I designed a simple cardstock model of a generic Ice Platform and Ice
House to use with the short Lionel milk car and the 6472 reefer. 

   

     

Each platform can handle one car;  platforms can be lined up end-to-end
to handle multiple cars.

Hi-railers might find it useful as a placeholder for an Atlas O or craftsman kit.

http://www.lionellines.com/ and click on "Acme Ice House"



Brady Burdge

Interesting paint...might look pretty good on WBB equipment..


http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=300916&nseq=45

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=300076&nseq=52

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/kcs1.jpg

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=295065&nseq=90

http://www.railfanreading.com/Layout/Prototype/FreightCars/KCS%20286308.jpg

Something I picked up at the WGH show last month

       

The original Gilbert/Flyer 752 was catalogued from 1946-52.  The number was changed to 752A in 1951 when a solenoid operated door was added to allow coal to be stored in the tower (like the Lionel 97).  On the earlier 752, coal dropped into the tower's hopper by the clamshell slid straight down the chute.   

       

The Lionel version of the Seaboard coaling tower is the 752A version and at almost 16" high it's an impressive accessory.  It works very well and comes with an Flyer-style three button controller. 

Unlike the Lionel 97, the chute on the 752A drops the coal straight down for a little less bounce..  The chute is hinged and can be raised manually.

       

The motor/drive assembly with the "cable" spool

       

Lots of pulleys..

       

       

       

Since the 752A was originally designed for S gauge the manual recommends raising the tower 1" to clear O gauge equipment.  Since I'm using rubber roadbed and running FM Train Masters (pretty tall for traditional trains) I needed about 1 1/2", so I made a crude base out of foam. 

       

I suppose you could put it at the end of a siding and avoid having to raise it.

The clamshell picks up a decent amount but you'll have to do several cycles to get enough to cover the bottom of a 3469 dump car (or save time and cheat with a funnel ).  The crude pickup hopper I made keeps the coal in a nice pile for the clamshell, Flyer and Lionel pans don't quite do the job.  Eventually I may install a more finished looking version, or just fashion another crude hopper for the MTH/Flyer 785 tower next door.  The clamshell on the 752A snaps shut and tends to launch a couple of pieces each time (pieces to the left - hopper needs sidewalls). 

I've had very good success with the Flyer re-issues from Lionel and MTH, pretty soon they may outnumber the Lionel designs on the layout.

Brady Burdge
http://www.virginianrailway.com

A few photos of the the Williams and the recently released Lionel 2331

Williams





Lionel





Both (Lionel is in the middle)



Close up comparison
Photo enhancement courtesy of the DL&W publicity dept.



The real deal




Both are based on the #2331 Fairbanks Morse Train Master Lionel released in 1955,  first in a prototypical black & yellow version and then a more eye catching (but not prototypical)  blue & yellow version.  The 2331's here are based on the black & yellow version.

Williams uses a mustard color on their version with 2331 on the number boards and on the cab. Like the 1955 original, the Lionel "Conventional Classics" 2331 is closer to the correct color and it doesn't have the road number on the cab -  that's prototypical. The protoypes numbers were 50-74.  The Lionel has the gold colored VIRGINIAN lettering on the side, like the original 1955 model.

Lionel changed the truck arrangement;  the same axles are powered but now the center axle is blind and both outside axles have flanges.  The Lionel has both magnatraction and traction tires and had no problems pulling 9 3469 metal dump cars and a caboose around 0-31 curves.

Operationally the Williams is superior; since the Lionel is meant to invoke the 1955 version (it even comes in 1955 style packaging) Lionel used open-frame "pullmor" motors that have a higher starting speed and draw more current.  The Lionel runs fine but the Williams is much smoother at slow speeds, runs much quieter and it draws fewer amps.

The Lionel has a better electronic horn, but there are some problems activating it with non Lionel transformers.   The Williams horn is reliable on everything I've tried as long as there's about 7 volts or more on the track.   

It's nice to have the new issue Lionel 2331 (especially since I can't afford a 1955 original!) but the Williams FM's will remain the workhorses on the tinplate Virginian

Brady

I'm glad that Bachmann hasn't sought to "improve" Williams but there's one change I would love to see -  get rid of those wide rollers and the wide ends on the roller pickup arms. 

I had to take a file to one of the the wide ends of one of the roller arms to keep my 44 tonner from shorting out on one UCS track, it was coming into contact with one of the activation blades.  My GG-1 is very picky about the UCS tracks it'll roll over..

The upside is that instead of UCS tracks where uncouplers were needed, the roller issue made me create some uncoupling tracks.  I removed the magnet sections from a couple of new issue 027 uncoupling tracks  and installed them in an O gauge tubular straight.  A good project and they work great.  They fit into the Rick Johnson rubber roadbed.

The downside is that out of 6 or 7 current production UCS tracks I could only find one that I could put on the main, the next best UCS is on a passing siding (GG-1's not allowed).  Postwar UCS tracks might be a solution, but they're about $25 each and there's no guarantee.

Please consider a roller change - Thanks!

Brady

How about a break from speculation -  let's see a few photos of Williams products in action