From Shop to Station: What to Expect When Your Roundhouse Train Arrives
- Jan 30
- 3 min read
The Anticipation of Delivery You’ve done the research, planned your business, and placed your order. Now comes the exciting part: the arrival of your new Roundhouse Trackless Train. We hand-build every locomotive and car right here in Hartford, South Dakota, and we believe the delivery of your train should be as professional as the machine itself.
We're happy to offer our hand-delivered, white-glove experience. Here is what you can expect when your "money-making machine" arrives.
1. Personal Delivery & Hands-On Orientation
We don't just ship our trains; we commission them. When your build is complete, a dedicated Roundhouse representative will deliver your train personally.
Professional Offloading: We arrive with the train in a specialized trailer and handle the entire offloading and initial setup process.
On-Site Training: Before we leave, we provide a complete Operational and Maintenance Orientation. We will walk you through the engine controls, the hitching process, and daily maintenance checks. Our goal is to ensure you feel 100% confident as an "Engineer" before we head back to the shop.
2. Know Your Dimensions
While we help you set it up, you’ll want to ensure your storage or trailer is adequate to house your new train. A standard configuration (Locomotive + Coal Tender + 3 Passenger Cars) has a footprint you should plan for:
Locomotive Length: Approximately 8 feet long and 3 feet wide.
Coal Tender Car: The coal tender is approximately 4 ft long by 34 in wide..
Passenger Cars: Passenger cars are approximately 5 ft long by 34 in wide.
Each car and tender has a folding hitch in the front. A locomotive and four coaches will fit snugly in a 7x16 enclosed cargo trailer.
3. The Coupling Process: Connecting the Fleet
During your orientation, we will show you exactly how our hitch system works. We’ve designed it to be rugged yet simple to manage:
Fork and Pin System: Each coach is connected to the one in front of it using a reliable fork and pin hitch. This makes it incredibly quick and easy to couple or decouple the train without needing a specialized tool kit.
Secondary Safety: our hitch systems also include ring connectors to install safety chains between the cars if desired.
4. Powering Up: Integrated Electrical Connections
If you chose options that include electrical wiring—such as the PA system with speakers or car lights—the "connection" process remains just as simple.
Continuous Power: There is a standard trailer connector located on the front and back of each coach. These allow continuous power and audio signals to run through the entire length of the train.
Easy Coupling: These connectors are easily coupled to the coach in front of it, ensuring your lights and sound are ready to go the moment the hitch is pinned. We will walk you through the wiring layout to ensure everything is tucked neatly and securely before your first run.
5. Initial Startup and Maintenance
We set up the entire train ahead of your delivery so that it will be ready to go once you receive it. However, there are a couple things you will need to do once you receive and start operating your train:
Break in oil: all new engines are filled with a "break-in oil" from the factory. The initial break-in oil change is critical and should be performed after the first 5 to 10 hours of operation to remove metal shavings from the new engine. Use 10W-30 engine oil, typically requiring 2 quarts, along with a new oil filter.
Key Details for 24 HP Break-In Oil Change:
When: 5-10 hours is the standard recommendation for riding mowers and zero-turns to ensure longevity.
Oil Type: 10W-30 is generally recommended (check your specific engine manual).
Capacity: 24 HP engines typically hold approximately 2 quarts of oil.
Oil Filter: Replace the oil filter during this first service.
Procedure:
Run the engine for 3-5 minutes to warm the oil, then turn it off and disconnect the spark plug wire.
Locate the drain plug or oil drain hose (often on the left side of the motor).
Drain the oil into a pan, replace the oil filter, and refill with new 10W-30 oil.
Check the level with the dipstick to reach the "F" (Full) mark
Greasing: There are several key areas on your train, such as wheel bearings and steering pin pivots, that require greasing on a regular basis. We perform all initial greasing at our factory, but you will need to check and grease as needed once you put your train into operation. Check your manual for locations and recommended frequency.
Your First Test Drive
Before our representative leaves, we will ride along for your first test drive. We’ll guide you through acceleration, braking, and the "follow-through" of the cars through S-curves. You’ll get a feel for the raw power and smooth handling of the gas engine in real-time.
The Roundhouse Verdict We don't just ship you a product; we launch your business. By the time our delivery trailer pulls away, your train will be fully assembled, your questions will be answered, and you’ll be ready to host your very first event that same afternoon.
