So how do you like your new engine...

I really like the layout in your first picture.  I like small simple layouts.  Small layouts with simple engines have a certain charm about them.

Earl

Will Bachmann be making the Lionel Lines 773 Hudson again?  It has disappeared from the catalog.

Earl

Does the user have control over the horn, or is it still the standard grade crossing signal?

Earl

Does the new True Blast Plus sound system have an external volume adjust pot?  I assume the diesel sounds will run continuously, so the ability to easily adjust sound levels is important.  The True Blast II horn and whistle sounds on my current Williams roster are obnoxiously high and I have never been successful in reducing the sound level with the internal pot on the sound board.

Earl

Lee,

Thanks for the reply.  I still think the best solution is for Bachmann to make the sound system compatible with both modern and postwar transformers in the design phase and avoid the gymnastics you described.

Earl

It is rumored that you are working on a new sound system.  Could you please make your new sound system compatible with postwar as well as modern transformers.  Your current True Blast II sound system works fine using modern transformers, but is hit and miss with postwar transformers.

Earl

I totally agree.  The whistle sound is good, but I prefer having control of the sound sequence.  The repetitive sounds get monotonous very quickly.

Earl

Joe,

Excellent explanation for why the pot was working more like an on/off switch.  I did not realize that the pots were glued to prevent rotation.

Again, thank you for your reply.

Earl

I have never had any luck adjusting that volume pot shown in a post above.  When I adjusted it on my Williams GG1, it was more like an on/off switch for the horn.  When I tried adjusting it on my Williams F3, I could only get the normal grade crossing sequence in the original pot position.  When I deviated from the original position, all I got was a very short beep.

Earl

I hope Bachmann stays with conventional.  I have too many command engines that are shelf queens due to fried boards.  I now run almost exclusively conventional Williams and postwar Lionel to avoid command control headaches.  For me, conventional is just plain more fun.

Earl

There are several 'Golden Memory' items missing.  The 'Golden Memory' items are my favorites in the Bachmann Williams line.  All of my Williams purchases are from the 'Golden Memories' line.  I hope the trend to discontinue items in the series is reversed.

Earl

If your Berk is a Williams, it may have been stuck in neutral.  Try a lighted car with the Berk and see if it works.  My Berk works fine with the CW80 when I added a lighted caboose.

Earl

My Williams Berkshire (Southern) will not cycle out of neutral with a Lionel CW80 transformer unless I add a lighted car to the consist.  The electronics load of the Williams reversing unit is not large enough to drop the voltage on the CW80 to zero.  The Williams Berkshire is the only Williams engine I own where the light is off whenever the engine is in neutral.  I have two questions:

1) Is it normal for my Williams Berkshire to have the headlight 'off' in neutral or is my Berkshire wired incorrectly?  My other Williams engines have the headlight on in neutral.

2) How can I rewire my Berkshire to leave the headlight on in neutral so that it will cycle correctly with my CW80 without having to add a lighted car to the consist?

Thank You...
Earl Staley

Quote from: Len on February 10, 2011, 11:17:02 AM
I suspect because there are some young folks "out there" that like to watch them operate at 'Warp 9.5' the way the old ones do in the "I Love Toy Trains" videos.

The Williams engines will still fly off the track with series wiring.  I don't see any down-side for engines with two motors coming from the factory with series wiring.

Earl