This is one awesome engine. Pulls like a horse. Get this, it cost a whopping $145.00 with a lifetime repair policy. What more can you ask for???
I own only one Williams as shown below. This engine can pull stumps. I removed the orginal electronic guts (a highly technical term) and wired in a Train America Command Control and Railsounds Unit. The command control works great. I wish Williams would put speaker holes in the frames because I do believe it would make the Railsound louder and I like loud music.
Edit 3/31/2004 Changed photo post to Photo Island.
Williams is the only company that seems to recognize there is a market for quality non-command engines. It’s fine if folks want to adapt and wire in command to their Williams units. But there is utterly no shortage of choices for those who want command. Those who don’t are stuck with a scant couple single separate sale offering from K-Line and a scant few from Lionel. Not only are roadname selections always the same ol’ same ol’, but when Lionel makes something I want, they tend to make it sub-par quality with prices higher than Williams. There are been several engines from Lionel that I absolutely wanted, yet couldn’t buy. They probably think the stuff deson’t sell because it’s non-command. Nope, it’s just non-quality.
Again, I still want the Conrail U-Boat and hope to find it at the blowout price that it’s actually worth because of all the extra money I’ll spend putting the second motorized truck in it. Funny too, how they sold the dual motored UP GP-20 for the same list price as the single motored Conrail U36B. When Lionel decides to start putting 2 motors in all engines and lowering prices to a reasonable level - and reissues the Conrail unit made correctly, I’ll start buying Lionel. Or when Lionel offers a free upgrade motorized truck with all parts for the Conrail unit.
Until then, it’s either used stuff or Williams.
Truth be told, Lionel is far more concerned with the bottom line and pleasing their investors than with quality and pleasing their ordinary customers. Every single new engine I’ve wanted from Lionel in the past 15 years has been sabotaged with either single motors, bad paint jobs or no paint job (molded color), 98.5% all plastic construction, and prices that are way above the competition - for less quality. For me - I’ve drawn a line in the sand… NO more new purchase Lionel engines until the Conrail U-Boat is reissued or remade, with 2 motors and a reasonable list.
And with Williams, us traditional operators can have an engine in something o
Got two NS Dash 9s on the way from Marty [Ma and Pa’s]. First Williams ever for me. Next will be the NW2 in NS. Guess he’ll have to order as already out of stock. Plan on getting the whole stable of NS from Williams. Hey Buckeye, might try cutting out some grills and replacing them with some open ones from the model accessory companies.
CHIEF:
Keep your eyes peeled for the BIG BROWN TRUCK, 2 N/S diesels shipped today![8D]
Don’t drool to much![:p]
Thanks Marty. Bet they hit here when I get home from Orlando BPS. Get back Sunday night and they might get here Monday or Tuesday for a good present. [:D] might not be able to sleep until they get here. [:D]
I own 2 Williams engines and they both are great! I’ve almost convinced myself to call Marty and order a Golden Memories passenger set.[:)]