JP of Acton MA, USA writes,

Here are some ideas for possible products that could be produced by WBB:
(Yeah, I know that WBB Will Not produce Anything on this list, Anytime Soon / Anytime At All, so this is just Wishful Thinking)

For those like me who are into Transit/Trolley/Rapid Transit/Light Rail/Interurban/Subway trains, my ideas for future WBB products are as follows: (yes, I know WBB produced Peter Witt trolleys, but here are more ideas) These would be for the O scale product line.

-PCC 'Railbus' - this was basically a de-electrified PCC and fitted with a gas or diesel engine for running without overhead wires. The New Haven RR had a PCC 'Railbus', long ago
-double end 2 truck JG Brill trolleys - open and enclosed versions
-Steeple-cab electric locos
-PCCs - both double and single end
-CAF/Breda/Kinki-Sharyo/Boeing-Vertol Light Rail Vehicles - As currently used by the Mass Bay Transit Authority (Boston MBTA)
-Subway cars - NYCTA (New York City) and MBTA (Boston MA)
-Metro North M 2/4/6/8, M 1/3/5/7/9 commuter cars
-Metro North Bombardier "push/pull" commuter cars
-Long Island M 2/4/6/8, M 1/3/5/7/9 commuter cars
-Long Island Bombardier "push/pull" commuter cars
-Boston MBTA Bombardier "push/pull" commuter cars
-single truck double end birney safety trolleys
-Perley-Thomas New Orleans trolleys - both the original green "Streetcar named Desire" ones and the later red "Riverfront" replica trolleys that were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina (many of these relpica trolleys have since been rebuilt, and operate on the New Orleans Public Service Inc. system)
-San Fransisco cable cars
-Ex Philadelphia SEPTA, now San Fransisco "F" Line PCCs as reconditioned/restored by Brookville Equipment Company of Pennsylvania, and painted to represent various cities that once ran PCCs
-Amtrak (or other road name) Metroliner EMU cars - these cars have similar body shape as Amfleet passenger cars, but include pantographs, control cabs at one or both ends, and traction motor equipped trucks
-Budd SPV 2000 EMU rapid transit cars featuring roadnames of railroads that ran them such as Amtrak and Connecticut's Metro North Railroad
-Budd B.U.R.T. Rapid Transit EMU Commuter Cars
-New Jersey Transit DMU Light Rail Rapid Transit Cars
-Philadelphia SEPTA Bullet rapid transit cars
-Philadelphia SEPTA LRV's - both sinlge and double end
-Philadelphia "Strafford" Rapid Transit cars - These cars were essentially a cross between a streetcar, and an Interurban car. These cars were powered by 3rd rail only, much like a rapid transit subway train and could run as single cars or multiple unit trains.
-Chicago North Shore Line/Philadelphia Red Arrow Electroliners
-Chicago, North Shore, and Milwaukee high speed Interurban cars - including the famous 'Silverliners'
-US DOT "State of the Art" Cars (SoAc) - Only 2 were built as experimental replacements for older subway cars and were tested in city subways in Boston, New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia. The 2 cars were not accepted by any of the city subway systems in which they were tested, and ultimately became static exhibit cars at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport Maine. See this link: http://trolleymuseum.org/collection/browse.php?id=SOAC1RDC
-"Sprinter" DMU Light Rail rapid transit cars
-"Pay As You Enter" (P.A.Y.E.) Trolley Cars
- Type S-70 Light Rail Transit cars
- Toronto TTC CLRV's / ALRV's
- Montreal Tramways "Golden Chariot" Open topped, Tiered seat Observation trolley - Only 4 of these truly unique trolleys exist, and all 4 are preserved, restored, and operate at various museums: Seashore Trolley Museum (Kennebunkport Maine) Montreal Tramways #2, Warehouse Point Trolley Museum (East Windsor Connecticut) Montreal Tramways #4, and Expo Rail (Canada) Montreal Tramways #'s 1 & 3

Anyone reading this post is more than welcome to post replies, comments or other ideas Specifically Relating to Transit/Trolley/Rapid Transit/Light Rail/Interurban/Subway trains (Not steam / diesel / freight trains), here in the forums. The WBB guys would love to read your input as well.

Please be aware that I myself Am Not an employee of WBB. I Do Not work for WBB, Nor am I Affiliated with WBB in Any Way.

Please direct your comments / replies / ideas to "Inside Track", "Yardmaster", "3 Rail", or "The Bach Mann".

Sincerely: JP

Anyone wishing to reply to my post Directly, May Do So using the following E-Mail address: jpstrainyard@yahoo.com

Otherwise, just post your replies here in the forums.

Note 1: replies, comments, or other ideas should be related to, Transit/Trolley/Rapid Transit/Light Rail/Interurban/Subway trains Only.

Note 2: replies, comments, or other ideas Not Related to the above in "Note 1" should be posted in a separate generic "Wish List for 2021"

JP of Acton MA, USA writes:

Just wondering if there will be a re-stock of the 'currently sold out' True Blast 2 sound units, for locomotives such as Alco FA and GG1?
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes,

To all O Scale / O Gauge modelers -

This is the "Generic" Wishlist for 2021.
Here, you can post anything you want, including suggestions for Bachmann / WBB, regarding products that you want to see produced.
"The sky is the limit" with this wish list.

Keep in mind that I Am Not an employee of the Bachmann / WBB company, and I Am Not associated in any way with the Bachmann / WBB company.
All comments and suggestions should be directed to "3 Rail", "Yardmaster" or "The Bachmann".
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes,

Replying to forum user 'momotrain', who quoted my comment about 'Bullfrog Snot' - Anytime, was glad to provide that sort of info.
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes:

Best idea would be to look on E-Bay to see if anyone is selling a Williams S2 Turbine, that is 'good for parts only' (ie. motor does not work, but lights, sounds, smoke unit works)
Or simply find an operational S2 that can be 'scrapped for parts'.

-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes,

Check for 'cold solder connections'. These can be found where the wires are soldered to the socket, the lamp, the center rail roller, and the 'ground contact strap'.
Sometimes when wires are soldered, there is no guarantee of a 'good' connection, which results in intermittent or no operation. Any 'cold solder connections' would have to be unsoldered and re-soldered.

Hope this helps. Otherwise, you may have to send your Caboose to WBB for repairs.
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes:

Its possible that 2 of the wires connect to the lights themselves, and the other 2 wires are track power and ground.
Just my observation. Pics would be more helpful.
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA Writes:

Try E-Bay, see if someone is selling Williams GG1 parts, or a whole GG1 that is only worthy of being a parts source (ie. not operational).

Also, maybe you could substitute a Williams GG1 pantograph for a similar part from Lionel.

I, myself had that same issue. I have a Williams GG1, which is a replica of the old Lionel postwar version. I was able to use a Lionel part, in place of a Williams part.
-JP

JP, of Acton MA, USA writes:
The Eggliners are actually G scale, carried over from the out of business Aristo Craft company.

Any conventional locomotives (such as Williams) can be controlled by DCS, but you would have to connect your power supply and layout to the DCS Track Interface Unit's conventional terminals, then select the TR (track) feature on the DCS remote, to operate your trains.

I don't know if the LionChief system has a provision or function to operate conventional trains, but the original TMCC system (remote / command base), paired with a TPC (Track Power Controller) can operate conventional trains.
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes:

The Williams company has a direction control board that can control 2 motors in a locomotive, as well as lock the direction in forward or operate with the Forward / Neutral / Reverse sequence: https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=491_555&products_id=3771&zenid=54p02bo7pf3epbtb8nmouu0an7.

Hope this helps.
-JP

If the electronic E-units have a switch, simply set the switch to the 'off' position to electronically 'lock' the locos in the same direction.

If the electronic E-units don't have a switch, the 'default' direction for Williams locomotives is always forward. The default direction cycle should be forward / neutral / reverse etc.

One other method would be to disable the electronic E-Unit, and install an AC rectifier, so your locos will be permanently locked in the desired directions.
Just my opinion.
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes,

Williams by Bachmann sells O gauge EZ Track: https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=491_885.

For traditional tubular track, all they seem to be advertising are curved tracks and uncoupling tracks. The tubular tracks are compatible with Lionel O and O27 traditional tubular tracks.
If you currently have tubular tracks from Williams, you could simply use Lionel tubular tracks. Just my opinion.
-JP

JP, of Acton MA USA writes,

To my knowledge, any / all products produced under the Williams by Bachmann O gauge line, are not DCC (or any command control) equipped. They are all conventional (non-command) controlled.
Anyway, if you have 2 powered A units that you want to run 'back to back', one method would be to reverse the wiring of the motors in one A unit, so it runs Reverse / Neutral / Forward, while the other A unit runs Forward / Neutral / Reverse. Or, if the A units are equipped with direction 'lock-out' switches, lock one unit in Forward, lock the other unit in Reverse.

Hope this helps.
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes:

Williams by Bachmann does make a GP38 True Blast sound upgrade board. The Sounds include engine running sound / horn sound / bell sound / rev up / rev down.

Unfortunately, WbB does not make a GP30 True Blast sound upgrade board, but the GP38 True Blast sound upgrade board might be close enough.
Also, WbB does not make a BL2 True Blast sound upgrade board.

You could use these forums to suggest to 'The Bach Mann' or '3 Rail' or 'Yard Master', that WbB make a True Blast sound upgrade board for GP30 and BL2, as a future product.

Hope this helps.
-JP

JP of Acton MA, USA writes,

If folks are having difficulty with finding parts dealers or parts sources for traction tires, here is an 'interesting' product, Bullfrog Snot - http://www.bullfrogsnot.com/ (no, it is not actual 'snot' extracted from bullfrogs). This is basically a 'liquid traction tire' compound that will work for any scale of model train (Z to G). Use a cotton swab to coat the locomotive's wheels with this compound. When the compound 'sets' then dries, it leaves behind a rubbery surface that will help the locomotive's pulling abilities.

Hope this helps.
-JP