WbB GG1 - can it be set to forward direction only?

I recently helped someone lock multiple trolleys into forward with an easy board modification.  Maybe the same trick would work for you.

Yes, you can add a lock-out switch to the Williams reverse unit. The information is available on Bachmann's website.

Chuck,  Thank you.  I've downloaded the lockout switch instructions and it looks pretty easy, now I hope I have the Revision 4 board.

Dale, looking at the WbB site, the trolleys have a different board.  If the instructions I just got don't work, I will get back to you.

If you can't find the information on Bachmann's forum under Williams then you may want to consider using bridge rectifiers. With a bridge rectifier you supply the modified voltage to the motors directly and won't have to worry about jumping sequence because the bridge rectifier changes the AC wave to a modified DC wave and is safe to run DC can motors with.

You remove the circuit board and install the bridge rectifier in place of the circuit board. You will have one direction only. If it runs the wrong way reverse the wire leads coming off the plus & minus side of the bridge rectifier.

FYI; bridge rectifiers are inexpensive, usually less then $3.50 a piece from most electronics stores.

I did 2 Williams Crown Edition F-7 engines that way and they run better then with the circuit board.

Lee Fritz

Another way to accomplish the same thing without modifying the boards is to add a tether connecting the center rail pickups together.  This reduces/eliminates the reverse boards getting out of sequence even when going over turnouts.  With a little thought you can make the tether very difficult to see.

Good luck!  Let us know what you end up with.

Mountain Mover posted:

Another way to accomplish the same thing without modifying the boards is to add a tether connecting the center rail pickups together.  This reduces/eliminates the reverse boards getting out of sequence even when going over turnouts.  With a little thought you can make the tether very difficult to see.

Good luck!  Let us know what you end up with.

Why not use a 2 wire tether and get both the hot & common wires hooked up  together? I have had a couple of SD-45's with traction tires lose the outside rail power and found it by attaching a jumper to the frame of both engines.

Lee Fritz

Using two wires is another good solution.

I have found some electrical connectors at different hobby shops near where I live. I went to a remote control model plane hobby shop and found some 2 wire connectors (rated at 5 amps)that work great with Williams engines, the connectors have disconnects so that each engine can be uncoupled electrically from the other. The connectors were small enough not stick out, and I painted the ends of them a dark color.

Also I did a 3 engine set(all powered) of Williams SD-45's that way and added in an unpowered Shark B unit with sound using the 2 wire connectors. Just drilled a small hole near the bottom of the shell in each engine(front & rear) and used wire nuts to splice the wires together.

Lee Fritz