A TALE OF TWO GEEPS
A Comparison of Lionel and Williams GP-7/9 Locomotives
LIONEL'S GP-7: DESCENDENT OF THE CLASSIC POSTWAR GEEP
Decoration
The Missouri Pacific paint scheme is sharp and neatly applied. The plastic steps and fuel tank are both unpainted black plastic, and the metal trucks are painted black.
Details
The grabrails on each end, running from the walkway to the roof, are separately applied. The numbers on the numberboards match the cab number, and show up well when the loco is running. The metal handrails are solidly attached to the frame. The steel walkway around the locomotive has a nice diamond tread pattern.
Mechanical
This one is equipped with a single, open frame AC motor, electronic e-unit and horn. Power is collected from a dual roller pickup on the unpowered truck. The couplers and coupler armatures are metal, as are the trucks. If you compared this loco with a postwar geep you'd probably find more similarities than differences. One difference if the use of a plastic idler gear in the power truck (I've read that it's used to cut down the noise, but personally I'd prefer all metal gearing instead). Another difference is the body; it's attached by four screws under the frame, one in each corner. The light bulbs are the modern, grain of wheat type, and are mounted to the inside roof of the body.
Operation
This loco runs great. At the TTOS national convention a couple of years back it got quite a work out, running almost all day the first day, and half the next. It's an adequate puller, using magna-traction on both powered axles. The electronic horn is nothing special, it produces a solid BLAAATTT! when activated. The loco starts in forward (most of the time) and after the power is shut off for 5 or 6 seconds the e-unit will reset to forward. On the underside there are switches to lock the e-unit and turn off the horn.
Flaws
When I first received the locomotive it ran fine, but the headlights flickered when going over switches. I discovered that only one of the pickup rollers was in contact with the center rail, but the momentary loss of electrical contact wasn't enough to sequence the electronic e-unit. Some gentle pressure on the deficient roller arm allowed it to be in contact with the center rail.
WILLIAMS GP-9: A COPY OF A CLASSIC MEETS MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Decoration
The C&O's basic paint job is good, but shiny, and looks more like postwar rather than modern paint jobs. The walkway and handrails are painted yellow. Unlike the Lionel, the decorative horns are painted blue to match the body. The steps are die cast, and are also painted to match the body. The fuel tank is black plastic, and appears painted. The trucks are painted a shiny black.
(product update: Williams latest run of locomotives feature a toned down satin finish)
Details
A side by side comparison reveals the body on the Williams geep is a copy of Lionel's, but the details are bolder (rivets are larger, etc.). The grabrails on each end are molded in. The numbers on the numberboards match the cab number. Opposite of the Lionel, when the Williams loco is running the light bulbs wash out the numbers. Above the numberboards there are obvious red running lights. The frame and handrails are made from a single stamped piece of metal, and the handrails are a little thicker then Lionel's
Mechanicals
The motor/truck assemblies are almost identical to MTH's, with two vertically mounted, flywheel equipped can motors, one in each metal truck. The wheels on the inside axles on each truck are equipped with traction tires. All the gearing is metal. There is one pickup roller on each truck, and the couplers and coupler armatures are metal. The body is attached to the frame by one screw on each end. The headlights are regular bayonet base bulbs.
Operation
This is a smooth running loco with lots of pulling power. Even with the traction tires it has no problem activating non-derailing switches or insulated sections. It starts in forward, and like the Lionel it resets to forward after the power is interrupted for 5 or 6 seconds. The horn is high pitched and has a slight warble to it. At low speed/voltage the horn sounds a little weak, but otherwise it's not bad. There are no e-unit or horn switches on the underside.
Flaws
When I first received the loco I had to tighten up the die cast steps, they were loose enough to interfere with coupler swing. This involved removing the body and dropping the trucks (attached to the motor with one screw), then once you drop the truck you can access the screw that attaches the steps to the truck
Also, after a couple of hours of running it suddenly stopped. I removed the body and discovered that a wire to one of the motors had broken off at the motor, probably due to a weak solder joint. I resoldered the wire. On MTH motors there's a wide rubber band around the motor that holds the wires close to the motor, and keeps the wires from pulling at the soldered connections when the motor/truck assembly negotiates turns. So to further copy MTH, I slid rubber bands down over the geeps motors.
Conclusions
So, which one is the best? The Lionel wins in the decoration department, but the Williams is a better puller. Both can be found for under $150. Both had their flaws. I lean towards the Williams, but it's hard not to like a good running Lionel. Either loco is great for operators looking for basic motive power.
