Williams F-7s:how well do they run?

I can't speak with any experience regarding Williams F units.  I do have 2 Williams Trainmasters, and set of William Baldwin Shark units.  They all run terrific and can pull 25 car plus trains, which is long a train the curves on my layout will allow before the train breaks apart.  I would assume the the F units will run similar to the shark units.

Good luck!

I have a Williams Dash-9. It doesn't suit my era but it runs fantastic! very powerful. If the F-7's are anything like that, then don't go full throttle for any reason, what-so-ever. It will fly (no joke) off the track. I went around a curve too fast, the train ended up on the other side of the train train station from the track. At least that tells you they has powerful motors!!

Stump pullers. Some don't like the nose profile. I don't mind. Here are mine on thier tight shelves

I've got the C&O high waves and ACL AA pairs. My tiny bit of Doswell or Richmond VA.

  Thanks, everyone, for your replies!  The nose profile doesn't bother me at all.  The C & O units have the high wave paint scheme, which was used from the 1950s on into the 1960s.  Works for me.

I have 3 sets of Williams F-7's, ABA, two sets are just one powered A two unpowered engines, the third set is two powered A units with an unpowered B unit but with Station Sounds (Crown Edition)in it.

The Williams F-7's run very good. Depends on what year the F-7 was produced as to what type of horn might be inside it, anything from a basic one note horn, Station Sounds-Crown Edition only, to True Blast 2.

One note about any Williams AA or ABA set, there is only one powered unit from the factory. If you want a second powered unit you must buy the upgrade motor kit, not that difficult to do but you must have some mechanic & electrical knowledge.

Also have 3 SD-45's by Williams that are powered and they run good too.

All my Williams engines were made before Bachmann took the helm at Williams. So far I have had no problems with any Williams engine I have bought.

Lee Fritz

I have had a set of Williams F7 's for about six years now They run great, pull great, and no complaints. If you are careful you can lower them down too.

Rob

I've had a Williams-F3- for a couple years now. It is a Southern and one of my favorite runners. I upgraded it to ps2 and like it that much more. A excellent runner & puller. Tom

  The price of the C & O F-7s is about 140 bucks.  For a retiree on a limited income, this sounds like a good buy.

hello guys and gals.........

I like the Williams F-3's better due to its heavier die cast frame and thinner wider flywheels, I just think its a better engine for the money. At least you don't have to lower the body down like on the Williams F-7's.  I am on fixed income too

Tiffany

All Williams run very well, basic operation but GREAT pullers and usually an excellent value.

Have the C & O Pere Marquette F-7's running in the family room with seven MTH Pere Marquette 18" streamlined passenger cars in tow - one beautiful 14' train.  Engine is same as in Silver Lake's post - except has Pere Marquette on the side rather than Chesapeake and Ohio.  Set actually belongs to the cat whose name just happens to be "Chessie".  She lets me run it while she sits on the back of the couch watching.  Have two other William's diesel sets and only one problem with all of them.  There is a screw in the center of the bottom of the power truck that attaches it to the engine.  Be sure to check for tightness as they tend to come loose, drop to the track, and can be hard to find as you don't realize they are missing until you pick-up the engine and find shell in hand, power truck still on track and wires running in between.  Side note: My next door neighbor frequently brings her eight year old daughter over to feed the cat an run trains.  The little girl spotted a C&O MTH PS-1 box car with "sleeping Chessie" decals on the sides and added it to the Pere Marquette.  Prototypical "NO", but the colors and paint scheme blend in perfectly.  She refers to her mother as the "third assistant conductor". 

The Williams F-7's run good, but I have found the Williams GP-9's to out perform the F-7. The GP-9 starts out at a lower voltage too and pulls more then the F-7.

I would buy more Williams engines if I had more room, and I think I have enough engines for now, at least that's what the wife says.

Lee Fritz

I have several of the Williams F units and they run great without a problem. They are great pullers and for your dollar you won't get more.  The F-7 have a peculiar nose but still look good. My only suggestion is top lower the shells to cover the frame. It's not hard just be careful.

I have over 30 Williams diesels, they all pull great, and as with all of Williams products, they are "bullet proof"

How do you lower the shells? I have several F-7's; 6 A units and 3 B units.

I have taken out the circuit boards on one set of F-7's and installed bridge rectifiers, now the engines go the direction that I want to go all the time.

I may start my new layout next month or in June. I am moving on May 1st about one block away to a larger house and I will have a separate room again for my trains.

Lee Fritz