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Compatibility of Lionel and Williams

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Compatibility of Lionel and Williams
Posted by eisentx on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 10:38 AM

Is there a problem running Lionel 6464-series boxcars with Williams Traditional Line 40' box cars? The Williams cars are larger and the couplers are mounted slightly higher than the Lionel box cars.

Should I replace the Williams trucks/couplers with Lionel ones? How is that done?

Thanks in advance for any constructive advice,

Tom 

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Posted by Bob Keller on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 11:26 AM

I've got six or eight Williams boxcars and the only problem I've had running with other brands was limited to a single, specific car. It has a truck I was never able to quite loosen up enough and it might go through a curve every now and then and not totally straighten out. Oh, these cars are all 1990s production.

I don't think it would be a problem, but your mileage may vary, as they say.

Bob Keller

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Posted by Seayakbill on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 1:46 PM

I rin a lot of Williams rolling stock mingled with Lionel rolling stock. The Williams coupler does sit a little higher but I have not had any problems with the Williams car coming loose from the Lionel car.

Bill T.

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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 4:00 PM

No problems here either. 

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

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Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 4:34 PM

I read a whole bunch of posts to catch up and then everything disappeared after reading that the CHIEF was a YANKEES fan. 

We're doomed!!!!!!

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

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Posted by gunrunnerjohn on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 6:49 PM

I've never noticed enough of a difference in the height of Williams, MTH, Atlas, or Lionel couplers to be any kind of an issue.  I've seen about a 1/8" mismatch, that's about it.

 

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Posted by Penny Trains on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 8:46 PM

I run 3 Williams NYC heavyweights (the 15" ones) behind Lionel and MTH motive power routinely and they've never uncoupled from the engine.  From each other, yes, but never from the tender.  Those are the only Williams cars I have.

Becky

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Posted by SantaFe158 on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 9:59 AM
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,9199.0.html
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Posted by gunrunnerjohn on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 4:27 PM

I've never had the need to do this, I probably have 300-400 pieces of rolling stock from various sources.

 

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Posted by Andrew Falconer on Thursday, July 14, 2011 11:22 PM

The Williams Box Car is closest in size to the Lionel Standard O Box Cars first made in the 1970's.

Andrew

Andrew

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Posted by Hudson#685 on Friday, July 15, 2011 5:53 AM

I run a mix of manufacturers including Williams and I never had a coupler problem related to being a different manufacturer. Defective couplers were the problem.

John

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Posted by gunrunnerjohn on Friday, July 15, 2011 2:55 PM

I fix lots of couplers, I'd say that 10-15% of the used rolling stock I've gotten has had some coupler issues.  Normally, it's the easy spring/knuckle fix, I can do them in seconds now. Laugh

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Posted by MA&PA JCT on Thursday, July 21, 2011 9:32 PM

Use a pair of needle nose pliers, and tweek the coupler shaft down a tad.

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