Don't know what a Berkshire 2-8-4 can pull but an older the older Williams(pre-Bachmann) S-2 Pennsy steam engine I have can pull about 27 Lionel post war hopper  or gondola cars behind it before it derails on my 042 curves. I didn't have that many modern freight cars to use with the S-2 steam engine.
Also I have three Williams SD-45's and they have differant wheel designs. The one with traction tires does best as for pulling but can't handle any Lionel add-on track(145C contact for highway crossing lights) accessories, as it has only two sets of metal wheels on each truck assembly and one set of plastic wheels, stops cold at the accessory contact. My SD-45 with all metal wheels(no traction tires doesn't pull as many freight cars but doesn't get stuck anywhere either.

Lee F.

Quote from: MB425 on September 14, 2010, 10:56:01 PM
r0gruth, thanks for the reply.

Lee: Use copper wire and strip all insulation off. then slip it between the insulators on the center rail of your tubular track at the joints. Make sure the wire is long enough so that it adequately bridges the gap. It's nothing fancy but I've found it to work.

That is about the same result when you solder the rails together, makes better contact.


Lee F.

I have the new catalog by Bachmann, and the Milwaukee Road GP-9 is made for Williams by Bachmann. There is both a powered and unpowered unit for sale.
As for any pre-Bachmann, I don't know of any cab numbers as I don't have any referance books for Williams only.

Lee F.

Quote from: MB425 on September 08, 2010, 01:20:09 PM
Thanks again Lee. Wire is 16 gauge and I may try another feed to see what happens. I also have a little copper wire trick I'll try with the track as well.

Thanks again!

I would like to know about your copper wire trick, I have been around O gauge trains for over 20 years and know a lot about wiring in residential buildings.

Lee F.

Be careful of Fastrac, it is not that forgiving when making fancy curves!! Fastrac gets extremely expensive very quick! I had Fastrac for about 8 months until I traded it off at a train show in Broward County FL.
Tubular 031 track is better in my opion, more forgiving and less expensive than plastic roadbed track.

Lee F.

Is it possible to type the page from the computor on your printer?
Then send in payment by check.

I am not fond of internet transactions either anymore, one example is; rebate giant is a scam operation that keeps pulling money from your bank account.

Lee F.

Have you tried going to the parts listing here on the website? They have some of the parts lsited for center rail rollers and insulators for sale.
The truck side frames may not be listed as yet, and they don't have to be installed for the operation of the engine, use a flat washer for spacing if needed.
The couplers go on the front or rear and attach to a little hole that sticks out from the motor assembly.

Lee F.

Is Bachmann sending out 2010 catalogs to people who were previous Platinum Club Car members?
I just got a Bachmann catalog in the mail and did not order one that I know of.

Lee F.

When you say screw terminals; do you mean the type that need a screwdriver to tighten or do you mean the type that are on the CW-80 and the Z-1000, that can be snugged up with a pair of pliers?

Lee F.

Tiffany,

I found some Santa Fe caboose's at www.choochooauctions.com
your choice of Lionel or MTH. These may be used but in good condition mainly.

Joe,

My problem is with a Lionel caboose # 17605 that shorted out at the wheel assembly with the center rail roller.

Lee F.

Cleaning the track will help. However I read somewhere, most likely on CTT forum, that MTH Realtrax has some major leage problems with it.
The connectors at each track get pushed in and won't make good contact, (if this is the type track I think it is)so you need to gently move the metal piece out about one sixteenth of an inch to make better contact and clean it with a pencil eraser.

Lee F.

Tiffany,

A little advice about lighted cabooses, I have a Lionel lighted caboose that shorted out at the center rail pick-up on the wheel assembly.
MTH might be better to go with than the Lion as MTH don't break down on me.

Lee F.

It can't hurt to try another power feed to the track. I would agree too that a small size layout should not need that many power feeds but after working with Lionel tubular O gauge track, you will need a lot more power feeds than you think are neccessary!
I had a layout before that I had a switch leg(11 feet long) that constantly gave me problems; I put four power lockons to it, replaced some of the dirty looking straight sections, even used outside rail to rail jumpers with the track next to it. Finally I installed long sections of new straight track, about 40 inch sections(equal to four regular straights) and that helped the problem.
Another overlooked problem is the size of the wire, 16 AWG would be the smallest wire that I would use.

Lee F.

MB425,

Another question is; do you have the TMCC unit turned on when running your Williams engine? That might be giving you the trouble.
Run your Williams engine with just a transformer supplying power(completely remove all other devices such as TMCC or DCS or a TPC) to it and see what happens.
It's a long shot but sometimes the more electronics we add to something the more problems we cause ourselves.

Lee F.

Tiffany,

Have you tried Marty at Ma & Pa Junction in Maryland? www.ma&pajunction.com
He might have one.
I have not seen a new Santa Fe caboose in the Williams by Bachmann line-up.

Lee F.