"Williams by Bachmann"

[Morty]

I'm absolutely brand new to this.  What does Williams by Bachmann mean?  Further, I turned up an old Bachmann  engine (ten bucks) at the Deerfield Beach Museum show and the closest I've come to IDing it is "New Heritage Locos from Williams by Bachmann except that mine seems to a model of an earlier version of the engine.  Where can I look for more details on the engine?

Thanks,  Mort

[WKT58]

Williams Electric Trains was a small manufacturer started by Jerry Williams during the early 70's, specializing in O gauge and standard gauge reproductions (later discontinued).  In 2007, Jerry Williams retired and sold his company to Bachmann, who continued the brand name as "Williams by Bachmann."  If your locomotive is labelled "Williams by Bachmann" then it is fairly new (no older than 2007), and you can look up old catalogs on-line to find more info.

[Joe Satnik]

Dear Morty,

More than you want to know:

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,2616.0.html

You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it:

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/gallery/album01

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,4181.0.html

Seems they are no longer in the on-line product catalog..(sold out?)

Still available at auction, though:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=williams+sd90+up&_sac=1&_osacat=220&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0&_nkw=williams+sd90+up&_sacat=0

Prototypes were SD70ACe 's, WBB models are SD90MAC 's.

From Wiki's SD70 series:

SD70ACe units, numbered 1982, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1995, and 1996.
The 19xx units comprise Union Pacific's "Heritage Fleet".

Unit 1982 wears the "Missouri Pacific Proud Heritage" livery.
Unit 1983 wears the "Western Pacific Proud Heritage" livery.
Unit 1988 wears the "Missouri-Kansas-Texas Proud Heritage" livery.
Unit 1989 wears the "Denver & Rio Grande Western Proud Heritage" livery.
Unit 1995 wears the "Chicago & North Western Proud Heritage" livery and was renumbered from 8522.
Unit 1996 wears the "Southern Pacific Proud Heritage" livery and was renumbered from 8523.

The 7th WBB model in the series is the UP 8309 "Building America" flag livery.

Let us know which livery (paint) you have.

What brand and model transformer do you have to run it?  

If your loco is undamaged and runs (forward, neutral, reverse, neutral) you got a whale of a deal.

The #53 light bulbs are simple enough to replace if burned out.

Getting the horn and bell to work depend on which transformer you have.      

Hope this helps.  

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik

Edit:  Add auction listings, add "Building America", grammar.

[phillyreading]

I'm absolutely brand new to this.  What does Williams by Bachmann mean?  Further, I turned up an old Bachmann  engine (ten bucks) at the Deerfield Beach Museum show and the closest I've come to IDing it is "New Heritage Locos from Williams by Bachmann except that mine seems to a model of an earlier version of the engine.  Where can I look for more details on the engine?

Thanks,  Mort

Are you sure that you don't mean Williams Reproduction?
As that was an attempt by Williams to reproduce some of Lionel's engines by using the older dies and or castings from Lionel but calling it Williams Reproductions.

Any way an engine number or photo would be most helpful to I D your item.

I use the MTH Z-1000, a 100 watt MTH transformer, with most of my Williams engines, or a post war Lionel 275 watt ZW transformer with my SD-45's by Williams.

Lee F.

[Morty]

Sorry, folks,  my engine is anything but an SD70 ACe or SD90 MAC.  The mystery goes on.  And I won't know if this thing runs for another month or so, till I get home.  The transformer is a feeble little thing I got for a few dollars at a wholesale shop that I've used mostly to run a dremel like tool.  But it does make trains run, too.  This problem will fester till I do "due dilligence" and get a photo of it. 

In the meantime I have a choice of bashing enough  to make it presentable or buying a new shell.  Or both.

Many thanks for responses received,    Mort

[GG1onFordsDTandI]

For $10 I would take the gamble on almost any engine. If its a steamer, research Whyte notations http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whyte_notation , otherwise research AAR wheel arrangements http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AAR_wheel_arrangement. Also look for an engine number, its printed on the cab panel below the engineers window on a steamer, or elsewhere on a diesel. But the engine number and/or wheel combo, if original, are one of the Best ways to start id on a train.

[Morty]

The mystery the unidentified engine is solved.  It turned out to be a GE BQ27b that was built to have crew accomodations for 5 so the caboose could  be abandoned as a place for crew. Thanks to all who tried to help.  Now comes the rebuilding.  The ten dollar locomotive has already cost another twenty and I'm just starting.
Mort

[Joe Satnik]

HO scale, not 3-rail-O gauge, not "Williams by Bachmann".

http://hoseeker.org/bachmanninformation/bachmanncatalog1987pg07.jpg

http://hoseeker.org/assemblyexplosionbachmann/bachmannbq237diagram1990.jpg

[3rail]

phillyreading

Williams original name, in which it was incorporated, was Williams Reproductions, LTD.  The primary focus of the company was to make reproductions of highly collectible items.  No Lionel molds were ever used. Mr. Williams always made new molds for any reproduction item.  The only molds that Mr. Williams purchased second hand were the F7 A unit and the mold set to make the 40' Box car, Reefer Car, and Stock car.

Regards,

3rail

[r0gruth]

HO scale, not 3-rail-O gauge, not "Williams by Bachmann".

http://hoseeker.org/bachmanninformation/bachmanncatalog1987pg07.jpg

http://hoseeker.org/assemblyexplosionbachmann/bachmannbq237diagram1990.jpg

So what does he have?

[Joe Satnik]

Dear Roger,

My best guess:

A late 1980's or early 1990's Bachmann HO scale GE BQ23-7 (GE Dash-7 series, Q = crew cab) Diesel locomotive,

Bachmann item number 41-0650-xx where the -xx numerals designate various road names or liveries.

The road names shown in the Hoseeker 1987 Bachmann catalog page 7 link are:

-09 Chessie Rd#8226
-23 L&N/SCL Rd#5131  

(Ctrl+ to magnify, Ctrl- to shrink, Ctrl0 back to normal size.)

Additional liveries and road numbers may have been offered in nearby year catalogs.  


Dear Morty,

Can you tell us how long you loco is in inches,

and what road name and road number are painted on it?

Thanks.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik

Edit: Add another HO history link:

http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/bachmannhoscalelocomotives/id74.html