The siderods are fine and aren't bent.  Everything has been properly lubricated. The motor or gears do not seize up, but the motor runs hot and slows down to a stop after running just 5 or 10 minutes.  After it cools, the locomotive runs fine.  What a disappointment.  My 2003 Williams Blue Comet Berkshire runs smoothly and flawlessly.

Quote from: WKT58 on December 06, 2013, 11:26:37 AM
I own over 100 Williams/WBB locomotives, and only a very few have had any operating problems.  I recently acquired a semi-scale WBB New York Central 4-6-4 Hudson via eBay.  After about 5 to 10 minutes of running (pulling 6 Madison passenger cars), the locomotive slows down and eventually stops.  The motor runs hot; the flywheel almost can burn your finger.  I have lubricated all of the wheels, axles, siderods, and the motor shaft under the flywheel.  I have added extra grease to the worm gear also.  The engine still stalls after running for a short time.  Any suggestions?

I own over 100 Williams/WBB locomotives, and only a very few have had any operating problems.  I recently acquired a semi-scale WBB New York Central 4-6-4 Hudson via eBay.  After about 5 to 10 minutes of running (pulling 6 Madison passenger cars), the locomotive slows down and eventually stops.  The motor runs hot; the flywheel almost can burn your finger.  I have lubricated all of the wheels, axles, siderods, and the motor shaft under the flywheel.  I have added extra grease to the worm gear also.  The engine still stalls after running for a short time. 

Is the Erie F3 black and yellow, or is it dark green and yellow.  It's not always easy to tell from photographs.  Thanks.

http://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=4555

Rather than remove the reversing board, you can install a miniature toggle switch that will allow you to select between automatic reversing (Williams reversing board) and fixed forward (bridge rectifier) operation. 

Dummy Upgrade Kit, 6 Wheel/Center Blind, Bachmann Williams 00243, @$108.67
Compatible with: ALCO PA, E7,EP5

http://www.wholesaletrains.com/Detail.asp?ID=200512131

Thank you!  It's good to hear that E7's will be back.  I have three sets of E7's: Illinois Central, Union Pacific, and Chesapeake & Ohio.

They are no longer listed in the 2013 catalog. 

Alco FA shells @$40:
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_77_232&products_id=5457&zenid=qr75kkvogau638pbmp4vlsabb6

Alco PA shells @$40:
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_77_220&products_id=5436&zenid=qr75kkvogau638pbmp4vlsabb6

Baldwin Shark A shells @$40:
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_77_235&products_id=5445&zenid=qr75kkvogau638pbmp4vlsabb6

GP9 shells @$30:
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_77_236&products_id=5470&zenid=qr75kkvogau638pbmp4vlsabb6

GP38 shells @$30:
http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_77_237&products_id=5440&zenid=qr75kkvogau638pbmp4vlsabb6

I own both F7's and F3's, and I know the dimensions are different.  I was merely comparing the costs.  Bachmann is now also offering shells for FM Trainmasters:

http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_77_223&products_id=5483&zenid=qr75kkvogau638pbmp4vlsabb6

Wow!  At $40, this is less expensive than after-market shells designed to fit Lionel F3's.  I am assuming that the road names available are whatever the currently catalog lineup is for F7's.

//http://estore.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=66_77_233&products_id=5425&zenid=qr75kkvogau638pbmp4vlsabb6

Thank you, Lee.

-Bill

PASSENGER TRAINS AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE (2007 to 2012)
http://www.youtube.com/user/xmastrain/videos?sort=dd&flow=list&view=0

I have an old used set of Crown Edition Santa Fe 60' aluminum cars that have black trucks.  I also have a 2 car add-on of contemporary Santa Fe aluminum cars that come with silver trucks.  My Santa Fe war bonnet locomotives (Williams PA-1 AA, and RailKing E3 AA) both have silver trucks. 

Any advice on a good way to paint the black trucks silver?  The floor bodies of the older cars are also painted black.  I think some kind of paint mask has to be created, and a lot of wheel sets have to be removed beforehand.

Thanks for the tip about contacting Bachmann directly.  I got an e-mail reply from the Parts Department at Bachmann, and they said that they do stock the part, but it is out of stock for at least a month. 

By the way, the  dummy A unit shell and frame that I won off of eBay is a rare Williams Chicago & Northwestern F7.  I had originally bid on the powered C&NW F7 and dummy B unit (both selling together), but lost out to a higher bidder.   Apparerently, the seller originally had a C&NW F7 ABA set, and he custom painted the trucks of the powered A and B units to silver.  The dummy A unit was taken apart for unknown reasons (I had to buy the black dummy trucks separately, without the front pilot).  I plan to buy the dummy power upgrade kit, the die cast front pilot, and a True Blast horn board to convert this unit to a powered A unit.  The dummy trucks will supply the side frames and front and rear couplers.