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okay are you talking about the new trueblast plus or the original trublast, the original had a preset whistle setting for a crossing, you had no control over the new trueblast plus from what I understand you do and it also has engine sounds. 

I have always liked the Williams products as being good quality, now the newer stuff I really don't have any knowledge about. 

rtraincollector posted:

okay are you talking about the new trueblast plus or the original trublast, the original had a preset whistle setting for a crossing, you had no control over the new trueblast plus from what I understand you do and it also has engine sounds. 

I have always liked the Williams products as being good quality, now the newer stuff I really don't have any knowledge about. 

Sorry I forgot they had trueblast before this one.I am mean in general.

I have a scale Hudson. Great puller. Handles 10 scale heavyweights with ease. Straight forward simple mechanism. Simple electronics. The whistle and bell sounds are good but grade crossing long long short long is the only choice with whistle. Steam chuff gets annoying after a few minutes. Detail, especially valve gear, lacking. Worth the money if you want something simple and reliable.

Last edited by Mike D
Norton posted:

Williams steam engines have the smaller Mabuchi RS385 motors same as most MTH Railkings and Lionel semi scale steam. They are comparable to those in pulling power, not comparable with MTH Premier or most Lionel full scale engines which have more powerful motors and are heavier.

Pete 

Most what I have is railking.And I have a railking mohawk(mountain type) pulled 47 boxcars freight train.But I agree with you about MTH Premier and lionel scale locomotives.I think with scale locomotives you could pull a freight about 60 boxcars on level tracks.

My experience has been that Williams diesels are reliable and great pullers, but the steam engines, not so much.

There are generally five classes of Williams steam locos;

-the old brass full scale ones

-the new Williams by Bachmann O-27 copies of post war Lionel

-the diecast scale Hudson

-the new Williams by Bachmann semi-scale steam locos

-the new Williams by Bachmann ten wheeler

Some of the scale brass steamers run well and some have very noisy gearboxes.

The Williams O-27 Hudson has a motor that is fond of overheating. Curiously, the O-27 Berkshire in my roster seems to be OK. Maybe there was a bad batch of motors.

The scale Hudson has a big motor, but is geared to run way too fast, although a Cruise Commander from ERR will tame it a bit.

The ten wheeler is really the standout gem in this roundhouse. It has a great gear ratio, runs slowly/smoothly, and has good pulling power.

I have not experienced the semi-scale steam locos, which are the old K-Line semi-scale locos. They might be something to look into.

Last edited by RoyBoy

I have a Gold Edition Brass N&W J11 which pulls with authority on the clubs grades with 25 cars for hours without heating up.

Mine has been upgraded with PS3, which gives excellent creeping control and makes it a true High Ball Express when under way. I really like Williams Brass, and hope to add to my roster as I can.

I had a Berk and an NW-2 from the last Williams run before the Bachman era. Great looking semi-scale steamer and diesel. My steamer smoked OK, but nothing great. Only thing I wished was that it could be run slower, seemed to go from stop to a pretty good speed with a slight increase in track power. I've read posts about rewiring the twin motors in the diesels to run is series to make for better slow operation.

Last edited by Timothy Sprague

I have some WbB diesel engines, and really like them.  Great running locos.  Prices were really good several years ago, and still ain't too bad today at some on-line mail order dealers.

I was also wanting to get some steam locos, but finances (or lack there of) didn't allow it until last year.  I almost pulled the trigger on getting some WbB steamers, but some of the on-line dealers all of a sudden had Lionel LC+ locos on sale for about the same price or even less(!!!) than their WbB steamers.  Doing some research, apparently the LC+ locos had much better features than the Williams locos, and for less money?  A no-brainer - I subsequently ordered a few LC+ steamers over a couple months period.  And been extremely happy with them since I received them.

Bottom line - If I can find a really good deal on a Williams steamer at either a train show or on the used market, I wouldn't hesitate to go ahead and get it.  But if I can get a LC+ for about the same price or even less, I wouldn't hesitate to go with it.  Far better bang for the buck, as far as I'm concerned.

The title if the OP is confusing to me- is he asking about the engines, or the “True Blast” sounds?   True Blast sounds feature a whistle. True Blast Plus includes whistle, bell, and chuffing.  I have been very happy with the simple, rugged, affordable Williams steamers. I have the Berkshire, the 10 wheeler, and the Pacific (which I repainted).  

Bob- your 4-6-2 seems smaller to you because it’s “semi-scale”. I always read posts about Williams because I am a big fan. JohnA 41DFC4F7-D691-4AF0-9C17-265A78455023

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I can only tell you based on buying two Williams diesels with True Blast Plus.

The bell and whistle sounds are loud and strong.

But, the one with a single can motor starts out strong pulling a medium train, and then in about 2 minutes starts to fade, until it slows down to half the original speed.  Not good.

The one with two can motors is great.

So, as to the steamer question, I wouldn't buy a steamer with a single can motor in it, except maybe something like a tiny docksider engine.

Hope this helps.

Mannyrock

I have all the semi-scale die cast ones except for the newer 4-6-2. First the bad. They are not great smokers but are adequate if you don’t want to smoke out the room. My semi-scale Hudson’s motor did run hot but I sent it in to Bachmann and they replaced the motor and it is now my favorite steamer. Second the good. They are all great pullers . All have no issues pulling 6 of the 60’ aluminum passenger cars. They all pull much more than the Lionel junior engines. I like the whistle on them but they are all the same. The all also handle 0-22 switches with no problem. As far as conventional engines go you can’t go wrong. If you like command control you can upgrade but might as well just buy a lion chief. I have a lion chief rectifier and it is really nice, good puller and command if you want it. The only one I could do without is the ten wheeler. It looks great but is really slow. Most people actually like that though.

@John A posted:

The title if the OP is confusing to me- is he asking about the engines, or the “True Blast” sounds?   True Blast sounds feature a whistle. True Blast Plus includes whistle, bell, and chuffing.  I have been very happy with the simple, rugged, affordable Williams steamers. I have the Berkshire, the 10 wheeler, and the Pacific (which I repainted).  

Bob- your 4-6-2 seems smaller to you because it’s “semi-scale”. I always read posts about Williams because I am a big fan. JohnA

John,

The semi-scale engine is just the right size I hope to use for the basis of a Seaboard Air Line streamlined Pacific:

PSC scan20210809_09482818

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@RoyBoy posted:

My experience has been that Williams diesels are reliable and great pullers, but the steam engines, not so much.

There are generally five classes of Williams steam locos;

-the old brass full scale ones

-the new Williams by Bachmann O-27 copies of post war Lionel

-the diecast scale Hudson

-the new Williams by Bachmann semi-scale steam locos

-the new Williams by Bachmann ten wheeler

Some of the scale brass steamers run well and some have very noisy gearboxes.

The Williams O-27 Hudson has a motor that is fond of overheating. Curiously, the O-27 Berkshire in my roster seems to be OK. Maybe there was a bad batch of motors.

The scale Hudson has a big motor, but is geared to run way too fast, although a Cruise Commander from ERR will tame it a bit.

The ten wheeler is really the standout gem in this roundhouse. It has a great gear ratio, runs slowly/smoothly, and has good pulling power.

I have not experienced the semi-scale steam locos, which are the old K-Line semi-scale locos. They might be something to look into.

The Williams O-27 Hudson has a motor that’s fond of overheating? I was thinking of purchasing a used Williams PRR steamer, conventional, but this gives me pause now. I have a Williams GP9 that’s a good puller and wondering if I can do the same with the steamer noted above without burning it up. Are they more for show?

@Lennyski posted:

I think the overheating motor was just a bad batch. I got one but Bachman replaced when I sent it in under their lifetime warranty. If that is your only concern I would pull the trigger. Yes, their is a chance you might get one out of the bad batch but if you do they’ll fix it it.

Thanks. The one I’m thinking about is used. Would a warranty be operative on a used Williams one that changed hands? If not, is it easy to service these and get replacement parts, for example, motor, smoke unit?

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