Williams Trains and Lionel

Market share question, I think command control has a lot to do with this. There are a lot of folks in our hobby that prefer command control that must have a significant influence on their buying decisions.

WBB has pretty much discontinued all of the former Williams line. Their new offerings are better but cost more. So ends what Williams was favored for. Lower prices. I guess that command control is not far off. Hopefully they won't do an MTH and make it useless with other systems.

RE: Williams and Lionel.

Recall their "Golden Memories" series where they reproduced Lionel locos, sets and rolling stock. They looked great and ran well without paying the higher prices for actual Lionel postwar.

You can still find them around the 'Net often at very nice prices. I saw a B&O freight set (AA F units with 4-5 pieces of rolling stock) the other day on the auction site for a fantastic price.

Chipset,

Jerry Williams had a wonderful idea. Most could afford his first basic engines. While these did not have flywheels or horn/bell. I had a few that came without reverse.

IMHO I feel that Bachmann does not know what to do with the Williams line. To them it may appear to be the black sheep in the flock. I may be wrong and I hope that I am. I look for Bachmann to do the same with Williams as Lionel did with K-Line.

Yep, this is what I am talking about...

My only complaint is that their boxes do not do justice to their trains.

Yep, Bachmann is doing what they promised not to do.