Zipper, you have email from MA&PA JCT.

Everybody's ideas are good, but the culprit is the transformer. In order for the ANY Williams or Williams by Bachman to operate correctly, you MUST use a 90 WATT TRANSFORMER at the minimum. AND, if the Girls steam engine is ALL that you are have running off the transformer, that's fine. Do you have Accessories attached to the transformer? Any lights? If so, you are taking away watts/volts, to run the engine.

Delivery update: Sometime THIS quarter, meaning JAN, FEB, or MARCH. That's the last word I got.

Here are the answers to your questions. I copied your post, and my reply is under your question.

1) Are they the exact same?
Answer: Yes, they are the same when it comes to the STEAM engine itself. your overall difference is the tender, the 773 tender is one inch shorter.

2) What are the dimensions of the 773 Hudson and does it compare with the original 773?
Answer: The WBB 773 is the same length: 23 inches

3)  Can they both navigate 0-31 and 0-36 curves?
Answer:No, they both require 0-42 curve track

4)  What is the number on the 40201 (it looks like 773 in the catalog) and is it like the original 5344 from long ago?
Answer: You have good eyes and attention to details. WBB probably used the 773 picture. The correct number on the engine is 5344.

How is the detail on these pieces as well as the sound and running characteristics?
Answer: Details of WHAT pieces? 773 & 5344? 5344 to Lionel's scale version, 1939? What are you comparing?

5) Is it true that they both have a firebox glow?
Answer: The firebox glow is in all of the Scale Hudson's EXCEPT the 773, which does not.

I know that this may seem like a lot of questions but one of these will be my first Williams engine.  I do have passenger cars but not their engines.  Any help that can be provided (maybe a good photo of each) will be appreciated.  Also any good low cost dealers who are reliable too.  THANKS!

Answer/comment: No matter which engine you purchase, they both have small differences:
1) The 5543 has the firebox glow, the 773 does not.
2) The 5543 has a "chuff" sound in it, the 773 does not.

And finally, the POSSIBLE reason why the 5543 MSRP is higher then the 773 MSRP lies in "firebox glow" and "chuff" in the the 5543.
I say POSSIBLE answer,  as I cannot jump into the minds of Corporate Headquarters at Bachmann. It stands to reason as to why the price is not the same. AS the old saying goes, "you get what you paid for".

Marty, MA&PA JCT
marty@mapajunction.com........web: www.mapajunction.com

You can buy a "ELECTRIC RAILROAD" sound that would have what you need.
MSRP is around $60, I sell them for $50.

Contact me at my Co.email address: marty@mapajunction.com

If you just bought it, I'd return it for warranty repair. You must have a dated receipt from a bone fide WBB dealer.

Marty, MA&PA JCT

Quote from: cfourrier on December 17, 2009, 05:59:27 PM
I'm also going to recommend Electric RR Co.  Their $50 units are easy and work well - you can even add Command if you want to run from a remote.  I put their GG-1 unit in my Williams Scall GG-1 - tokk me a big 10 minutes - works fine - only probelm to me is that I'd like to pump up the volume - they have a volume setting - but it's not loud enough - especially if you're running on a loud track system.

- Clay

You can get more volume if you wire the motors in "series". Right now, they are "parallel" and are wired into the reverse board. Since the dual motors are now working separately this draws more amps and will through more amps to TBII sound system. Hence, more volume.

Quote from: trainman2 on December 15, 2009, 01:16:32 PM
It turns out the PA set was silent! No sound. The box was mis-marked, or the wrong units were placed in the boxes. The vendor adjusted his price, but now I need to find a sound system that will work. I want horn, bell and motor sounds - would mount the boards/speaker in the B unit. Any suggested vendors?
Thanks!
Ed

I can help you, but cannot post any data because I am dealer. Email me at marty@mapajunction.com for more information.

Marty

Quote from: phillyreading on November 19, 2009, 12:30:17 PM
If it is like the older Williams(about five years ago, maybe longer) sound systems by QSI in the F-7 diesels sets it will have a "Leaving station on track ten" announcement & bell & regular horn(not TB-2) along with motor revving sounds that are in proportion to the power supplied to the track. The horn does not work in the low power range and the bell don't work in the higher than idle speed.
Hope this helps you!

Lee F.

Most people get there "AA" sets long after the original owner bought them, and the instructions on operating the "truesounds" is missing. Here's how it is supposed to work:  First, lets imagine we are going to take off from the train station, make a few loops and return to the station.  Throttle up transformer slowly, and under 8 volts. The tower announces "leaving on track ten" will stop and go to "reset". That is, will not play again until transformer is turned off. While still under 8 volts,  activate your whistle button 1-2 times quickly, the "bell" will come on and stay on until 8-10 volts. Right now you are cruising along at track speed, with traction motor noise going up/down, depending on throttle setting. Also, above 8 volts, the bell goes off, but you can now blow the diesel horn, Will stay on until the button is released. Ok, you have made several trips around the layout, time to come back into the station. Throttle back, and when under 10 volts the bell comes back on! There....go have fun!

Marty, MA&PA JCT

Quote from: trainman2 on October 02, 2009, 04:26:08 PM
I may have just answered my own question - I am told the print on the box refers to "True-Sounds" and describes the features as in my above posting. Is this system still offered by Williams - and if so, do they have it on any steam locos?
Thanks for your help.
Ed

TRUESOUNDS is gone, in its place is "TRUEBLAST II" digital Bell and Horn for the Diesels. Yes, TBII comes is available with steam whistle and bell. I sell them on my web site (www.mapajunction.com).

MARTY, MA&PA JCT

Quote from: trainman2 on October 02, 2009, 04:17:46 PM
I just ordered a Rio Grandee PA ABA set with sound that includes revving motors and crew talk. I have not received it yet so am very curious since I have never seen this type of sound system mentioned in any of Williams advertising materials. I notice there is another ABA set (different road name) on eBay with the same sound system description. Did Williams do a limited run of upgraded sound diesels in the past or did someone install an aftermarket system?
I will report back on how mine sounds after I receive it next week.
Thanks.
Ed

You purchased a set that was installed with an original "TRUSOUNDS" sound system, developed by "OTT MACHINE WORKS". Otto supplied the boards, when assembled they were put in by the Mfg. overseas. There wasn't a special run. When ordering from Williams (or a dealer like my self) you had a choice of buying a set with horn only or withe the "truesounds". The cost was $99 higher for the "TS".  The Truesounds lasted until about 1995, MR OTT was up in age, and it was getting harder and harder to get parts to make the boards, so the business has closed.....I think, or maybe has ceased making sound systems. With the advent of TMCC, R/S, DCS, etc the truesounds faded into history.

Marty, MA&PA JCT, WBB authorized Dealer

Building one is a great idea, but if you are not into that, go to your local hobby shop and buy a Lionel in-line sound activation button. I forget the SHU number, but the LHS owner should know what you need.
Marty,MA&PA JCT

The plastic pilots were replaced with metal die cast pilots many years ago.They never made under the Bachmann name. Although your engine may be new to mint, it has to be at least 5 years old, if not more.

HUD-125 had to have built prior to 2007, it's an old WILLIAMS cat.number. The HUDSONS were introduced in 1995, and they came in a square red box w/blue letters. Between 1995 and approx.2000, they had a WHISTLE only. After that date (approx) the had whistle AND bell with the introduction of TRUEBLAST II. The TRUEBLAST I was a whistle only. Under the Bachmann reign, they should now have Whistle, Bell AND Chuff.
Marty,MA&PA JCT,Authorized Bachmann Dealer

Contact me if you are unable to get parts. I f I don't have want you meed, I have another contact contact that may have what you need.
I also sell the TBII  Steam, Diesel, and reverse boards separately
Marty, MA&PA JCT