Lionel or Williams Geep - any big difference?

[FEClionel]

Hi guys any one own a both GP's? After setting up a layout under the tree this week I realized my 8480 UP F3's ABA are a bit much for my starter home and I think I want to have a GP AA set up to run. Any suggestions on a GP. I like the idea of the Williams multiple road names availible and the option of purchasing a dummy FEC & ACL running together!!! But I also like the idea of Lionels detailed body's and diecast pilots - plus I've found some inexpensive ones on EBay (No FEC's though). Any ideas on which is a better runner for the $$$.

[ben10ben]

It's basically going to be a matter of your preference. Most of the Lionels have a single pullmor motor, and most of the Williams ones have two can motors. Williams will be quieter and pull more than the Lionel. More recent Lionels will have TMCC and Railsounds, which may be an advantage or disadvantage depending on your personal preferences.

Detail is about the same on the two; Williams is a copy of Lionel.

Whatever you do, be sure you avoid the Lionel ones with the truck-mounted motors. They're cheap, lightweight, and noisy.

[brianel027]

Boy FEC, what Lionel Geep's are you referring to? Must be Postwar or MPC. Most of the newer Lionel GP9's come with a single DC can motor and plastic everything save for the sheet metal frame. Unless it is an upper level Lionel unit.

The Williams GP9 sits lower to the trucks and has a slightly smaller look than the Lionel counterpart, but I much prefer this aspect of the Williams GP over the Lionel ones. The Williams one looks much better with the typical "tradionally" sized Lionel cars.

Not to mention the dual vertical flywheel motors, metal gears, die cast trucks, pilots, couplers and fuel tanks on a Williams GP. The Williams units use a higher amp circuit board for reverse so you do need to run them with something a little more powerful than the small transformers that often came with Lionel sets.

If I were buying brand new, Williams would be my pick over the two. Though used, you might find a very respectable deal on a Lionel MPC unit.

[FEClionel]

Basically what I am asking is it worth it to spend $200+ on a pullmor, railsounds & TMCC equiped Lionel or will a Williams item about $150 suffice? I prefer purchasing Lionel whenever I have the chance. Basically I will have this engine running a freight consist with multiple operating cars, Polar Express and Lionel 8480 Union Pacific F3's running a mixed passenger set all around a Christmas tree!
Thanks!

[FEClionel]

Basically what I am asking is it worth it to spend $200+ on a pullmor, railsounds & TMCC equiped Lionel or will a Williams item about $150 suffice? I prefer purchasing Lionel whenever I have the chance. Basically I will have this engine running a freight consist with multiple operating cars, Polar Express and Lionel 8480 Union Pacific F3's running a mixed passenger set all around a Christmas tree!
Thanks!

[daan]

The pullmor motors are relayable and easy to repair. Can motors have to be replaced when worn, but it will take a long time before it's that far gone. Personally I would like the railsounds and pullmor equipped Lionel, but that's personal. Williams machines are not bad either, but in my Williams engines they used 3pole can motors, which will have problems pulling (lack of torque) when running on low speeds. The single pullmor engine also is not a big puller, but in my MPC GP I put some wheight in, and now it's pulling like a champ.
The big plus for me with Pullmor motors is that it's easy to service, you can switch the brushes for example, which you can't with a can motor.
As long as you stay away from the small 3pole canmotors in the trucks (without momentum flywheels, everything with momentum flywheels is ok, they are not in the truck) you can't go wrong. The choice is more a personal one.

[Anonymous]

Id go with the williams, for the price the are a good deal.I think williams are good runners and smoother running
.[2c]