O Scale Hornby Enginehouse?

I am not aware that Hornby made any roundhouse, nor did it make any engine shed that interfaced with the track spacing on its turntables. I have a No. 2A shed with similar track arrangement to the pictured No. 1A shed, and use parallel points to access it from a single track on each end. I don't use it in conjunction with a turntable. I suppose you could use one of the turntable tracks to run to a parallel point track to enter the shed, if each pair of turntable tracks do not have the same spacing as the shed tracks (which is unlikely). Then you could run the remaining turntable tracks to other leads.

Electroliner,

jay jay is correct, they made the engine shed in two sizes both clockwork and electric, but they never made a roundhouse to go with the turntable.

If you want a roundhouse they were made by Marklin, Bing and Carette, each company made a turntable to go with their roundhouse.

the easiest to find are generally the Marklin. They came in 3, 4, and 5 stall versions, and turntable size may vary. the most common seem to be the 4 and 3 stall, there are various finishes including a kind of stucco, but the tan hand painted seems to be the most prevalent.

Depending on condition the roundhouse can go anywhere from $300 to $900 or more for the rare versions. They are not very deep, a small 0-4-0 with tender will fit with clearance for the other tracks, a 4-4-0 will not fit with a tender. even so they take up a fair amount of space.

Roland

Thanks for ending for what could have been a wild goose chase for the mythical Hornby roundhouse to match their odd asymmetrical turntable. I saw one of the Marklin stalls and the seller wanted an arm and a leg for it while it was in pretty crusty condition. I appreciate your sharing your knowledge on this. As a side note to jay-jay, your engine house is  a real gem. I'll keep an eye out for one, although they seem fairly rare. I can always redo the approach switches, if I can find one at a reasonable cost. Thanks again.

Thanks! Its one of my favorite pieces, and I got it with the box, too. They're rare on this side of the Pond. It's not a No. 2E, so it has clockwork track, but I hooked it into the 3-rail layout anyway, just to have it sit there and look pretty.It would be worth a trip to York just to look for one. Here's another picture.

Gentlemen, I've been lurking around this forum for quite some time, but electroliner's recent posts about clockwork trains have finally convinced me to sign up and participate... I really enjoy my windups (mainly Marx, but some Hafner, too) and had to get in on the fun. 

That enginehouse is simply stunning.  I certainly appreciate the pictures and information.  I'll have to keep an eye out for one... someday.

Electroliner, any chance of seeing some progress photos of the clockwork layout?

 - James

Conversion of a Hornby Engine Shed to 3 rail is simple, with no modification to the building itself required.   There are doors at each end - Have a piece of 3 rail track at the back end (a short piece is OK), run a rod of same diameter as a track joining pin right through the shed from middle rail at the front end to middle rail of track at the back end.   A piece of sponge rubber can be inserted between shed floor and the rod to ensure it does not sag. (may not be necessary).   That`s all.   Of course Hornby made both 3 rail and 2 rail sheds, the above is to convert a shed intended for clockwork locos to electrics.

Good information Colin...thank you. I would think you would have to insulate the rod from the floor of the shed, would you not? I envision turning the shed into one big short circuit source.  I suppose the foam rubber does that, as long as there's no contact with the floor over the entire length of the rod.

The rod clears the shed floor Ok, and the sponge rubber (I used a two pieces) placed between the rod and the floor  prevent any chance of contact.  I used a length of brass welding rod of same diameter as track joining pins, but any straight wire will do.   The rod must of course be cut to length to fit between thew rail ends, twenty and a half inches long is about right.    Photo of my Hornby Shed with these rods can be aranged if anybody wants it.

As long as we are on this subject, I have a 2A shed very similar to jay jay's, unfortunately it is missing all of it's track. I suspect the track from the viaduct approach ramps would be similar. Does anyone have 4 sections of either clockwork or electric track with the tabs for mounting that they would be willing to part with?

Thanks

Roland

I look after the website of the New Zealand Hornby Association.   Its address is hornbynz.tripod.com     It has a photo of my Hornby Engine Shed on page 3. with the extra rails.     The site is not only Hornby. Check it out if interested.  

     Did you know that Hornby clockwork trains were once made in the USA?  They can be seen on the site too.

Thanks for posting your association's website, Colin. I used to enjoy your old website, also.

Here is the link, everyone: http://hornbynz.tripod.com/

Colin

Great material to pour over. The photographs are even better. Thanks

Bruce

Hello and thankyou, Colin.  The posting to the Hornby N.Z. site was great.  Do you have any more information about USA Hornby.  Walter (wayne)

Lew Schneider's website:http://jalbum.net/en/browse/user/album/1042906/

As long as we are on this subject, I have a 2A shed very similar to jay jay's, unfortunately it is missing all of it's track. I suspect the track from the viaduct approach ramps would be similar. Does anyone have 4 sections of either clockwork or electric track with the tabs for mounting that they would be willing to part with?

Thanks

Roland

     No one has answered Roland`s inquiry about installing track in a Hornby Engine Shed that has lost its tracks.    Perhaps an easy solution would be to use 027 straight track cut to suitable lengths (That would be two lengths plus a bit more, each) and attach these to the floor with double sided mounting tape, the soft variety.   Then no chopping about of the building is required.   Should work,  spacers to adjust height of tracks leading up to the shed will  probably be required.

Colin,

Thanks for that, I wanted to find the right track to put the shed right.

I unfortunately do not have room for a layout right now and must be contented with being frustrated looking at the trains on shelves, knowing that they are crying for a good run. it is impossible to find floor space to put down even an oval of sixfut to run on.

Roland