Williams N & W J PS2 Conversion

real sweet, I've been on the fence to upgrade mine, your video pushed me over. 

Enjoy theride!

Those Williams Crown Edition locomotives make great DCS engines.

You should be very pleased with the conversion.

I'm sure this is nothing new to most of you, here on the forums. Just wanted to share my fun. 

Nice to see in action!  Here are upgrade pics.  G

George, what sound file did you use?  I used the one from 20-3132-1, it sounds great but the bell ring is too fast, at least twice of the one shown in the video.

I agree, the conversion of these brass Js makes a fine engine even better.  I can run mine at 1smph on the handheld, I think I measured the gear ratio at something like 43:1 (George, what tach tape did you use?).

Excellent choice Mike, in the engine, the upgrade, and who you got to do it

Bob,  Instead of using the standard board, I installed the Flash Board processor with Quillable whistle code.  So I loaded the Cavalier Sound file from one of the 2008 versions.  So he has QW.  I initially used the 27mm, but upped it to 33mm to get more top end speed.  Yes the Brass have tall gears.

G

To me, the William's N&W J is a much nicer model that either the MTH or Lionel offerings. I have owned all three and have only kept the Williams model.  I had mind upgraded to TMCC and EOB by TAS about 8 years ago and it is still one of my favorite engines.

I really like the sounds file you choose.  The train look and sounds great!

Happy railroading,

Don

Mike,

I also in the past year got the Williams USRA 2-8-2 and the USRA 4-6-2.  These 2 and the J are my favorite motive power (once PS2 was installed).  If you can find them at a good price you might want to consider getting them.

Thanks George!

Looks great, the only change I'd make is configure it for four chuffs/rev, that's an easy operator change.

Pretty neat alright!

Thanks for the tip. I was actually wondering about this. (One revolution = 4 power/exhaust strokes with a 2-cylinder engine?)

Thanks for all the the views and replies!

The 'high balling' pass was my favorite-the whistle sound great!

I'm feeling old-I remember when these were introduced and the top model anyone could buy.  Several years ahead of the 'scale age' and command control 

I love the look of the streamlined steamers, even though they were a PITA for the operating RR for maintenance.

I was born and lived near Bluefield, WV until I was 12 (1958). I got to see the 'J' numerous times on our trips to town. This engine has always been my favorite.

I keep my eye out for deals, if one comes along I'll have one and upgrade it to command.

First, is there a Crown and non-Crown version?

Second, I'm OK with the conventional operation, but I would like to get that smoke unit installed.  Can one get that smoke unit installed without a full PS2 upgrade?

Thanks,

Alan

You can install a fan driven smoke unit without going command.  You'll need a regulator module to keep the voltage constant to the smoke unit.  If you can fit the MTH PS/1 smoke unit in there, it has a regulator build-in and runs from straight track power.

Yes, the crown was the Brass stuff.  There is also the diecast version still made by WbB.  I responded to your e-mail.  As John says it can be done.   G

I had the Crown edition; what a beautiful locomotive!  Can't imagine a better cosmetic  version.

Mike, very neat upgrade.  On the conversion, did you choose PS2 over TMCC as a personal preference, ease and cost of upgrade?

I too have the Williams Crown Edition J and living in NS territory is one of my favorite engines.  Never purchased the Lionel or MTH versions as I didn't need two; however, I am entertaining the idea of upgrading not only the J but my set of Weaver Southern E-8's.

George, I'll be contacting you in the near future for some information.

I live about 100 miles from the Southern Railway (Norfolk Southern) steam shop in Irondale, AL-- where they did a lot of work on the 611 and 1218. When they made one of the first test runs, I drove, and my wife video taped it on a run (with a long freight) from Birmingham to Chattanooga. Had the kids in the back seat. That was my first time near a large steam engine-- and MAN was it impressive. On your model-- the steam chuff sound, and particularly the whistle are "dead on"..

Now I want one. Will it run on 072????

Jeffrey Fikes

Hi Jeffery,
I've actually ran it on O-36 curves (lot of overhang and I'm not sure about switches), but O-42 is the smallest radius recommended and it handles that fine. That's O-72 FasTrack in the video, so the answer to your question is - 'Yes'.

(Actually, I believe the curves are O-48 in the 'Before PS2.." part of the video. The O-72 is in the rest of the video, although you can't see the curves.)

Very Nice!

You have a great locomotive!

I am thinking that I should have grabbed the one I saw at York a couple of years ago.

(I am guessing that demand for the J's will be high again with 611 getting ready to go on the road again!!  .