Looking for Info On Williams #55 Mighty Mite

I remember running one on a friend's layout many years ago when I first got back into the hobby. Though visually not as impressive as the newer RMT version, I recall it ran well on his layout with no stalling on switch tracks. It came with a single motor and was DC operated though a diode was included so it could run forward only on AC current. The one thing that stands out in my memory, other than the fragile plastic handrails, was the placement of the roller pickups, which were further apart than the RMT version.

There's not a whole lot of information on these, and then I remembered this website, which has some pictured. A neat site as he also has photos of Kusan items and Franks Roundhouse.

http://www.robertstrains.com/WilliamsArmyNASA.htm

Direct link to photos of the original Kusan versions of this loco...

http://www.robertstrains.com/Kusan22.htm

Above is pictured one of the Williams versions of the Mighty Mite, from Robert's web site. If you look closely at the above photo, you can see (as I remembered) the roller pickups (upside down "U" channel mounting similar to what Lionel is using on rolling stock with die-cast trucks) right next to the locomotive steps.

Though the decoration was certainly spartan on these locos with unpainted, molded color shells, I do like the black handrails over the silver ones on the vast majority of the RMT Beeps. Though again, the plastic ones were a bit flimsy and fragile.

Hope this helps.

I had a Williams Mighty Mite in dark green plastic with white lettering for Pennsylvania. It had only one motor, and a shaft which powered the second set of wheels. The gear on the motor eventually became loose.

Thanks to all for the info so far.

Is there anymore out there (info that is)?

Anybody perform any  mods on these model?

Would it be better to put in a full wave rectifier and capacitor in  for smoother power or is the stock diode enough for DC using a AC trans?

Thanks

As requested, attached is more info with scans of the front cover and relevant pages from the 1983 Williams catalog showing sets with “Mighty Mite” locos.

Bill

Thanks Bill, that's awesome!!!

Interesting origins indeed.

Awesome Info Thanks a bunch READINGFAN!!!