I myself would like to thank Jerry Williams for all he has done to keep the O gauge train comunity going. Not all of us can afford the expensive post war originals and even some of the just normal trains put out by Lionel, MTH,Atlas,Weaver and the rest but he brought us trains at a reasonable price that most could afford. Yes he started out in brass high end engines but had the forsight to see that it wasn’t going that well and affordable high quality trains were the answer and did a great job. I really only heard about Williams trains about 3 years ago (yes I was lost in the world that there were really only 2 O gauge train makers and that was Lionel and then this new kid on the block Mikes train house)
I have at present the Virginian set (and thats one real sweet engine there) I all so have a B&O GP-9 and A-B-B-A Shark nose set (yes I bought an extra B just for the sweet looks( even thou at present it doesn’t fit on my shelf lol) . I also have 6 72’ Passenger cars to go behind my shark nose.
Here is a pic of the williams the only one not is the Chessie engine on the top left. the virginian set hasn’t gotten its shelf yet but that will be coming today in fact 2 more shelves are in the plans to be built to display more of my trains.
Agian I feel we all should give Jerry a big thank-you and happy retirement He deserves it.
I’ve lost count of how many Williams diesels I’ve purchased (of course, everything in New York Central and much New Haven), but none struck me more than the Sharks. I ended up buying them in two Central schemes (Stripe and Cigar Band). Jerry’s trains are really terrific products, and he is top be commended. He belongs in the Toy Train Hall of Fame.
Over my years back in the hobby, there have been plenty of demands made on the other froum especiallly, that Williams should adopt a command system, go high end, ditch the sheet metal frames, go full-scale proportions, etc. Jerry Williams had the tenacity, insight and smarts to avoid all this and stick with the winning forumula he already had. Williams products filled a void in the market often being ignored until the past few years.
Reviews in the train magazines over the years often pointed out some of the so-called “shortcomings” of Williams products on the scale and accuracy end. Yet it was often these small compromises that helped keep Williams products affordable. I suspect most folks buying his products could easily live with the compromises, even if they cared at all.
Hopefully the legacy of Williams will live on, prosper and grow with the Bachmann ownership. If this be the case, we’ll be able to thank Jerry once again for entrusting his product line to a company that continued his traditional of fine quality, affordable simple TOY trains.
I’m still lusting after a semi scale GG1 (Pennsy Tuscan 5 stripe). I’m pretty sure it’ll be a Williams. And it’ll be the first brand new stand alone engine I’ve ever purchased.
Good Luck Jerry!!! Awesome Job!! Thanks for keeping the faith!![tup][tup]
Hang in there, you’ll love it when you get it. I have one, along with the 15" aluminum Congressional cars, and it’s one great-looking (and running) train. Thanks, Jerry, for all the smiles and all the hours I’ve enjoyed running and having my Williams trains. Here’s wishing you all the best in retirement.
Since 1997, I have purchased 7 engines, one Budd set, one GG1, and about 20 cars from Williams. They are all great items. I have also, purchased their tubular track. I want to thank Jerry Williams for providing a great line of products.
Although I don’t own any William’s trains, I think the Golden Memories is a great line, and a great addition in general to O gauge. Especially for the qualilty and the price, which seemed to get even better over the last 2 years or so.
I’d like some day to own a Williams scale GG-1 Black 5 stripe-seems like a nice model and a good price. How long has it been on the market?
The BL-2 looks nice, someday I’d get one in Western Maryland-not sure if in fireball or speed script- anybody have pics?
This would be fitting. He and his company made wonderful products. Although I don’t have any, I’ve seen them at train shows and they really look fantastic.
I felt like a kid on christmas morning this afternoon I finally opened my virginian set by williams ( I’ve had the engine out but thats it) today I opened all the boxes of cars and put them on the shelf there the ones on the bottom of the bottom shelf beautiful set. Now I remember why I fell in love with it iwhen I saw it in the catalog. the 6264 gondola even cones with a box of 6 barrels in it like lionel would of done except these say williams on the box[:)]
The red MSt L hopper comes with a covered lid and a coal lid
My wife’s favorite engine at times is a Williams GP-9 Rock Island (She thinks it’s pretty and sexy). For me their engines always ran and I could have my boys when they were younger run them without fear. Not many other folks I could say that about except my Lionel 2037!
