My birthday is coming up and I strongly suspect a Williams FM Trainmaster is coming my way. Southern, of course. Good news.
I was wondering, though. Obviously the Lionel PW FM has a rep of being one of the most powerful-pulling engines of the era. How does the Williams stack up, those of you who have it? In other words, would a Williams FM with two can motors be any more powerful than, say, a Williams GP9 with two can motors? Thanks for any comments.
While I cannot say for a fact, I would suspect them to be close to equal. They have the same motors. I can tell you that the Williams FM I own is a wonderfull puller and not suprisingly can outpull my postwar F3s. While I prefer the pullmore motors due to their vintage feel, the modern can motors are much better runners, bite my tounge.
I will second what trainsandmusic said about the Williams locomotives being good at pulling power. I don’t have a Williams FM Trainmaster but their other diesel locomotives have great pulling power.
The Williams does not have TMCC or DCS installed from the factory, may have the True Blast horn & bell feature.
Lee F.
[#ditto] I have a Williams Jersey Central Trainmaster and it is the most powerful engine that I own. It will pull 12 PW cars with no problem.
Chuck
It does not matter which 2 motored WILLIAMS engine you buy, they ALL pull a ton of cars. At trains I have attended as a DEALER, I’ve seen consists of 20-35 cars.
If you need any WILLIAMS, let me know.
Marty
MA&PA JCT
I have one just like that Chuck, and it is a very good puller. Don’t run it a lot as I am trying to find time to install TMCC in it.
Thanks for the responses. I had suspected it would be a strong puller, as my Williams GP9 is a brute. I am looking forward to getting the engine.
That’s what I’m talkin about! I have 2 of them and I wish I had more cars for them. There kinda like the “Energizer bunny”.
I just ran 3 different Williams FM Trainmaster locos today on a layout with a very steep grade. They all pulled great with no problems and a 15 car consist. Very reliable, they run on a large layout all day long!
Williams trains are awesome. My next one is going to be a 2332 GG1.
Jim
That’s what I wanted to hear! My FM will normally pull long freight trains but will also be pressed into service pulling seven MTH Premier Southern streamliners.
RaleighTrainFan
My Williams FM has no problem walking away with any train, including ten 6456 hoppers loaded with aquarium ballast (rock). They’re very heavy diesels and have traction tires.
I don’t know if the Southern ran long or short hood forward, but you can reverse the body shell.
Brady
The Southern ran short-hood forward. A 5-chime horn was mounted on the roof, over the cab. There was a bell on a bracket above the headlights.
Thanks for that information! I was actually wondering about the long hood/short hood issue.
Of course, you know what this means: I am now going to have to spring for about ten of those Atlas Trainman Southern hoppers and load them with Scenic-cemented sawdust (the hopper cargo of the South, at least in North Carolina). Then the FM will step out proudly.