I had originally planned to retire after next school year and ordered a Roundhouse Clarence steam tram for May 2020 to celebrate. After lengthy cost vs. benefit analyses (unrelated to the locomotive...) and discussions at home, we decided it was best to pack it in after this year.
I'm done! 
By strange coincidence, a reservation for a Clarence opened unexpectedly for this spring and it arrived yesterday.
Beautiful workmanship and runs great. This is my first steam loco with R/C (regulator; forward/reverse) and I kind of like it. Initial run time of ~35 minutes. Lining is by Berry Hill Works. As always, I can wholeheartedly recommend The Train Department. Top-notch, all the way.
It will eventually pull a couple of varnished IP engineering Penrhyn quarrymans' coaches in addition the Bole Laser Craft tool wagon pictured.
https://www.thetraindepartment.comhttps://www.facebook.com/BerryHillWorks/https://www.ipenginnering.comhttps://bolelasercraft.com [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Good looking engine - glad you were able to retire a little earlier.....enjoy!
This all adds up to one Way Cool post!!!
Oh yeah ... and thanks for the links!
Oh Wow Dave, just from the Glimpse I see, this is one fabulous train set up & engine 😉👍
You a great looking tram and the track looks well constructed.
Thanks everyone. Here's the layout from a kitchen window. 3' radius curves (corners!) and 8' long straights, so about 35' of track overall. It's small, but gets the job done.
Good looking layout with all the necessaries - well done!
very nice, I could have a lot of fun with that.
Great tram, Dave.
And playing with trains sure beats working!
I like what you did with your spare time you have now. Looks great. HAPPY RETIREMENT!!!
Thanks everyone!
Running the tram is interesting.
My free flight (to borrow a term from a former hobby) locos are small and I've learned how to dial them in so that they can make it around the loop while maintaining realistic average speeds, ~11-16 scale mph, mostly hands-off.
The tram is heavy beast and loses speed in the curves requiring higher velocities in the straights to make it around, which was a little disappointing at first. A bunch of runs later, I'm getting the hang of using R/C to drive it around the loop at low speeds, which is far more fun that I expected. I actually have to pay attention! I can definitely see the advantage of having R/C on longer, twisty layouts with grades.
The tram is still breaking (wearing?) in, so I'm sure the running characteristics will change a bit over time.
It's nice having the time to think about these things.
I read the title as "Roundhouse Cl
earance" and thought it was a link that was going to cost me some money
Love the tram and smart move retiring a year early
