Williams Electric Trains made from Kusan Tooling

These pictures were taken on an O27 track oval underneath my main Lionel layout. The engines and rolling stock in these sets were made from original Kusan molds. I operate these trains on a separate track because the locomotives run on three-rail direct current (DC) rather than alternating current (AC). Williams called the little locomotives that pull these sets Industrial diesels or "Mighty Mites." I use a Bachmann DC power pack, model number 6605, to supply power to the track. However, any DC power pack with an output from 0 to 17 volts will work. Williams also included a diode rectifier with these sets. When installed in the engine, the rectifier enabled it to operate with a regular AC toy train transformer. However, using the rectifier caused the locomotive to run in one direction only. Photos were taken in April 2009.

On occasion I have been asked how to tell the difference between Kusan and Williams rolling stock, since both companies used the same tooling. Kusan rolling stock came with plastic wheels and axles in order to operate on two-rail track. Kusan trucks were attached to a freight car using a silver slot head screw. Williams equipped their rolling stock with metal wheels and axles for three-rail operation. And Williams trucks were fastened to a car with a blackened Phillips head screw.