Williams to ps2

I did not do a GG-1 but I did do a PS2 Upgrade to a Williams NW-2 engine by swapping out the guts.

 

I bought an inexpensive Rugged Rails F3 and just about swapped out everything.

 

I did not want to make my own tac tape so I used the MTH motors.  The problem was the worm gear on the MTH motors did not mate well with the Williams Trucks.  So I had to swap out the trucks too.  This enabled easy install of the protocouplers too. 

 

The fit in the NW-2 was tight.  The speaker was too big so I used the Williams speaker.  The sound volume is not as loud.  I had a new style BCR lying around and used that which is small and eliminates a battery.

 

However if you have a GG-1 you should have plenty of room.  In many cases, buying an inexpensive MTH engine is cheaper than waiting and buying an upgrade kit.

 

I placed all of the Williams motive power in the MTH F3 and am in the course of selling that making my upgrade even more cost effective.

 

The MTH F3 cost me $125

The kitbashed MTH/Williams F3 is on ebay currently over $20.

My guess is my investment will be less than $100 for a PS2 upgrade.

 

If you do any type of upgrade... purchase a anti static mat and wrist wrap!!!!!

 

My next project... I have a rugged rails PS3 Steam engine I picked up cheap.  I am considering a double head Beep upgrade where one beep is the engine and the second beep is the tender.  OR  I am consdiering upgrading Thomas the tank engine and using the Annie coach as the tender to hold all the electronics.

 

Good Luck

Ron

Thank you Ron

 

I had a Williams E-7 done by an MTH tech.  Couplers and all.  Runs like a dream.  

thanks guys i took a good look at the under side of the front trucks on the gg1 and they have operating couplers. so the couplers will be no problem in converting to proto couplers. All the issue is now is getting the budget to bear the repairs.

Make sure you have room between the motors to fit the board.  I upgraded a MTH RK GG1 and it was very tight.  I have upgraded a Williams Shark with no trouble--an easy job.

We can offer an MTH or TMCC full upgrade.  I have done the scale GG1 in the past.  fabricated a custom aluminum bracket to locate the boards.  The tach board and reader is tricky.

 

The TMCC upgrade with RS4, TMCC and cruise control is a popular choice for this Loco.

 

ElectricTrainWorksJG,

   I do not want to Hi-Jack this nice thread, however I would like some information about one of my Williams originals.   I own a original Williams UP City of San Fran train with double engines, would it be possible to up grade the engines with MTH P2 controlls, leaving the true blast Williams horn that I like so much, it was ofcourse intalled much later.  Have been wondering about this for a long time.  Would love to run this old Willimas with slow speed control.

PCRR/Dave

 

Dave,

If you want to keep the original sound system the electric rr cruise commander is a great upgrade.  Your Williams locks will creep down the tracks with tmcc.  Parts are 120 plus install.  You can always shoot me an e-mail about upgrade options offered.  DCS upgrade is also an option.  Jeff@etrainworks.com

"would it be possible to up grade the engines with MTH P2 controlls, leaving the true blast Williams horn that I like so much"

Have you ever heard the MTH sounds?  You won't like Tru blast very much after hearing what is possible to download from MTH.  The biggest improvement is being able to sound the horn in any combination you want... not just the crossing signal horn that tru blast offers.

I would equate this to buying a new blue ray player and trying to watch it on a standard definition TV... You just would not do that.

Respectfully submitted,
Ron

Bobbie,

 

There is a PS2 semiscale GG-1 on the bay right now for $185 (Buy it now) with Free shipping.   I can't think of an easier way to get PS2 stuff to fit a GG-1 when you are taking it from the same size GG-1.

 

It would be awesome if you could just swap the shells, but I don't think you would get of that easy.

 

A 100% component swap would appear possible.  You might even be able to sell the kitbashed doner engine with the Williams motive power for $60-$100 or more, thus even reducing further your investment upgrade.

 

Good Luck.

Ron

 

P.S.  Don't forget that static mat and wrist wrap!

Don't know offhand how the Williams horn could be retained in PS2, and if you can buy a GG-1 on e-bay (which may or may ot work right), what is to be gained by switching the guts?

 

My recollection of the prototype GG-1's (I grew up in NJ) was that the horns were pretty lousy-sounding.

RJR,

 

He wants to upgrade his Williams Engine to PS2 for mainly cruise control.  Many times purchasing a doner engine is a cost effective means to upgrade rather than buying the upgrade kit.

 

I loved the prototype GG-1 horn.  Nothing else like it.

Donor engines are great but sometimes you inheriate other problems.  Upgrade kits always come with the latest boards with the right harnesses and tach mounting brackets.  The extra money for the upgrade kit is well worth the fustration saved.

Ron, maybe I misunderstood, but what's the difference in appearance between a R-K GG-1 and a Williams sem i-scale GG-1?  If you're not going to be able to retain the Wms horn, you might as well leave the PS2 unit in the MTH.

 

As an aside, I have a MTH semi-scale GG-1, dating from before MTH split into Premier & R-K.  I upgraded it to PS-2, and it was tough. As Electric Train Works pointed out above, a bracket must be fabricated to shoehorn a PS-2 board between the motors.

 

I agree with TrainWorks that buying off e-bay is iffy.  I bought a loco off the OGR Forum once & it was fine, but others have gotten burned.  Personally, I would be loath to buy a loco that I couldn't test before parting with dollars.

RJR,

 

You are right...If desiring PS 2 why not just buy the RK PS2 GG-1.  I guess I understood that Bobbie wanted to keep the Road name of the Williams engine and just upgrade it.  If the RK version did not come in the road name he had, then an upgrade would be the way to go.

 

I certainly understand your concerns on the 'bay'.  It's not for everyone.  And I can understand the advantages of getting the "proper" upgrade kit and getting it installed professionally.

 

But by the time you spend $150 to $170 on the kit (which may or may not be in stock) and another $120 for the install, it makes upgrading anything but very expensive engines fruitless.  For $290 I can buy a new RK engine and have some money left over.

 

The use of doner engines can be an inexpensive way to upgrade your existing inexpensive engines.  And truthfully, I'm not an electronic wiz.  I'm not sure I know what all those wires do and the proper place to plug them in on an upgrade kit.  Although I feel very confident I know how to remove and replace.  And that's how I do my upgrade stuff.  To me it's the easy and inexpensive way to go.  Albeit, with some risk... as you indicate.

 

I've done this twice and both times I told myself I was willing to fail to gain some experience.  I was fortunately successful twice... and still gained the experience.

 

Just my 2 cents... It's not the way for everyone.

Ron

 

 

 

Financially, it doesn't make sense to upgrade a low-priced engine, like most R-K's or Williams.  Having said that, I must admit that I've upgraded all my R-Ks', Williams, & Weavers, because I soon saw that after running DCS, conventional was not satisfying, and I couldn't bear to see those fine running locos lying around.  But since I tackled the upgrades myself, I avoided the labor costs and that made a significant difference.  If I had to pay labor, it might make more sense to sell the locos & buy new PS2's.

I am looking at Upgrading A Pink Girls GG1 to either PS2 or TMCC

Another GG1 is not in the running as My Painting days may be coming to an end with damages to my eyes.  Williams is the only Manufacturer of Pink Girls GG-1s That I know of. So I have to work with what I have.  This and the Pink Girls Pacific will be upgraded to Cruise and Better Sound for My Nieces. Who are Now Breanna at 5 years/Lexi at 4 Years of Age and Little Mia at what is now 7 Months of age. 

This is Why I am upgrading these engines

It may not make sense but if you want to keep the Fantasy Railroads which These are without Doing a Complete Paint Strip and Repaint Then you have to spend the Money and Do the Upgrades. 

If you have the TMCC or Legacy or are planning to get it, then the ERR cruise commander might be the easiest and least expensive way to go.

 

However if you do not have those systems and are not planning to get them, the PS2 upgrade will suit you fine.

 

Good Luck.

 

Bobbie:  yes, you're correct.  I'd do the same thing.

Yesterday I was working on My MTH Imperial Big Boys Smoke unit and accidentally grounded a Smoke motor wire to the Frame and Blew the PS2 Boards. So I gutted the Smoke unit out of the Engine and Gutted the Blown Boards out of the Tender and Did some Test fitting.  The PS2 Boards will all fit quite nicely in all of the Williams That I am considering upgrading as Well as the Smoke unit in Both of the Williams Steamers.

The GS4 Has the Most Amount of Room for the Smoke unit but it will fit in both the Girls Pacific and the GS4

When mounting the smoke units in the loco does the brass funnel seal to the smoke stack?