Williams Help

The PW transformers require a load on the output to generate enough DC offset to trigger some whistles.  You can either add a 3rd party whistle/bell button or upgrade the ZW with silicon diodes in the whistle circuit.

If you put some lighted passenger cars on the tracks, my guess is you will get the whistle.

One thing about PW whistle switches.  There are two positions as you activate the whistle.  At first, the rectifier is switched directly into the circuit to generate enough DC to pick the whistle relay.  As the lever travels a bit farther, it kicks in a 6V winding and parallels a low value resistor across the rectifier to boost the AC to account for the whistle motor and drop the DC to the holding voltage for the whistle relay.

Many times if you just move the lever a bit, you can get the modern electronic whistles to function.

John.  Thank you.  I placed the tenders on my 027 track that has a small more modern hobby transformer.  Both of them made a constant bell sound until releasing the sound button rather than a whistle.  is that typical for a fairly modern Williams set or should there be additional sounds?  I'm asking only because I have never owned a Williams prior to these two.

Thanks again,

Nick

You need a transformer that has both whistle/horn and bell buttons.

If you reverse the wires to the track you will get whistle/horn instead of bell. One or the other but not both. A getting hard to find Lionel # 6-5906 can be added to an old transformer to get both sounds.

bum,

    If you are using an old ZW Guns gave you the best cure, upgrade the old ZW with the diodes, the Bell and Whistle work perfectly with this upgrade, Jim one of our OGR members, did a real nice job on the old 250 ZW I purchased from him.  My Williams GG1 and all my other Williams engines with the True Blast, operated perfectly with this upgrade. Pick up the 6-5906 button if you want to run both at the same time.

PCRR/Dave

Thanks to all three of you.  I reversed the wires and whistle it does.  What a forum, there is more help here than any book can offer.

Have a great holiday and thanks again,

Nick

Nick,

   Have a great Memorial Day Weekend, spend some time with the kids and your trains,

the SeaBees and Marines who were on Guadalcanal are watching form above.

PCRR/Dave

With the old post war ZW transformers you need to run the hot wire from the A or D terminal to the center rail and the common to the outside rail and that usually works with most brands of engines, especially Williams.

The other thing that I have noticed is that with the older ZW you need to push the whistle control to about three fourths the way and hold it for about three seconds for some Williams engines to respond to the whistle controller.

Lee Fritz

Do you know the age of the Williams engines you have? If they are from the Crown Edition they act differently then the True Blast 2 horns.

Lee Fritz