d E7.

Williams will always be the price leader as they are the only company that owns its own manufacturing plant.  Their parent company Kader actually runs several manufacturing plants in China and the far East. Thats also a reason for consistent good quality.  In contrast Lionel and MTH are importers, not manufacturers. Those companies outsource their requirements probably to the lowest bidder.

Okay!  I have a Williams by Bachmann 4-6-0 Christmas set on the way.  I no longer collect Christmas sets (at one time I did), but I saw this one in action at York and couldn't resist getting one.  It will share running time on my around-the-tree circle of track with one of my tinplate sets (on an alternating basis since this is just a small circle of track on a circular table that I mounted atop the bottom half of a Jack Daniels whiskey cask).  A small train-ornaments-only tree will occupy the center, along with some tinplate cookie-container buildings.

I love their 0-27 offerings.  I think that Williams was a big reason why Lionel came out with the Conventional Classics series.  I hope they keep making good, affordable trains.  I was just running one of my favorite consists, a Williams turbine with Lionel PRR coaches.  

The Williams line speaks for itself. Solid, sturdy, and dependable trains.

 

The first Williams train I bought was the Western Maryland BL-2. I've always loved these "ugly ducklings" of the diesel world and you don't see many of them. Williams makes them in a number of road names.

 

Also have enjoyed their GP-9s and the NW-2s.

I have about 20 Williams/WBB Engines....GG1, EF4,EP5,BL2,E7,GP38,F3,F7,E60...They just keep running and running with no problems...Just keep them lubed and oiled as per the instructions and have fun. I have 2 grandsons,5 and 2, who I have absolutely no problem letting them run these engines without fear of blown boards or short circuits. My oldest Williams is an SD45 which is 25 yrs old and still runs perfectly. Wonder how the newer MTH and Lionel Products will run 25 yrs from now?

Keep up the great products WBB

 

Matt

This is such a great thread  I thought I would add a nice little review about a Williams by Bachmann 746 J class. When I opened the box I found a great big heavy engine and tender. Not a bit of plastic on the engine and the tender has everything metal but the shell. The tender has a nice whistle and bell that operate at low voltages. The engine pulls a ton and is very well detailed. Williams did a great job on reproducing the Lionel 746 J class and operates reliably like the original. Like ?chipset I use the MTH Z1000 and it makes for a nice smooth start and stop and slow operation, the controller also operates the sound very well. I liked the engine so much I put a fan driven smoke unit in it. It was very easy and took no time at all. Here's a video with the smoke and the engine running in the other one. Keep the great comments coming 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I use the MTH z-1000 transformer too. Perfect for slow starting and works that bell/horn every time. I installed a lionel fan driven smoke unit in my Williams 671 also. Easy to do and works great. Boxcar Bill has a kit for sale to convert it..

Rob

Liam

 

What mfg smoke unit did you use? How difficult is it to put in?

 

Thanks

Matt

Great post everyone and I am enjoying the read. I use a MTH Z4000 to run my conventional operations and my Williams E7's run very slow and just outstanding. Can't wait to get my GP9 and F3's. I thought I was the only person who liked Williams and conventional operation but I am reading a different story now. Great thread.

Its from a forum  Boxcar Bill it is liionel 27OHM fan driven smoke unit. The kit comes with the unit, funnel, switch, and wires and it took me less than five minutes. eres a video of the switch.. he engine already had a place so it was done in less than a minute  

 

Matt, its not hard to install and I have some pics of the install. It comes with an on/off switch too. Very nice to have. You will need to buy an led to replace the front head lamp though because the OEM light is run by the smoke unit board and at only 6 volts.

Rob

Liam...thanks for the info

oldrob....if not too much trouble, could you e mail me the pics of the install..Mil261@aol.com

 

Thanks Guys

Matt

I agree with you 100%....Just upgrade the sound like in the new GP30s and leave everything else alone!!! If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!!!!

 

Matt

about how much are those smoke units?

 

thanks

I bought a UP Berkshire about a year ago for around $230. It is a great little steamer but I did miss the absence of sound and finally installed a sound board in the tender. Talk about being solidly built!. With the speaker inside the tender one barely heard the sound. I had to end up mounting the speaker underneath the tender. Now it is loud........Williams makes a great product.

I enjoyed the Berkshire but will probably sell it. I just aquired a Lionel Legacy SF 4-8-4 Northern (yea I know $230 is a far cry from $1300 but my lord what a locomotive.......) and need the track siding. I just get the feeling I won't be running the Berkshire that much any more.

Joe

I guess it must be hit or miss. I bought a dash 9 for my son and it had no sound out of the box and it ran so fast that slow speed operation is impossible. I took it apart and found the sound board was just double side taped to a piece of metal and had come loose. I tweaked the pot, remounted it and it started working. I still need to go back and rewire the motors into series to try to slow it down, but I don't feel like it. I bought him an MTH RailKing dash 8 for about $125 more and he won't even look at the dash 9 anymore. I like the idea of inexpensive durable good performing trains. The dash 9 just doesn't deliver.

Allan, what happened to the Jack Daniels that was in that cask?