Toy train operating and collecting

 I was told on a locked forum WILLIAMS did not make any brass structured engines ---- so I went to see if I was wrong ---

WILLIAMS BRASS 7002 SP CAB FORWARD STEAMER & TENDER

O Scale Williams Brass #7001 4-8-8-4 UP Big Boy Steamer

Williams PRR E-6 Brass Loco and Tender, circa 1989

Features:

All Brass Construction

Williams Crown Edition- Union Pacific USRA 2-8-2 Mikado

 These are just a couple I found in 5 minutes .....   

 Hobo

Other than the old pw Lionel F3 AA units and an ugly Hudson from the '50s, my Williams O-scale brass Southern Mikados, Ps-4s and N&W "J" Class Northern were my first O-gauge scale size engines after I exited HO for O [again]in the late 1980s. I bought them in Memphis. At the same time, I also bought a Williams A-B-A F7 Southern diesel set[with OTT TRU-Sounds no less].

 

Also later bought Weaver's brass 0-6-0 Southern Slopeback Switcher and their brass streamlined Southern Ps-4, "The Tennessean".

Yes, Williams imported brass made by Samhongsha in the late 80's and ended it with a big dump sale. Samhongsha was very upset about this and cut the off Williams. Samhongsha then hooked up with Weaver brass for a short time. Samhongsha then went on to hook up with the newly formed MTH (as we know MTH today) doing diecast.

I have 2 Williams brass K4's, one streamlined, that I bought around 1986. I just had TMCC/Railsounds added to the streamlined one, since no other company has made a model of this engine. Four actual engines were built in 1940 to pull PRR's "Jeffersonian" and "South Wind". Joe

I have a very nice Williams brass J3-a NYC Hudson that I bought from Williams in 1995. Beautiful detailing, sprung drivers. Sound system was cool then but sounds antiquated today.

 

   They imported a lot of brass.

   Their first few had "teething problems" but after about the 3rd or 4th import things really improved.  Their first was a generic 4-6-2, followed by an A-B Baldwin Shark, and an NYC Hudson.

From memory I know they made

PRR: 4-6-2, original, streamlined, and postwar with the headlight behind the generator and a solid pilot.

PRR: 2-8-2, 4-4-2, 0-6-0

NYC: Hudson, Streamlined Hudson, Niagara

A USRA steam engine in a number of road names (I don't remember the wheel configuration but I believe it was a Pacific)

SP: Daylight, Cab Forward

N&W: J

UP: Challenger, Big Boy

and many others. 

  Their 3 rail version included a smoke unit and had less detail than their 2 rail versions - both, however, were spartan by todays detail standards.  They also issued retrofit brake shoes for the PRR 4-4-2, 2-8-2, 4-6-2 and 0-6-0.  These required some work (as it re-drilling mounting holes and filing) in order to put them on the engine and, at least in the case of the Pacific they interferred with the truck movements which meant the engine needed larger radius track.

  I have the PRR 4-4-2, 4-6-2, and the Shark.  Both of the steam engines ran just fine (and continue to do so) right out of the box. The Shark needed tinkering before I could get it to run well.

Hobo probably missed it, but in my posting that locked the thread, I included the following listng of brass Williams locos. Oh, they did brass rolling stock, too.

Actually, Williams made quite a few brass locomotives:

NYC Hudson, 1984 and 1995
NYC Dreyfuss Hudson, 1984 and 1995
B&O 4-6-2 Pacific, 1984
Pennsy K4 4-6-2, 1986-87
Modern K4 4-6-2 1989
USRA 4-6-2 1989 (seven road names)
Southern Ps-4 4-6-2, 1989
Camelback 4-6-0, 1990
Pennsy L1 2-8-2, 1987
USRA 2-8-2 1990 (five road names)
PRR B6 0-6-0, 1987
Pennsy 4-4-2, 1989
SP GS4 4-8-4, 1989
PRR 4-4-4-4, 1992 (several variations in paint)
N&W J-class 4-8-4, 1990
NYC 4-8-4, 1990
UP 4-6-6-4, 1987-88 and 1995
UP 4-8-8-4, 1989 and 1995
SP Cab-Forward 4-8-8-2, 1990
N&W 2-6-6-4, 1996
PRR S2 Turbine 1991
Streamlined Pennsy K4 1995
Baldwin Shark diesel, 1985

Ogaugeoverlord wrote:

Hobo probably missed it, but in my posting that locked the thread..........

 LMAO!!!

And you can still find them on occasion at train shows 'New in the box'.

jefelectric wrote:

And you can still find them on occasion at train shows 'New in the box'.

Also on eBay. The "regular" K4's seem to go for half the origional $400. MSRP, the streamlined version higher than the MSRP (probably because no other "streamlined" versions were made by others). Joe

These engines were considered state of the art in their day. The GS-4, Big Boy, and Challenger in particular. The prices soared into the stratosphere until MTH came on the scene with diecast versions with better detail, sounds, and puffing smoke (Williams had wisping smoke). Now you can get the Williams brass models for a song.