Train wrecks and Car crashes?

[Razorclaw]

Here is a real hum dinger for ya'll. How does one create a realistic train crash or a car smacking into the train on one's layout. I think a few folks might shudder at purposing damaging their trains and cars,but I would like to do something realistic. Help, anyone? Razorclaw

[Anonymous]

I have a covered hopper in a ravine looking like it fell off a high bridge. use a heat gun to make the plastic soft and then you can bend it to the shape you like. add some rust and weathering, a few scattered train parts and voila! a realistic train wreck scene.

[Anonymous]

It would probably be more prototypical than you would think to have wrecked train parts lying around the ROW. There was a (relatively) minor derailment near my hometown on the Illinois Central back when I lived there, crashing a handful of boxcars and hoppers off the rails in the middle of the woods. Several months later, I was on an excursion for the IC Sesquicentennial, and we passed the spot. . .there was a boxcar sort of "leaning" against a tree and sitting right on its underframe (the trucks and wheels were no longer attached). A large number of wheelsets, couplers, and other parts were scattered around.

Modelling this kind of aftermath can be interesting, fun, and realistic. However, I doubt that's what you're getting at, is it? I remember a LOT of kids coming onto the Microsoft Train Simulator forums I frequented asking "Why does it reset so soon after a derailment!?" and "Why can't I run over vehicles in crossings?!" In that regard, I don't think it's possible to create a "realistic" model derailment, because the inertia and energy simply isn't there to do the things that happens when a real one goes wrong. Ditto for a crossing accident. I don't judge those who want to "witness" such a wreck in a safe manner (by model or computer simulation). . .I admit to making many a poor Matchbox car stall on the tracks of my HO set when I was a kid, and to driving off a few cliffs in MSTS. . .just be prepared that not everyone takes this sort of thing lightly, and for good reasons.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by troub
. . .just be prepared that not everyone takes this sort of thing lightly, and for good reasons.

Put my name on the list of those who don't care to see train accidents, real or modeled. Had a school friend inexplicably hit by a commuter train while walking to school one morning. Seeing the aftermath of that was enough for me for one lifetime, thank you.

Several years later a local school bus driver stopped the bus at a grade crossing and then proceeded into the path of an oncoming Penn Central freight train, killing 5 students and seriously injuring every one of the other 44. Another scene I don't wi***o see recreated.

But, to each his own. Please post a warning if you post photos of your realistic disaster scene.

Wayne

[Anonymous]

On one of my old layouts, i had a wreck train parked in my yard with a smashed up boxcar (Heatgun job) on a heavy duty flat, and several flatcars converted to wheelset cars, since it was a no-use siding i had inspection crews all over the train going over parts of the wreck. Later I added a dummy loco with a bashed in nose and cab to the rear. Detailing the wreck train was probally one of my favorite modeling projects to date.

[Dough]

I just came across this site yesterday as a matter of fact. He has pictures of two wrecks, but this one has the cleanup.

http://www.matts-place.com/trains/colorado/wreck090403.html

There is a company that makes very good models of all of those tractors including the bulldozers with the pipe-laying booms, however, I cannot think of it right now. Search Walthers, and if you don’t come up with it then I will look it up.

I also have a picture form Erie, PA of some derailed log cars. I can send you pictures if you would like them. I plan to model it one day because it is a much smaller size and is also on a siding. There are also two of those same bulldozers with booms.

There was a major derailment in Oakwood, GA, but I was unable to get any pictures of it. Again, those dozers with booms were present. I believer that they are a must if you model a cleanup operation.

[Anonymous]

Get a cheap loco, some cheap cars, weather them, run them full speed, put a car on the track in front of it, and you'll have your wreck!

Greg

[dharmon]

I believe the gentleman's name is Doug Hole, but several years ago he did a fabulous diorama of a grain train wreck. I tried to find a picture of it online, but was unable to. Someone else may know what I'm referring to and have a link.

[Anonymous]

I have personally derailed and layed on it's side a loaded grain hopper. I didn't get a chance to take pics of it had to go tell the boss.