new here

[postwarpete]

Hi, 

I have read the forums before but never posted and just recently joined so I could post this question.  I now need some assistance for anyone willing to lend some.   Thanks.  The information here is always helpful.

About me...I have had postwar lionel trains since I was a little boy in the 1970s that my dad shared with me from his boyhood in the 50s.   I  run conventional postwar lionel as a  toy train enthusiast 031 tubular track and 022 switches lots of post war accessories (no modeling no scale no prototype although i have great admiration of those who do that).

I run these post war lionel engines and my layout using 2 Lionel KWs and 1 TW

New Haven 2350 EP 5

736 Berk

2026 prairie

2046 hudson

Boston maine gp9

New York F3s AA 2344

Here is where I need help.  I just received an AA Williams  by Bachmann Boston Maine F3 set with an additional B unit as well as a gift with a true blast II digital horn and bell.  I'm not sure I can run this on my layout with the postwar transformers without risking harm to this Engine and its modern electronics and the sound board.   I also am not certain  if or how I would activate the bell and horn for this train... with the whistle controls on my postwar transformers?  My transformers have the original rectifiers...no updated diodes on the whistle controls.   Is  this a problem?   Should I get  a new cw-80 with the separate whistle and bell control  and the modern electrons for this engine or should i bring my kws in for an update to the hobby shop.   I'm sorry if this seems silly but to this point my youngest engine is the Gp9 from 1962.  

I have NOT opened the Williams boxes yet in case I need to return them

thanks for any ideas or information

Pete

[rtraincollector]

I use 2 postwar zw's and never had a problem running williams other than on my zw sometimes it gets tricky to activate the horn and I really don't like it as all it will blow it the grade crossing signal you have no controll to blow it how you want

There are after market system to replace that which are a lot better in my thoughts

PS reverse the wires n transformer will give you bell instead of horn

[fifedog]

PW!!  I recently have been running modern engines with an older LW.  Like rt states, "tricking" the engines to give up their sounds is well ---- tricky.  Been told that adding a horn button will rectify the matter, but haven't tried that myself yet.  So, I'd say run those beautiful new F units.

[wmwalker]

Pete

First welcome aboard and you will enjoy this forum. Now run those Williams F3's and enjoy. Like everyone has said the bell and horn depends on which way the wires are connected to the track if you get horn or bell sound with the older transformers but they will work just fine.

[sir james I]

Your Williams engine will run just fine on PW transformers. But you will only get horn or bell depending which way the wires are hooked to the tracks. To get both sounds you can add a Lionel 6-5906 sound button. You don't need an expensive Z4000 to run your trains.

S.J.

[postwarpete]

Thank you so much everyone for the helpful and quick replys...I will be opening these soon and will be running them with my B/M postwar box cars. I think I will look into adding the Lionel part if the kw s don't behave. Thanks again everyone for relaxing my fears of frying this Williams engine...great help..thanks!

[Firelock76]

Welcome aboard postwarpete!  I have to second what everyone else said, I've run Williams with a KW transformer and haven't had any problems except for what sound effects I get depending on how the wires go to the track, bell or whistle.  I prefer the whistle.

To get the full effects you'll need a modern transformer. 

[Penny Trains]

aboard!

Becky

[Hudson#685]

Postwar Pete, Welcome Aboard! I run my Modern Engines just like SJ stated and I added the whistle control button. Never had a problem! John

[jscola30]

Welcome aboard! Love the B&M! One of the first trains I bought after re-entering the hobby was a B&M beep, was very happy,