Quote from: Cobrabob8 on January 25, 2010, 08:03:15 PM
I agree with Lee. Try an MTH Z-1000 transformer. I will be buying one this Summer to use solely under my Christmas Tree. I think the Z-1000  will be just what you will need for a Christmas Tree or smaller sized layout. Good Luck!
And, like I posted earlier, once I bought my MTH Z-4000 I have not had ANY problems with my WBB small Pennsy Hudson. NONE. The Z-4000 has plenty of power (watts, volts and amps) to run two trains at once. I really feel that your problem lies in your transformer.
Cobrabob.

Bob, I like the Z-1000 but I doubt that I will ever buy the Z-4000. My only objection to the Z-4000 is that it only has two power outputs for the track. It has accessory outputs but I want power for the tracks. So I would do just as well with two Z-1000's, even the Z-1000 has an accessory output, at least that is my take on the Z-4000.

Lee F.

Like Marty from Ma&Pa junction suggests, try using an MTH Z1000 transformer at home and see what happens with your Williams engine before replacing any track!

Lee F.

Not sure but I will venture to guess that the Williams version is a re-production of the 1964 to 66 Lionel 773 4-6-4 Hudson.
If you want more info about this engine maybe you should email Bachmann or go to the Classic Toy Train forum and ask about this engine.

Lee F.

Williams trains should be able to operate using any Lionel transformer with  a 90 watt rating or higher. For the newer Williams engines I would stay way from the older Lionel transformers that don't have good overcurrent protection such as post war transformers like the KW-190 watt & ZW-250 & 275 watt versions. You can add better over current protection, like 10 amp circuit breakers by Scotts Odds & Ends, but it may get costly or tricky to wire for somebody not familiar with electrical work.

As for the chuff sound; I do not know of any Williams steam engine ever having that, at least that is my experiance. The Williams F-7 diesel engines produced about ten years(maybe longer) ago had diesel engine sounds that had a QSI company sound board installed by Williams in the unpowered B unit. The GP-9's(about eight years ago) had the True Blast horn sound unit installed that had both a diesel horn crossing sequence and a bell feature, NO engine revving sounds.

To be sure what is offered on the engine that you are going to buy, ask a question or two before buying it.

Lee F.

Quote from: lennyski on January 12, 2010, 07:55:57 AM
I think the MRC has 0-21 Volts per handle and is rated at 270 Watts so I don't think that is the problem. But just to be sure I am going to try to take this back to the store this weekend and run it on their layout. They have both a new zw and and a z-4000 hooked up. Thanks for the suggestion. 

I am not into electronics but I have a good knowledge of basic electrical circuits. The MRC may have(not for sure but just a guess, as I don't have an MRC transformer) some kind of electronic part inside(diode or capacitor) the transformer that might inpose a small D.C. voltage to the tracks, so check out another type of transformer before sending your unit to be repaired.

Lee F.

Before changing it to a Lionel pantograph check the measurements as the holes may not line up perfectly. A better solution would be to use a number 2 machine screw with nut to hold them in place, try to mount it out of sight or paint the head of the screw to match the pantograph. To use a machine screw you will need to drill a small hole in the roof of your GG-1 and through the pantograph unit.
To get a machine screw that small you may have to check out the H.O. section of your hobby shop or go to a hobby shop that sells remote control cars for that small a screw.

Lee F.

hooter47,
Those passenger cars sound like the Reading King Coal set of 60 foot Madison cars that I have by Williams, do they have non operating knuckle couplers as well? The set I have has three axles, two metal wheels with one plastic in the center of the two metal wheels, two lights in each car that have a separate wire to each light. I bought the set from a friend of mine about ten years ago for $140.00 for the six passenger cars.
I am looking to replace the non operating knuckle couplers but every time I look for knuckle couplers they are more than $5.00 a piece, so that would be $60.00 or more to upgrade to operating couplers so I am leaving them as is for now.
Also got some great bargains on Williams engines from my friend, a GP-9 with horn & whistle for only $125.00, or a Pennsy S-2 (cab # 681)for $200.00.

Lee F.

Quote from: DominicMazoch on January 11, 2010, 08:57:00 PM
I did ride the RDG RDC's from Reading Terminal Philly to Newark.  Very interesting cars.  New DMU's are needed today!

Also what I feel is needed today are electric multiple unit cars for mainline use to go from city to city here in the U.S.A.
I feel the U.S. Government should put more money into Amtrac and get people riding the rails again.

Lee F.

Quote from: DominicMazoch on January 11, 2010, 09:01:31 PM
phillyrdg:

What L switches are you refering to?  O-27, O-42 based on K-Line/Marx,  O22, O72, or Fast track?

I am referring to Lionel's number 6-23010 & 6-23011 O gauge remote control switches, circa 1995 to 1999. These switches didn't act right with my Williams engines so I went to GarGraves switches, and one of those switches after two years of use kept having power issues & acted like it had a flashing unit installed from a Christmas tree blinking light set. My problem is was this; when a Williams engine(GP-9 or SD-45) got within three track sections of the switch the center piece that controls the direction of the turn would flap radiply back & forth about 40 times a second, didn't matter what direction the Williams engine was entering the switch from(any of the three). This didn't happen with a Lionel or K-Line engine went over the same switch.   Also the Williams service department (when it was just Williams) said these switches had compatibility issues with their products.

Lee F.

Quote from: lennyski on January 10, 2010, 11:45:06 AM
I am using a MRC Dual Power. I also tried it on a KW and a new CW-80. Same issue on all transformes.

Have you tried using a newer transformer(less than four years old) with 100 watts or more single train transformers?
Forget about using the KW or CW-80(a.k.a. Lionel's problem child) or the MRC transformers as they may not have the right kind of power output or enough output in watts to power your engine. The KW is rated at 190 watts input power so there may be as much as 75 watts to the track. MRC transformers from what I have seen are two train transformers rated at 120 watts, so that is only about 60 watts to each track.
You may be surprised at what a decent transformer can do for your engine.

Lee F.

Strasburg dealed with many companies or vendors so the passenger cars could be; Williams, MTH, Lionel, K-Line, Weaver or Atlas.
I & others would need much more info on them to help you identify who made them, such as style of car; Madison 60 or 72 foot, streamliner, vistadome, heavyweight, ect.

Lee F.

Another railroad that had RDC's was the Reading Company, the passenger division of the Reading Railroad.
The Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines was a joint venture between the Reading Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad to the Port of Reading in the state of New Jersey.
Another joint venture of the Reading Railroad was the purchase of the Central of New Jersey's stock, at one time Reading RR owned 51% of the CNJ's stock.

Lee F.

MB425, thank you for the tip about L tube track.

Any way if you are using O gauge tubular track I suggest staying away from Lionel's switches part numbers 23011 & 23010, what happened with me after running my Williams GP-9 through the switch I kept having derailments. I come to find out that the center piece(went back & forth almost 40 times a second) that directs the engines as to wich way to go was malfunctioning whenever a Williams engine got near it.

Lee F.

The only thing bad about using a track system with a built-in roadbed is when you need a custom fit section of track to fit near a curve. The built-in roadbed track systems won't let you custom fit any track pieces! Have to buy expensive small piece sections.

What is L tube track? I have not heard of that track before.

Lee F.

I am using Gargraves 042 curves and straight tracks with Gargraves 042 switches for my outer two loops. My inside two loops I am using 027 and Gargraves 032(Gargraves is about one & a half inches wider in radius on their 031 curves than Lionel or others) curves. Gargraves will mate up to other sectional track systems that don't use a plastic roadbed with just adapter pins that take the place of track pins at the connecting area.
What I like about Gargraves and Ross switches is that you can replace the switch motor without taking any sections of track apart. The switch motor mounts on the outside of the switch, not inside like some other companies.

Another good track system from what I have heard is Atlas O's new track with solid rail.

Lee F.