RIP - Roundhouse VoR

N

New Haven Neil

trains bikes camping kayaking red wine.....more tr
I see Roundhouse are discontinuing the VoR tank at the end of this year - I was mulling this over, and wondered how much of this is to do with the price? The new L&M tank is rather cheaper......

Discuss!

NHN
 
I'd say (as an owner) the VoR looks to have more detail, and also a whistle (optional, admittedly), I'm also not sure if the L&M has a sprung chassis? (off to have a look in a mo!).

Springing isn't by any means necessary but it gives the loco a beautiful gliding ride my others lack. It's still my least favourite steamy to drive though, too speedy with those big wheels!

I suppose I was wondering if the L&M has been pared down a bit to keep the price lower? It doesn't look as complex somehow.
 
I must say I know none of these "in the flesh" but Nigel has more or less echoed my thoughts. One has to ask why is the V.o..R. so expensive when compared with the L&M which looks very similar on the face of it and something that looks a lot more complicated assembly wise such as the Darj. is much cheaper. Perhaps a revamped V.o.R. is in the offing at a better price next year (or later). Personnally I'd extract a tooth or two to own any of them.

Neil if you find the V.o.R. a tad lively, why not try running it at a lower boiler pressure. 5 or 10lbs can make a whale of a difference on much bigger stuff.
 
I would agree that the VOR is a little speedy and certainly my Wrekin is better to run, but the VOR is a Rolls Royce when running due to sprung suspension .theres also a lot of work in in cab chassis boiler detail etc etc, maybe they will become sought after, Roundhouse new loco looks very plain jane and lacking in detail to my eye, but excellent value for money, thers just something about the VOR it just ticks the boxes all the above only my humble opinion mind regards Mitchell Coe
 
in spite of the price, they always seemed to sell
I would have loved one for all the reasons given already, but the 2nd hand prices will climb now, I expect
 
Leek and Manifold sounds like starter menu down the pub, but over detailing and putting fine pieces on live steam doesnt work for me as they are by their very nature working garden models that in my case tend to get handled a little less delicately, thats why I liked the earlier LGB models more, Roundhouse are superbly engineered and tough and detailed just in the right proportions, but the new Leek loco does seem extraordinarily good value against the VOR, I had wondered why the VOR was still being produced because surely there cannot be that many of us out there after one, can there? Maybe if there had been ready made rolling stock earlier it might have been different. Mitchell
 
Interesting!

I hadn't thought of it as crude, and it isn't compared to most other Roundhouse and Accucraft models, but the Accu Countess shows it up on the detail front and valve gear appearance for sure. For half the price too, but doesn't have the springing, whistle or a water gauge that actually shows the real level.....&: hmm, it's still awful expensive though!

I bought mine with money I had been left, and to be honest if it wasn't for the memory it represents, I probably would have sold it by now.

Bob, it's not a pressure thing - same stroke cylinders, bigger wheels - it's all about the relationship of them applying torque to the periphery of the wheel I think. She just takes off too quickly from stationary regardless of how careful you are, or pressure on the clock. I chatted to Roundhouse about it when I first got her, and they agreed! The smaller wheeled locos will always be easier to control. A huge load helps though, which is why she is normally seen on big trains on the L&L.

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There should be a correlation between pressure, traction and load. If more load is making it controllable, without loss of traction, then less pressure should have a similar effect with less load. However "light engine" will always be difficult because it is just that..... light! Inertia is what we're on about.
 
can you adjust the "throw" on the regulator actuator to get finer low opening control?
 
I wonder if there is a natural limit to the life of these prototype locos? I mean there were only ever three of the Swindon VoR tanks and they only ever ran on the VoR (apart from no 9's brief sojourn on the Brecon Mountain Railway). There is therefore only ever going to be a limited amount of interest in them. I suspect that the L&M tank will suffer the same problem, there was only ever two of them and unlike the VoR, not many of us around now actually remember seeing them in the flesh.
Price obviously plays a part too as the W&L locos are in the same boat as the aforementioned models but their production run does not seem to be ending just yet.
 
Valid point, James - I must admit to now preferring a more generic outlook towards future expansion of the L&L's fleet, (but I can't bear to sell her as I said) but I think you have a point. The L&M doesn't have springing, I see, and IMHO looks a little built down to a price in comparison to the VoR. Personally it leaves me cold, but that IS personal choice!

Oh Oh about to contradict myself - If they did Sir Hadyn or Talyllyn I'd be first in the queue!
 
bobg said:
There should be a correlation between pressure, traction and load. If more load is making it controllable, without loss of traction, then less pressure should have a similar effect with less load. However "light engine" will always be difficult because it is just that..... light! Inertia is what we're on about.
Click to expand...
True, of course pressure is part of the TE calculation - if it had greater stroke or smaller wheels the TE would be higher too....but yes, momentum and inertia, sorry. I'd fit smaller wheels to it if it's backside wouldn't drag!!:@
 
Could always move the crank-pins nearer the wheel centres, shortening the stroke.
 
Not significant in that small size I suspect, and if it were that could be sorted with new cyl covers with blanking pieces. I didn't intend halfing the stroke, not that drastic.
 
I enjoyed the vid. I would love the model but I think it would look too big on my railway & the prototype has always been a favorite of mine. I'm sure it will return in time like the Argyll/Atlantic. Nothing against Martins models, I have been more than happy with his service in the past when purchasing one of my Regners , but he is not a Roundhouse dealer ( according to the Roundhouse website ) so has a financial interest in making his comparison.
Whilst I admire the more expensive Regner loco's I would never buy one as they are of prototypes that do not interest me.
 
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