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The new 2008 Bachman-Williams catalog can be ordered on-line for a price of $5.  Too bad its not posted on-line.  Maybe once Bachman incorporates the Williams product line into the Bachman web site we will all be able to browse the catalog for free on-line.  Go here if you want to pay $5 for a dead tree copy of the catalog.

Back in late September rumors were circulating that Bachmann had purchased Williams.  Today Bachmann Industries circulated a press release today officially confirming the purchase Williams Electric Trains.  From the press release:

Mr. Jerry Williams, President/Owner of Williams Electric Trains, Columbia, MD
and Mr. Bud Reece, Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing, along with Mr.
Ed Winter, Senior Vice President Finance & Operations, Bachmann Industries,
Inc., Philadelphia, PA announce the acquisition of the assets of Williams
Electric Trains.

Read the rest of the press release here.

Rumors about Bachmann Industies purchasing Williams Electric Trains have been circulating around the web over the last few days.  Bachmann produces model trains and accessories for almost all scales of model railroading and is known for it’s reasonably priced products.   An administrator on the Bachmann trains on-line forum denied that a deal had been finalized but did state that Bachmann is in talks with Williams.  Read the statement here.  This is an interesting play for Bachmann but seems to make sense since Williams is also known for its reasonably priced products.

Thanks for the tip David.   

9/23/07 UPDATE:   No official word from Bachmann yet but a supposed copy of the letter Jerry Williams, owner of Williams Trains, sent to model train dealers has been posted on several on-line model railroad forums including Bachmann’s.  The letter states that Mr. Williams retirement is the reason for the sale and that the settlement date will be on or about September 30, 2007.  Read the text of the letter here.

On the back cover of my latest issue of Classic Toy Trains magazine, there is an ad for Williams Electric trains’ version of the Union Pacific Heritage Series locomotive.   Williams is now the third company to offer models of the these specially painted SD70ACe Union Pacific locomotives.   Nothing like competition.  Williams is asking $229.95 for their model, which is considerably less than the MTH and Lionel version.  Of course you don’t get a digital control system or complex sound system with the Williams but for those who don’t want to shell out $400+ for one of these models they are a great alternative.   See the Williams website for more details.   

Williams Electric Trains has published their Winter 2007 flyer.  My favorites in this flyer are the Norfolk & Western 4-8-4 Class J
and the Pennsylvania Congressional GG1 and 4 car passenger set.  For those looking for quality, traditional style trains at reasonable prices, Williams’ trains are a great choice.  They don’t have all the fancy electronics and sounds but do have "Tru-Blast II" digital whistles and bells and they run as great as they look.

Check out the Winter 2007 flyer here.  (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 or later)

Williams is running an exclusive Internet Sale for Platinum Club members.  The sale items include an American Freedom Train 4-8-4 GS-4 and a Western Pacific 4-8-4 GS-4 selling for $262.46 each.  That’s 25% off the list price.  The sale ends on July 31, 2006.  Not a Williams Platinum Club member?  An annual members costs only $25 + $5 for shipping and handling and includes a free caboose or freight car.  See the Williams site for more details.

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