Williams Semi-Scale Hudson

I have about ten Williams engines but all are pre Bachman. They have been bulletproof. I have used my semi scale hudson to pull 6 18" "scale" heavyweights for hours at a time with no issues.

That said some have reported issues with the Bachman versions like lack of grease in the gearboxes. If I were looking today it would be in the secondary market where prices are still reasonable. Then service the engine when it arrived.

Pete

Thank you Pete, I have never owner anything but Lionel so even an MTH product would be a massive shift. My concern is the accessibility of parts and what needs most replacing...I am self-taught on Lionel so I have built up a decent A-B-C parts inventory to service what I have over here but with other manufacturers I am not so certain...if it is just a general lubrication service then no problem, will have a look at used listings for the Southern semi-scale and if I find something will take a punt, many thanks again for your help!

OK, even though I'm a Hi-Railer/scale-oriented 3-railer, I do have the some pieces of sub-scale, toy-ish equipment because, well, sometimes I just like them.

I wanted to try the Wms 027-style Hudson, and I found a new one "cheap" a couple of years ago. It looks pretty good, and captures that husky, broad-shouldered look that made the original PW loco look so real to a kid's eyes. It has a can motor and an electronic reversing unit, so it theoretically runs better than the old PW ever could.

Theoretically. The gearing is so 120-mph, zoom-zoom that I found it thoroughly annoying. The Lionel Pullmor PW version runs better.

I did not expect a cruise-control 2 smph creep by any means, but it just ran so poorly

(their scale Hudson and sub-scale Berkshire have the same problem) that I was tempted

to sell it, but I installed an ERR Cruise Commander in it and it now runs well (slowly

enough; no creeping, but I didn't buy it for that).

It appears to be well-constructed, so if you have a Need for Speed, you should be OK.

I believe that a Cruise Commander can be installed without the command features.

It should run well. 

Cheers for that D500, just as a possibility how would you say it compares technically with the MPC era 4-6-4 Southern Crescent that came around the same time as the cars I have? Sound of Steam I never was a fan of and from photos and hands-on experience I never found the locomotive that appealing. It has been a while since I saw one though and maybe the color scheme is not so bad as I remember...

It's not difficult to assemble and install the equipment needed to convert 220 @ 50Hz to 110 @60Hz. Then you could use the newer stuff that you want.

220 > rectifier > 12 V. DC > inverter > 110

As Arthur described it is quiet straight forward to put together an 12V DC power supply and a 12V DC to 120V AC inverter. You will need an 12V DC supply with quiet high amps.

For example a 300 watt inverter needs around 25amps of DC power.

i run our home layout in this manner. However you don't need this set up with MTH products as DCS is happy on 50 or 60Hz. This is a user selectable setting from the DCS remote.

In theory it is also not needed for Lionel Legacy. However if you have some older TMCC items you can run into issues with 50Hz. Sadly there is no list of locos effected or if it is a board version issue which are effected. 

Williams equipment is normally very good. I did have a bad experience with their Scale Hudson. It went through a couple of smoke units and a circuit board. I think it was a rogue one. I have to say I sold it and bought a  Lionel 1-700e 1990 scale Hudson and in my experience it runs a lot better.

That said my son just got a Williams scale GG1 for his birthday and I converted it to ERR cruise commander with Railsounds. It runs very nicely and is a super engine for the money.

Nick

Cheers Nick, am going to have to investigate this process a bit more closely...this is one aspect of the hobby that has certainly blown by me in the past 10 years and after speaking with a friend in the UK who also runs Lionel equipment it was pretty much assumed that there was no practical way to implement it...he probably is running the older equipment though and that may be why.

After hearing from you all I think I am comfortable enough to take a chance and order a Williams and see how it goes...thank you again for all of the advice and help, look forward to getting to know all of you a bit more moving forward.

Will keep the forum updated of my progress. My goal this year is to get a train around the tree (prewar 252 freight set) and further get a small portion of the layout bench work started.

Walt

I think you should be good to go with a step-down transformer to 120 volts AC, not sure if Williams products are hertz sensitive(50 or 60 cycles) or not being that they don't have command control. 

I was in Fulda Germany in the late 1970's and again in 82. All we needed to do was convert the voltage down to 120 volts to use most USA products except for digital clocks, they were always off.

Lee Fritz

Hi Lee, 

Thank you for your help. I know Fulda also, been there a couple times. I am living in Dresden in the former east (DDR). 

I have been running my pre-war sets on a small loop now for a few years with a step-down converter (maximum 50 Watt load). Seems okay with my 40 Watt AC Transformer but if I ever want to source a ZW in the future will need to beef up the converter. I think after doing a bit more research the frequency problems relates to earlier command control systems, I think if I choose to jump in now with current tech there will be no major complications. I am now looking initially into maybe buying a Lionchief Plus engine to get my feet wet with "advanced" tech engines and see what I think about sounds and crew talk before I get too vested...I still in the end love the memories of those throttles on the old ZW and that compared-to-nowadays very unrealistic whistle from my old PW 671 Turbine

Thanks again and send best regards from across the pond.

Walt

I just picked up a used one oNnthe bay and so far the only issue I have with it is the crappy suethe smoke units that Williams continues to use.  I plan on replacing it with a Lionel fan driven unit I picked-up from MTTP though.  I think you'll be happy with it, it's a beautiful engine!

Paul

Walt,

Maybe you could pick up a used Marklin or LGB transformer providing they put out AC voltage in the 5 to 24 volt range.

As you must know by now the plugs are much different on the German or European products. I confused my dad once because I set up an extension cord with US plug and a German outlet so I could use it for my stereo I brought back from Germany.

Lee Fritz

A few words about the newer engines made by most companies, if they have can motors you can run the motors on DC voltage but will have to remove the whistle or bell unit as it will sound off constantly because of the DC voltage.

I converted two Williams engines, F-7 AA units, to bridge rectifiers(removed the circuit boards) as I got tired of them not going the direction that I wanted them to go. I left the sound system in it.

The bridge rectifier converts the AC voltage to DC to run the motors.

Lee Fritz