I have had this layout to the point of running trains for about 14 years now. I rarely get a derailment and that usually happens when some idiot fails to flip a switch. When it happens it is usually just one truck that goes to ground. I am very proud of that. However, I did have one major wreck caused by someone's sister waving her hands around pretending to know all things railroad when she brought some people in for show and tell. She caught a car and the rest is history.
Cause: Sister.
My one and only wreck.
So it is show and tell wreck day. How did it happen? Got any pics? How many wrecks have you had?
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Four of us ran on our friend Tom Stacks' layout on Friday nights. One night one train was running westbound and Tom was also running westbound. The signal was red for Tom so the other train could divert around Toms' train. Tom was not watching and ran the signal hitting the other trains caboose. Toms' engine, the caboose and four cars of the other traind derailed. My first comment was "MR MANAGEMENT WE HAVE A PROBLEM!" It was determinded by a board of inquiry (The other members of the crew) that the engineer and fireman on Toms' engine, the conductor and rear brakeman on the other train were killed in the wreck. The board determined that Tom was at fault since he passed a red signal and was sanctioned with the penalty of not being allowd to run triains on his layout for 30 minutes. Tom took it in good humor and was careful to watch all signals there after. I still laugh when I think about that night.
BATMANSo it is show and tell wreck day. How did it happen? Got any pics? How many wrecks have you had?
Only two sorta serious ones...
This one was on a fairly long train, perhaps 40-or-so cars, and a couple of very strong diesels (8.3 oz. of drawbar pull each). One car apparently had a low coupler, which snagged either on the ties on the high bridge or maybe on the guard rails - the locos, of course, continued pulling, string-lining a number of cars on the bridge and a few that had already passed over the bridge, but were still within the curve.I don't recall how many cars derailed, perhaps 8, but none were seriously damage, despite quite a substantial drop (11" off the bridge - some hit the lower bridge, while those on the curve beyond the bridge, rolled down the embankment, narrowly missing a couple of vehicles and ending up in the dry riverbed.
The other incident involved two Bachmann Consolidations, a dozen hoppers loaded with coal ("live" loads, with each hopper weighing 8oz.) and a caboose.
I was in the same aisle where the bridge incident occurred, switching some industries, and couldn't see the rest of the layout, but thought that I heard another train running somewhere. I stopped the switching manuevers to take a look if anything else had moved, but everything seemed to be where it belonged, so I went back to the switching. A few minutes later, I heard something hit the concrete floor.
I never thought to take photos, but apparenty, I had not killed the power on the staging track where the coal train was parked.Since I was doing switching, the train that I was running was going back and forth, and the coal train must have been doing the same thing.When the switching was completed, the train under my control was heading to the next spot, but the unseen coal train was heading to its next location, too....which was the floor.
When I got around to take a look, one loco and tender was on the floor, the loose "coal" in the tender spilled all over the place. The second locomotive had six of its drivers hanging over the abyss, but because of the weight of the trailing train, could not go any further.The diving loco had the Kadee coupler on the pilot snapped-off, and the plastic pin for the drawbar, on the tender was broken-off, too.Here's the area where the incident occurred...the coal train was on the lower track (at right, where the short passenger train is located), and the drop-off was to the right, near the door...
I replaced the front coupler, and used some heavy piano wire to create a new pin for the drawbar, then put the loco back into service.Two or three years later, the loco started running erratically, and when I investigated, I discovered that one of the screw-mounting studs in the loco's body shell, which holds the loco's superstructure to the running gear was broken-off. Since there had not been another major accident with this locomotive, I had to conclude that it was broken during the "meet-the-floor" incident. The repair was was a pretty easy one, and the loco is now known by crews as the "Lucky 26".Here's a more recent photo of her at the Mount Forest roundhouse...
I'd consider this a pretty-good endorsement of Bachmann Consolidations.
Wayne
Ive had 2 incidents that I took pictures of, and have posted them befotre, but it's been a while.
A masonite backdrop panel let go and fell into the layout.
The panel is leaned back up. Note the boxcars on their sides back by it. The little car repair shop took the brunt of the force. I gathered every fragment and sliver of it and rebuilt it. The movable masonite panels have been replaced by permanent sheetrock.
The other incident was probably more what you're talking about. I was running a long caboose chaser around my layout just for kicks. I was watching intently one part of the train moving, not realizing that out of line of vision, another part had uncoupled and stopped, locomotives and all. Didn't take long for the leading engines to catch up.
There were actually a couple of bent Kadee coupler shanks where two cars got all twisted up against each other. Dan
There were actually a couple of bent Kadee coupler shanks where two cars got all twisted up against each other.
Dan
Is this what I have to look forward to when I get my layout running?!?
Thanks for sharing your mishaps. Unfortunately they are actually a bit entertaining. At least so far nothing has hit the floor!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
hon30critterAt least so far nothing has hit the floor!
I have experienced many wrecks, and most hit the floor.
Pictures were never taken. Immediately post-wreck I am very frustrated, and taking pictures is not on the agenda.
As best as I can recall, all damaging wrecks were human error.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Wrecks happen! I too agree that wrecks are not a reason for joy and selifes. Perhaps my view will change should I get folks to operate the layout.
Perhaps we could avoid wrecks by telling anyone who comes to the layout some ground rules. Odd that some adults wish to act like kids around trains.
Not always human error, unfortunately.
I don't have any pictures of this, but we had a train crash due to a coupler (not a Kadee!) that broke on a long slope. The strech is about 15 feet long, at about 2%. The plastic coupler on the loco just broke when going up the hill and the entire train just slid down. Many cars went over the curve at the bottom of the hill to do "the big leap" over the edge. By miracle, no one was injured (it was a modern train with no caboose ).
The guys pretty much made Kadees the standard at the club since then.
Simon
Visiting cat knocked our Genesis Challenger to the concrete floor . . . disaster!
Soupy Visiting cat knocked our Genesis Challenger to the concrete floor . . . disaster!
What is red, goes 100 mph, and meows?
A visiting cat in a blender.
Had a few "idiot forgot to throw the switch" ones, but 3 others stand out.
1 - Had a 8-40CW pick the points/frog on the main, and tumble towards the abyss. Because I was right close, I fortunately caught it prior to it's crash landing. Bent handrails, but otherwise just fine. (The engine crew sure had a story to tell though!)
2 - Had a live-loaded coal train parked on the siding, and a passing train on the main had a car jump off (low hanging coupler snagged something) and knock into the two tail cars, dumping said live coal load in the process. (I no longer run "live" coal loads.)
3 - Had a Bachman 2-8-4 NKP (765) slam the bottom of the abyss, off of my programming/test track no less, breaking off the front pilot, coupler, bell, and damaging the piping/handrailing on engineers side. After replacing the pilot and coupler, she was tested and runs fine. I have yet to fix te piping/handrails, and have not yet reinstalled the bell.
But I did learn that a Digitrax PR-4 Programmer dislikes Bachmann's Sound Value decoders, as they will take off randomly during programming using DecoderPro! (I was ready the second time around...)
Never thought to take pics of either of the "messy" ones.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Reading about these disasters is another reason I'm glad to have added the masonite fascia BEFORE running locos and slightly above the foam sub-roadbed. I also have track at least 2" away fro the fascia. While the locos can't live in a bubble, can def avoid falling to the abyss from being a klutz.
All these 'accidents'. A crane is required.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Since I am usually the only one running trains on my layout and I usually am running only one train at a time, don't recall having any wrecks. But I did have an equally painful incident when I dropped my NCE power cab on the concrete floor. It now has 1/3 of the view screen no longer working. Ouch.
Well I have to correct my previous statement. I just remembered that when I first set up my layout about ten years ago, I had one of my grandsons running a train. I could see that he was about to wreck and kept telling him to stop but he did not react quickly enough. One boxcar took the long trip to the concrete floor but only suffered minor damage that I was able to repair. The worst part of it was the look on his eyes when it happened. I had to work hard to convince him that I did not blame him and he should feel welcome to run trains in the future. He eventually got past it.
maxmanWhat is red, goes 100 mph, and meows? A visiting cat in a blender.
Sounds to me like that's the best place for 'em...isn't that how they make catsup?
A long time ago on a railroad far far away...
A occupancy detector malfunctioned and gave the engineer clearance to proceed through a diamond crossing. It also gave another crew clearance. So a main line freight, traveling a bit too fast I'll add, wrecked with the crossing local
Anywhoo, a wreck ensued and after a thourogh investigation, it was determined to be the crew of the local's fault, as they were not wearing approved boots.
I don't have pictures, Sorry!
JJF
Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing.
Yesterday is History.
Tomorrow is a Mystery.
But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present.
Several years ago, we had an earthquake that was centered only a few miles away from our house. I ran out to the garage (California basement) to find that almost every car on the layout was at least off the tracks or completely on its side. Fortunately, only one old AHM tank car fell off the layout but suffered minimal damage. After discovering that most everything was OK, the whole situation became rather comical. Further examination showed that at least 80% of the trains were on their sides. The sugar beet plant scene looked like a real trainwreck. Probably because of their lower center of gravity, all of the flat cars were still on the rails although those with loads lost their loads. Check out the mayhem.
I've completed a lot more work on the layout since these photos were taken and, thankfully, we haven't had any quakes strong enough to do any damage since (although I've made it a point never to park trains where they might fall off the layout. I did suffer one rather embarrassing wreck at a Los Angeles Model Rairoad Society ops session but there wasn't a thing I could do about it! I was runnning a train up a looonnng grade when the back half of the train broke away. The elevated track was well out of reach so I helplessly watched the back half of my train accelerate down the hill. The track enters a tunnel near the bottom of the grade below the narrow gauge yard in Rico, then reappears along the main aisle as it exits the tunnel. I actually caught three of the cars as they shot out of the tunnel and into the aisle! Unfortunately, two other cars did hit the floor with truck and coupler damage. As a lowly guest, I was ready to be read the riot act but the regular members just looked at the mess and shook their heads with a look that seemed to say, "Yeah, I remember when I lost a train there."
I've completed a lot more work on the layout since these photos were taken and, thankfully, we haven't had any quakes strong enough to do any damage since (although I've made it a point never to park trains where they might fall off the layout.
I did suffer one rather embarrassing wreck at a Los Angeles Model Rairoad Society ops session but there wasn't a thing I could do about it! I was runnning a train up a looonnng grade when the back half of the train broke away. The elevated track was well out of reach so I helplessly watched the back half of my train accelerate down the hill. The track enters a tunnel near the bottom of the grade below the narrow gauge yard in Rico, then reappears along the main aisle as it exits the tunnel. I actually caught three of the cars as they shot out of the tunnel and into the aisle! Unfortunately, two other cars did hit the floor with truck and coupler damage. As a lowly guest, I was ready to be read the riot act but the regular members just looked at the mess and shook their heads with a look that seemed to say, "Yeah, I remember when I lost a train there."
Hornblower
Nothing serious but this hopper had the lead truck jump the switch somehow. I looked away and
looked back and it was just dragging accross the ground
Ringo. It could have been nasty (real life) if it had caught the tanker.
Hello All,
No photos but I did string-line an entire train of empty hoppers- -twice!
I just upgraded and matched all three decoders in my two GP30 and a GP30-B.
With this upgrade, all three locos speed matched without having to adjust any CVs.
One of the GP30 is MUed with the GP30-B as pushers up the 3% grade while the third GP30 is at the head end of the 8 live load hoppers.
I decided to put the two MUed units as DMP and add 10 more hoppers to the coal drag.
While doing a mid-speed test the lead loco stalled and then bucked. The DMP MU were steady and the lead unit that bucked strig-lined the first 8 cars in the train.
Then I tried to pull the tail end of the 10 hoppers with a 0-5-0 switcher and violá string lined the second half of the train.
If that wasn't enough, after rerailing the entire train with DMP MU it happened again and stupidly I pulled the last 10 hoppers with another "palm to face" moment.
Luckily the hoppers were empty so I didn't have to deal with spilled loads.
A thorough cleaning of the track section cured the problem.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"