My first 5 Williams engines were hard wired for forward only until I put e-units in them.
Rob
Those must have been early models
Very early. I actually miscounted… I have 8 early Williams w/o any reverse from the factory - 3 GG-1’s, 3 SD-45’s, & 2 F-7 A-A units. The GG-1’s are the TCA 25th Anniversary sets, from 1979.
Rob
The Williams FMs I had from the early 80s all had FNR. And GEEZ they would FLY around the tracks!!! Was really weird to see that big beast whipping around so fast. They also had magnetraction, so they stuck pretty well.
I just won an MTH FM Jersey Central off E-Bay a few days ago. It has the Proto 1 sounds. Am REAL curious about what they sound like. Engine was tested before selling and has a new battery. I plan on a conversion to Proto 2 as soon as I get some cashola. [:D]
Dep
Another one to consider is the K-line Trainmaster, which I’m sure you can still find new in box if you look hard enough.
The detail is pretty good, with brass-etched vent screens and spinning fans(although not powered). It’s not quite as good as the newer Lionel ones, but a definite step up from the Postwar-styled Lionel and Williams ones, as well as the early MTH premier ones(I haven’t seen the more recent MTHs). Unlike the Lionel ones, all the wheels are powered and the center sets on each trucks are flangeless.
I have the Lackawanna one that was sold as a club model with TMCC, RS, and smoke. It was originally $225, which, at the time(and still is) a bargain.
It uses one of the Lionel generic sound sets, which don’t really sound that bad. Everything is perfectly audible, too.