Am thinking about buying a new WbB GP-9, but need to find out the following-----If I understand correctly, all new WbB diesel locos start in FORWARD.  That being the case, is the cab of the GP-9 at the leading end (front) of the loco OR the trailing end (back)  Or can the shell be flipped around so one can have the cab in the front or rear of the loco???  Hope I'm making sense here...

Would be grateful for any input.  Thanks...

GTBob

I have a Williams FP-45 loco (not by Bachman) I bought used recently.  The reverse board operates Forward-Neutral-Reverse-Forward.  Go figure?

Cheers,

GTBob

Hi Joe---

Thanks for the info.  Both my Williams diesel locos haul 4-5 MTH 027 multi-lighted passenger cars.  No grades to worry about.  Bell (and horn) seem to work well w/ these combos.

Regards,

Bob

For What It's Worth---

Bought 2 Lionel #6-5906 Sound Activation Buttons for the 2 loops I run my Williams diesel locos on.  Straight forward install---button wires up between (+) terminal on transformer and (+) on track lock on.  Bell works great on either loop.  No problems w/ this hook whatsoever.

My transformer is a 1952 Lionel ZW w/ diodes replacing the rectifiers (which I believe only effects the horn and not the bell sound).

Thought I'd share this info in case someone without a bell button on their transformer is thinking of giving the bell sound install a go.

Regards,

GTBob

Quote from: Ron Sims on July 25, 2010, 08:55:49 PM
I have found that older Lionel post war transformers will not blow the true blast horns. However, my Z-1000 will everytime.
Ron

Guess I'm lucky--my 1952 (58 years old) Lionel ZW works fine on both of my Williams diesels w/ TB2 horns.  I did however, remove both the old rectifiers from the ZW and replaced them w/ diodes I bought online---cost $10.  Maybe that's the reason the ZW works so well??

GTBob

If your GP38 is new, it should have a TB2 horn included.  It should also be covered by the Williams/Bachman warranty if it's not working properly..  Is the loco getting enuf current???  Both of my Williams locos need around 9-12 volts for the diesel horns to work.

Do you have another transformer to test the loco on??

It took me about 15 minutes to install a new TB2 horn on my Williams FP45 the other day, but, I'm old and slow.  EZ to follow instructions are included.  I'd guess the reverse board might take a bit longer, but, I never installed one.

Keep us posted---good luck.

Bob

If the loco is used , better open her up and make certain this is a horn.  A short time ago,  I bought a used Williams and thought I got taken because the horn didn't work.  Another member told me to check for the horn---there was none and never was (duhhh).

The horn should work when you hit the horn button on the transformer.  I don't believe the bell feature should not have anything to do w/ the horn not working.

You can also call Bachman and talk to their service Dept. for advice.  Also make sure there are no broken wires, connectors, etc.

Good luck...

GTB

Just installed "Lionel" cab interior w/ engineer & fireman(?) plus motor cover in my WBW FP-45 Santa Fe loco.  A little cutting and trimming of the Lionel piece and some hot glue to hold it in place and I was done.  As w/ my GP-38, the install came out looking great (wish I was smart enuf to post a picture or two, but, I'm not).    Total cost: $15.00 for both engines (S&H was more than the parts ).

Regards,

GTBob  

CandO---Great post here.

Was looking over some dated threads and ran across this one.  Decided to give the install a try.  Bought the piece(s) from Lionel and wholla---My WBB Chessie GP38 has a cab interior w/ two engineers.  I painted the motor cover and chairs w/ the same yellow as is on the loco.  It turned out great.  Looks as if it was made this way.

Later on, will try the same install on my Williams FP-45 Santa Fe loco.

Thanks again for your posting on "how to do" this install.

Bob  

Lee,

Thanks very much for the info.  I kinda figured the TB2 would work--but, I needed the input of someone more experienced and knowledgeable than I before I tried the install.  Yes, I know parallel wiring and understand what you are saying.

Once again, thanks for your help.  Next step----buy a TB2 horn.

Regards,

Bob

Lee, thanks for your input.  I should have opened up the loco in the first place(duhhh).  The reverse board is a older type.  The is no place to "plug" in drive motors or a horn/bell assy. etc., as there is  w/ the current reverse board used by Williams (Bachman).  All external wiring connections are soldered to the board.  Also, no snipped wires are present which leads me to believe there never was a horn in this loco.  However, the i/s of this loco is huge---there's plenty of room to install the horn/bell assy (probably two).

There is also a switch located on the fuel tank which permits you to lockout the reverse action of the loco.  The motion sequence is a bit weird---it goes forward-neutral-reverse-forward, skipping neutral between reverse & forward.

Am wondering if the current horn/bell assy (part # 00245) could be hooked up into this loco w/o changing to the newer reverse board. 

Any comments would be appreciated.  Thanks.


Bob

MB425---

Recently bought a Williams PF-45 loco (17" long).  The are no problems w/ the loco handling my 027 90 degree curves.  There is some over hang---but, in my opinion, no big deal.  However, I don't think I would try running it thru my Lionel 027 switches.  Good luck

GTB

Recently bought an excellent condition Williams loco PF-45 Santa Fe cab #102 (used).  I'm guessing the 102 must be an earlied version of the current cab #115 presently offered by Williams.  

My question is:  Does anyone know if the 102 cab version came w/ a horn/bell??  Mine does not.  I'm thinking the previous owner removed it, but don't know for sure.  Obviously, I'm wondering if the "good deal" I thought I was getting was such a good deal at all ...

Also, would I be able to add the Williams horn/bell unit (#00245--??) to my 102 loco?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks..

GTB

Quote from: phillyreading on May 20, 2010, 11:41:44 AM
GTBob,

Are you using this engine near another set of parallel tracks?
If so you will need to measure the overhang of all engines at their widest point on the outside of the rails to see how far to space your tracks. Also how much overhang does any of your other engines need?

Lee F.

phillyreading----You make some good points here.  I have two loops running two different trains.  The outer loop is where I'll run the 17" Williams loco.  The O/S tracks (curve and straight) are far enough away from the inner loop as not to interfear w/ overhang from the trains on either loop. 

Thanks much for your input.

GTB

Joe Satnik-----Thanks for your calculations.  As noted above--the 17" SD90 Williams loco should work w/ no problems on 2 sections of 027 curved track.

Regards,

GTB