Hello, I really like the looks of the 3 and 6 stall Vollmer roundhouses. Does anyone know if the kits can be combined to make a larger structure? Also, does anyone have a picture they can post of an example of a multi kit, (larger than 6 stalls) Vollmer roundhouse? Thanks
You can combine the two different kits (3-stall or 6-stall) without any problem. I have done this years ago for our club layout.
One word of caution - the roundhouse is designed for European locos - you may encounter problems with the clearance of US locos!
Sorry - no pictures.
Thank you for the quick reply. As far as clearance, I dont run anything larger than a 4-8-2 in steam and F units,GP7/9's, RS 2's in diesels, will I be alright with those?
Frankly, I doubt it. US locos need a lot more vertical clearance than those "minute" European ones.
How about asking Your LHS to open a box and measure the clearance of the doors?
Also, bear in mind that the stall separation is 15 degrees - same as the Atlas turntable and roundhouse.
John
Steaming into the future
I was given the Vollmer roundhouse kit as a gift in the early '70s, and built it without alterations, even though, at the time, I had no layout. Even after I had a layout, there was no room for a roundhouse, so it continued to languish. in a box, along with some other interesting stuff. My current layout still has no room for a roundhouse, but, since it's a point-to-point layout, I did need a turntable. Space is so tight that my scratch-built 90' turntable is only 89' long, but I did manage to include the Vollmer structure, albeit not in it's intended form. Instead, I tore it apart and rebuilt it into a loco shop/enginehouse. It will hold a USRA Mike or light Mountain, although the side clearance at the doors is pretty close with the canvas sunshades on the locos' cabs extended. Door height is not an issue.
Here's an over-all view showing the restricted space:
...a view from the front:
...and from the rear:
The original kit can easily be combined with additional kit(s), although I don't think there's a separate kit for add-on stalls. A USRA Mike, Mountain, or Pacific should fit easily through the doors and the stalls are long enough to allow the doors to be closed. Obviously, smaller locos will fit, too:
Wayne
Wayne:
Wonderful pictures of your layout and the turntable and round house look really good. Everything is so well defined, there is a completness to the whole scene, thought out really well.
These are earlier pictures of the WTRR, need better exposure and lighting.
This is an evenving shot as the big Santa Fe emerges from the round house.
Scene in progress, the turn table is a kit but it is hooked up and works.
I am going to update pictures and clean up the scenes.
Thanks for you pictures they provide great ideas.
Robert Sylvester, WTRR