http://www.williamstrains.com/
www.bachmanntrains.com Will take directly to the Bachmann website without having to use the link from the old Williams site.
If You just want to run with conventional transformer power, rather than Command Control (TMCC/Legacy/DCS) then any 3 Rail locomotive should run fine. Most(if not all) Command Control locomotives are designed to run in conventional mode, unless they detect a signal from their respective Command Control system. The different CC systems operate enough differently that they will not aknowldge the other company's system, Lionel TMCC and Legacy systems will operate each other, they are both from Lionel and are compatible, but TMCC can not access all of Legacy's features.
Williams has a very good reputation for reliabity, that Bachmann appars to be continuing, their locomotives (so far) are not offered with CC, and will only run in Conventional mode, but can be upgraded with after market CC electronics if you wish to do so.
It sounds like Williams by Bachmann (WBB) would be a very good choice for you, in how you want to run your trains.
Welcome to the Forum, and Welcome back to the Hobby,
Doug
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
Welcome back! It too sounds to me like the Williams by Bachmann line would be a good choice for you. I too am thinking of going with the Williams line. For starters it's in my price range which for today's engines from companies like Lionel are a little pricey for me.
Just so you know Williams engines come with the True Blast 2 Digital Whistle/Horn, and Bell. If you are looking for a steam engine from them it does not have any chugging sound just the bell and whistle/horn.
My suggestion would be to check out there website and browse through their merchandise. It really is something. Good Luck.
Williams is definitely a good choice. K-Line (By Lionel) and MTH are compatible also. If you are only interested in running in the conventional mode, there is no reason to spend the extra money for TMCC, Legacy or DCC equiped engines.
John
Jaby, welcome to the forum. Yes, the Williams locos are made intentionally to appeal to the "old style" kinds of operators. The only catch with the Williams locos (new ones and older too) is that they have a 6 amp circuit board which controls the forward-neutral-reverse operation, so you may need a larger more powerful transformer. I know the postwar/MPC era Lionel 1033 90 watt transformer works. Maybe the new CW80 does too... others can chime in on that one. Otherwise, the Williams by Bachmann locos are a bargain and the GP-9 is nice and a tad smaller than the Lionel version, so IMHO looks better with the tradionally sized trains you get with a starter set.
Hey, running the old fashioned way is still good. Some really like the new digital controls like DCS and TMCC which is fine. But nothing wrong with the old style, which is actually called "conventional operation." I'm a happy conventional operator with no desire for anything else, so you are not alone.
Other trains you might want to consider are Ready Made Toys out of Bloomsbury, NJ., often called RMT. They make some cost effective cars and locos... their "Buddy" is nice and trouble free. They have a lot of new items that are behind production schedule, but supposedly are going to be out this year, including their version of the K-Line S-2, which they call the S-4 "Bang" locomotive. They have a Norfolk Southern caboose available now and a pair of NS hoppers due this year.
K-Line by Lionel makes some locos like the S-2, MP-15 and Alco FA that will be right at home with your other trains. No Norfolk Southern right now, but K-Line by Lionel has a new BNSF MP-15 that has just been delivered to retailers. There is a NS flatcar available recently cataloged by K-Line by Lionel.
Lionel made an affordable NS 2-bay hopper a few years ago, which are now very hard to find as they sold out quickly. I haven't seen them for sale in ages. Lionel tends to focus on older railroads, so when new roads are introduced on affordable products, they sometimes sell out quickly depending on the item.
And not to forget MTH, you'll want to look for the Rugged Rails line with an item suffix beginning with 33-. Problem here is that MTH doesn't put much effort into the Rugged Rails line. The rolling stock is nice and everything cataloged has been made. There is a Norfolk Southern covered 4-bay hopper.
They have cataloged some very nice locos for conventional control with a horn only, but many have been cancelled and never made. There were a bunch of SD90MAC's cataloged several years ago that will run on 027 curves. That SD90MAC is one of the best "compressed" locos made by MTH as far as getting the shrunk down proportions go. All were cancelled except the Nofolk Southern, and they must not have made many as they are exceptionlly hard to find. I personally wish Lionel would make a copy of this locomotive and I bet they'd have a huge hit with one.
The last batch of Rugged Rails horn only conventional control locos cataloged 2 years ago haven't even been made yet.... I know I've been checking.
Anyways, just so you know, there's loads of choices out there, even for us "old school" runners.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
Williams = Best pullers on the market. Their GG1's are brutes.
JAYBC,
Williams are great engines will go forever and have the great horn with true blast whistle. Enjoy!!!!
laz57
Thanks for the responses, this is what I was looking for and now feel confidant.
brianel027, I am defiantly a "conventional operation" guy. Not that the new stuff is bad, I just spend my days and most nights programming or working with some digital contraption I need to simplify a bit in my hobby.
Thanks again everyone I am sure I will be around.
Staying away from the Lionel's or MTH CC systems will eliminate most of the frustrations in the electric train hobby. But on the other hand the CC systems offer a lot of operating opportunities that you will not get with conventional control. I have been running TMCC and DCS since the release of both systems many moons ago, for me, it is the only way to go.
Williams Locomotives and Williams by Bachmann Locomotives are terrific, you can't go wrong with those guys. Another interesting twist, a lot of Lionel product is now manufactured by Bachmann's parent company and manufacture, Kadar Industries in China.
Bill T.
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