Be advised that when operated with a DC power pack the decoder will "eat" around 5 volts before the loco starts moving. So the throttle position will be higher than with a straight DC loco. If the rest of your locos are straight DC, you might want to replace the decoder with a dummy plug if it's connected via an 8-pin sockt.

Len

I've found some of these A-Line drive couplings will work in Bachmann diesels:

https://ppw-aline.com/search?q=coupling

Some experimentation may be needed.

Len

Some info on superelevation.

https://www.trackplanning.com/superelevation.htm

Len

Appears to be the same motor. You'll have to swap out the universal connectors for the gears from the hi-rail.
https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70_114&products_id=293

You may have to shorten the motor shafts a bit with a Dremel cut off disk.

Len

The information here may be of help:
https://tonystrains.com/news/complete-guide-to-consisting/

Len

There's a prototype for everything. The Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad ran some 72ft passenger cars. So you could use some more or less modern 72ft passenger cars and say your railroad purchased used from the RF&P.

Len

The 'Time Saver" is actually a switching puzzle. The name comes from completing the 'puzzle' in the minimum amount of time. Alternate rules call for completing it in the minimum number of switching moves. An explanation of the rules, and alternatives, can be found here:
http://www.wymann.info/ShuntingPuzzles/Timesaver/timesaver-rules.html

Len

This is the truck mounting screw he's looking for. It works for the original Williams diesels too.
https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=77_219&products_id=5395

The semi-scale body mount screw may work for the original Williams E7 also:
https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=77_219&products_id=4586

If not, a 3mm self tapping screw should work.

Len

It's not just a constant 12V on the track, it's 12V with a DCC signal provided by any of the many DCC systems available. A 'dummy plug' replaces the decoder and connects the socket holes as shown on the right here:



A quick look using the key DCC DUMMY PLUG in the search engine of your choice should bring up several places to purchase one. Or you can use small gauge solid wire to connect the socket holes together as shown in the picture.

Len

Almost all of the screws used in the Williams/Williams by Bachmann diesels are listed on pages 6 and 7 of the 'O/Williams' "Universal Parts" lisings. There's not a lot of variation in the screws used on different diesel locos:

https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=77_219&sort=20a&page=6
https://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=77_219&sort=20a&page=7

All of the screws are metric. The only real difference I ran into when things switched to 'Williams by Bachmann' is for some reason the pilot mounting screw on the front truck was changed from 3mm to 3.5mm

Len

DCC equiped locomotives normally expect to see a constant 12V DCC signal on the track. When operating DCC equiped locomotives using a DC power pack the decoder is looking for at least 5V on the track before it passes any power to the motor. This means the throttle on a DC power pack has to be turned considerably higher to get a DCC locomotive moving than a straight DC locomotive.

If the PCB has an 8-pin socket for the decoder, you can replace the decoder with a dummy plug tna it will operate at the lower voltages of a regular DC locomotive.

Len

The BK kits are photo finished card stock, not foam. Roket Card Glue, or low temp hot melt glue, will hold them together. Most of them were originally intended for use with 1/64 scale slot cars, but they also work with S scale trains. They are oversized for use with HO trains.

Len

When my repair shop was open I got almost all the screws I needed for Williams/Williams by Bachmann locos from these guys:
http://www.microfasteners.com/

Len

Quote from: bill collins on January 11, 2024, 04:50:50 PMThanks for the help. I'm thinking of using Peco code 100 track. Would that change the material list.

The number of wyes and switches would be the same. The curves and straight sizes and quantities would be different. Using the Peco Small Radius wyes and turnouts would result in something closer to the orignal hand laid layout.

Len

The original timesave was hand laid track and used #4 wyes. This is an EZ-Track version using #5 wyes. A small switcher and 40 foot cars are assumed. The labels indicate how many cars various spurs and run around tracks should hold. The red dots are uncoupler magnet locations. Spur lengths should be adjusted for the number of cars indicated. Although the upper run around track may end up 2 cars instead of 1 because of the EZ-Track geometry vs the original layout.



Rough track list based on diagram. Two 2" straights go beteen the 33.6" curves on each leg of the right hand run around wye.

Item list for EZ_Time_Saver
QTY     NUMBER       DESCRIPTION
(4)     44569        EZ  #5 wye turnout
(2)     44565        EZ  #5 LH turnout
(3)     44508        EZ  R-33.3 6° curve
(4)     44592A       EZ  2 inch straight
(3)     44514        EZ  4.5 inch straight
( 8 )     44511        EZ  9 inch straight

Len