JP, of Acton MA, USA writes:

I'm not affiliated / associated with Williams by Bachmann, in any way / shape / form.
I was only trying to provide advice, regarding trying to find replacement pilot parts for your Dash 9.
According to the WBB parts listing, the pilots are listed, but are sold out. There is a "Max. 5" under the "sold out" icon, on the listing, not sure what the "Max. 5" is referring to.
Anyway, like I previously stated, try looking on E-Bay, to see if anyone is selling a Williams Dash 9, that is good for parts.
I don't own a Dash 9, but its a real pity, that the pilots are made of zinc, and fall apart, too easily.
I do agree that is is bad customer service, when the department doesn't return your call.
Williams is a busy company, so I would imagine that their customer service department(s) must receive calls from Billions of model railroad hobbyists, and retailers.

If you have the ability to 3D print, I suppose you could 3D print a particular part, or a professional 3D printing company could print a part, for you.
-JP 

JP, of Acton MA, USA writes,

Usually, all Williams products (such as the Genesis locomotive) are equipped with 2 DC flywheel motors, and an electronic direction control circuit board, that has a rectifier that changes AC power from the track / transformer to DC for the motors. An AC transformer should be sufficient for operating your locomotive. The AC power will activate the lights, the direction control circuit board, and (if equipped) the horn control circuit board, and then the motors, once you cycle the locomotive from neutral to forward.
Hope this helps.
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes:
Best advice would be to find someone selling a Dash 9 (good for parts only) on E-Bay, if you can't obtain the pilot component from Williams by Bachmann.
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes,

Hi Len.
Thanks for the info.
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes:

I was wondering if the Williams electronic reverse units / True Blast sound units are compatible for installation in Postwar Lionel locomotives, in place of the mechanical reverse units and air whistles (steam loco tenders) or battery powered horns (diesel locos), or are the Williams electronic reverse units / True Blast sound units, specifically designed for use in locos equipped with the DC can motors, only.
Any info, would be greatly appreciated.
-JP

JP, of Acton MA, USA writes:
I would imagine that you could find sound kits, from '3rd party' companies, such as QS Industries: http://qsindustries.com/, or Electric Railroad Co.: http://www.electricrr.com/, or Dallee Electronics: https://www.dallee.com/.

Hope this helps.
-JP

JP, of Acton MA, USA writes:

One option would be, to send your loco to WBB's service center, and they could repair / replace the smoke unit.
Another option would be to look on E-Bay, for anyone selling a loco, for usable parts, or simply selling individual parts, removed from a loco.

Hope this helps.
Sincerely: JP 

JP, of Acton MA, USA writes:

There is a  model railroad club in the city of Roslindale MA, called the Bay State Model Railroad Museum (http://bsmrm.org/). This organization features a O scale train / trolley layout. The members involved with the O scale train / trolley layout, could (possibly) do a conversion, for you. Every week, on Wednesday nights, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, the Bay State Model Railroad Museum has 'public visitation' nights. If you were to visit, during a 'public visitation' nights, you could ask any of the O Trolley folks, if they could do a conversion. Alternately, There is a company, called Q Car Co (http://www.qcarcompany.com/), located in Bangor PA, that could do a conversion.

One of the members of the O Trolley group at the Bay State Model Railroad Museum, is Charles Pitts.
If you are on Facebook, here is a link to his Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/charles.pitts.1694?fref=ufi.
Alternately, you could contact him by E-Mail: czephyr@norwoodlight.com.

Hope this helps.
-JP

JP, of Acton MA, USA writes:

Can you post pics of the Electronic E-Units with Sound modules?

Also, does WBB sell the components to convert 'conventional' locos to EZ App?

-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes:

Sounds like, what you are describing, is a Norfolk & Western 4-8-4 J Class steam loco / Tender & Passenger cars, from the early 1990s.
A forum user on here, who goes by 'GovB', has a listing of all sorts of Old vintage Williams catalogs & fliers. the 1990 'Crown Edition' catalog features the loco / tender, as well as the 5 car Aluminum passenger sets, for locos, such as the N&W. Unfortunately, there are no prices included. Maybe you might be able to find folks on E-Bay, selling that particular N&W loco & passenger set, just to get an idea of a "ballpark" price.

Here is the link to his post: http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,33517.0.html

Hope this helps.
-JP

JP, of Acton MA, USA writes:

if you have at least one screw, I believe you can take it to a local hardware store, to find a close match.

Otherwise, look on E-Bay, to see if anyone is selling the particular cars, in question, as 'for parts', that you can use the screws from.

Hope this helps.

-JP

JP, of Acton MA, USA writes,
My best advice, would be to do a google search, for anyone selling a non-powered unit. Perhaps an E-Bay search would work as well. Often, E-Bay sellers would indicate the item number, of the item they are selling, and the year the item was produced. My best guess, is the FP45s were produced, in the late 1990s - Early 2000s. I have a powered Santa Fe red / silver Warbonnet FP45, and it still runs, as it should.
Hope this helps.
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes:
Len & Jonathan,
Thanks for the link to the instructions for the N&W J loco, and Thanks for the link to what decoder would work. I was actually looking for an NCE 8 pin 'plug in' Decoder, though, so any info about what NCE brand decoder, would work, would be much appreciated. -JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes,

I have a Bachmann 'Plus' Norfolk and Western J 4-8-4 loco (item number 11316). Its an earlier model from the late 1990's or very early 2000's. I have misplaced the instructions. Would anyone who owns this particular loco, be able to provide a scan of the instructions? The loco has been in its box, but only run once or twice at most, and was never disassembled, for maintenance. The Instructions would tell me what screws to remove, and how the shell comes off, etc.

Also any recommendations on what DCC decoder would work? Currently the loco is 'conventional control', but has an NMRA 8 pin DCC 'receptacle' for connecting a decoder.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
-JP

JP, of Acton MA, USA writes,
I believe that the reason for the Alco PA parts being sold out, is because Williams by Bachmann does not have Alco PA's, as part of their current roster of diesel locomotives. If Williams by Bachmann were to do another production run of the Alco PA's, I'm sure that spare parts would be available for them. My best suggestion, depending on the part(s) you need, is to look on E-Bay, to see if anyone is selling a Williams Alco PA, that is only good for parts. Hope this helps.

(I'm not an employee of Williams by Bachmann, and I am not affiliated / associated with Williams by Bachmann, in any way)
-JP