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I have acquired a Williams Scale GG1 recently, used.  I opened it up to replace the lamps and noticed that there is a Lionel circuit board inside.  The previous owner installed it as I don't believe it was there when the loco was new.  There is a 9 volt battery connector but no battery.  The sound operates well.  It has the usual sounds of a GG1 plus horn and bell.   So why is the system operating without a battery.  Should I put one in ?  Should I put in a BCR ?  

Last edited by Former Member
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gunrunnerjohn posted:

Lionel Trainmaster Command Control

How about a picture or two of the electronic package, we can tell you what you have.

That would be a good idea John.  I'll try to post one tomorrow.  In the meantime, I took a photo of the pantographs today.  There is a very thin piece of black wire at the bottom of the pantograph.  It is connected to the very bottom part of the scissors frame.  I can't figure out why it's there.  It's on both pantographs.  In the first picture, it's visible below the spring and above the words "High tension".

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I'm not sure John.  What's decorative about it ?   To me it looks like something placed there to restrict the maximum movement of the pantograph.  But it doesn't do that.  It just floats there with no apparent purpose.  

 

Anyway, as promised, some photos of the guts.

 

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  • IMG_2825: 9 Volt battery terminal
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As suspected, you have TMCC electronics there.  That's a nice surprise.  BTW, a simple 9V battery will work fine for this application.  A BCR could be used but it won't protect anything, not like on PS1 and PS2

I believe the wire attached to the pantograph arms keeps them from deploying lop sided...a centering apparatus.

Bruce

Last edited by brwebster
brwebster posted:

As suspected, you have TMCC electronics there.  That's a nice surprise.  BTW, a simple 9V battery will work fine for this application.  A BCR could be used but it won't protect anything, not like on PS1 and PS2

I believe the wire attached to the pantograph arms keeps them from deploying lop sided...a centering apparatus.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce.  What about a NiMH rechargeable ?   Will the electronics charge the battery ?  

The TMCC electronics does NOT charge the battery, you use a plain alkaline battery.

To answer Marty's question, you appear not to have a scale GG-1 from the pictures.  The scale GG-1 is over 20" long, and the TAS board would easily fit between the motors.  It appears the second motor was removed as the board wouldn't fit.  You appear to have the semi-scale GG-1.

You can, if it pleases, easily add a few extras to that GG1, Dan.   Adding a rear headlight will make it possible to give them directional control.  If you decide to go TMCC, the TAS electronics has outputs for 2 coil couplers.  For the cost of a used remote and base it might be worth finding out how civilized command control truly is.

That blasphemous GG1 shell I painted up in Warbonnet garb is a Williams unit I purchased without the guts.  I'm staring enviously at your running gear....exactly what I need!

Bruce

Thanks John.  The board is held in place with double sided foam tape by the previous owner.  For the moment I have installed an LED in one of the headlights, wired directly to track power.   I'll put your information on my "To do" list for the future.    

Since I intend to use a catenary system, I would like to know if stronger springs can be had for the pantographs ?   The springs on my MPC electric locos are more robust that the springs on this locomotive.

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