Had a whole bunch of relatives from England in today and the kids were running trains and having a great time. My sister is in there waving her arms all over the place pretending she is the encyclopedia of model railroading and promptly causes this.
Had a fifty car freight running along with a second train and the first time operators were doing a masterful job of keeping them apart.
This is the first time in ten years I have had to hit the red stop button and this is by far the worst accident I have ever had on the layout. Usually some idiot forgets to flip a switch and a truck or two will remove themselves from the rails, but that's it. OOOOHHHH!, the humanity.
Recommendations of the "Transportation Safety Board" are, Never let your sister in the train room.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
The fellows in that caboose (van) in the lower-right are sure thanking their lucky-stars. Be thankful, too, your Rapido Royal Hudson hasn't arrived yet! Be sure to lock it up when company visits
Good luck with the investigation and clean-up! Cheers - Ed
Hopefully none flew down the "chasm of doom" to the bottom of the bottomless pit!
Yikes that looks messy!
Just be thankful that it is in only 1/87th scale... And not a ride on train!
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.
Oh My, what a mess. Need to call out the 5 finger Big Hook
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
That must be clean burning-Anthracite in those hoppers - so clean it doesn't even spill when the car tips!
I use "live" loads in my hoppers...
...and while I've had a couple derail, no roll-overs yet. A small amount of "coal" was spilled, but kids from a nearby neighbourhood made off with most of it. It's the late '30s here, and most homes are still heated with coal.
Wayne
BATMAN Had a whole bunch of relatives from England in today and the kids were running trains and having a great time. My sister is in there waving her arms all over the place pretending she is the encyclopedia of model railroading and promptly causes this.
Well, if you are going to mess things up you might as well go all the way!
Hope there wasn't any damage.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Batman. I suggest you get a new sister.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
Oof, that is a terrible accident.
.
Hopefully it does not look as bad when the cleanup starts.
"The sound of a locomotive hitting a tile floor is the second worst sound on earth." I am glad none of the equipment hit the floor.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
You should tell your sister if she is going to operate the layout, is she going to pay for damaged or destroyed rolling stock?
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
About the only good part of this is that it didn't happen at zero-dark-thirty, and the wreck master and crew didn't have to drag themselves out of bed, go to the yard, get their stuff, and drive out to the wreck to put things right under flood lamps.
Good one selector. I guess that is a positive point.
You know we pay so much for locomotives and rolling stock these days. This hobby definitely is not cheap.
About the worst thing that can happen is when one of your locomotives finds the floor. Even if you're lucky enough nothing is broken on the shell. You still wonder if the shock of the impact damaged anything internally that will surface later
I know a wine enthusiast and collector who breaks out the cheap stuff when "certain" relatives come calling.
Evidently there needs to be a model railroad equivalent. But even second-hand Tyco would be too good for that crowd.
Dave Nelson
Good looking wreckage! (even if there's no such thing). Even though the sister wasn't running the trains, there needs to be some sort of demerit action taken for indirectly causing such mayhem. Dan
I can't be too hard on my sister as she is the biggest supporter of my hobby. I think the connection between trains and our childhood is as strong for her as it is me.
I currently have a $750.00 credit at PWRS largely because of her. She throws in a $100.00 each Christmas and $100.00 each birthday and $75.00 every time I drive her to or pick her up at the airport which is often.
She really is the best sister you could have. I did like the idea of the cheap stuff for when the relatives come over.
The Royal Hudsons were the first thing that came to mind when the accident happened. Maybe it is a good thing I am still waiting for them. I wonder if Rapido has sister insurance.
You know you'll have to forgive me but I have to post this I just thought of it. but maybe not necessarily, the post does relate to a train wreck and damaged Model Railroad stock.
Here's one. Do any of you have some of the older locomotives that are made by a good manufacturer and are pretty good quality.
They run like champs maybe one of your favorite old ones. Then you go to put it away, the Damn jewel case is so stupid it's not even funny. The tolerances are so tight you feel like you're going to damage or break your locomotive trying to put it away.
Well I did. Its one thing when a locomotive hits the floor and brakes but when you're putting it in the case that supposed to protect it and it breaks that's a crying shame
riogrande5761 You should tell your sister if she is going to operate the layout, is she going to pay for damaged or destroyed rolling stock?
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Take one of the pictures and make a safety awareness poster for your train room!
That and keep the wrecker train on the ready track when you have company.
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
Track fiddlerWell I did. Its one thing when a locomotive hits the floor and brakes but when you're putting it in the case that supposed to protect it and it breaks that's a crying shame
When I was in N scale back in the 1990s there was one particular model of Kato locomotive that fir so tight in the packaging that it would not go back into the foam insert without breaking it.
It was frustrating for sure.
NWP SWP Take one of the pictures and make a safety awareness poster for your train room! That and keep the wrecker train on the ready track when you have company.
That's a good idea Steven "NO TALKING WITH YOUR HANDS" is what the caption should read.
The wrecker can just be seen on the grain elevator siding, trapped by the wreck. Now, what idiot decided to park it there.
dknelsonI know a wine enthusiast and collector who breaks out the cheap stuff when "certain" relatives come calling. Evidently there needs to be a model railroad equivalent. But even second-hand Tyco would be too good for that crowd. Dave Nelson
There is an equivelent. Use cheap rolling stock like Athearn blue box, and similar. That way at least the damage is of low cost items. Some people have a cheap set of trains for running at train shows for that same reason, on modular layouts.
angelob6660 I had to force my sister to pay for destroyed freight cars and track when her dog went into it.
BATMANI currently have a $750.00 credit at PWRS largely because of her. She throws in a $100.00 each Christmas and $100.00 each birthday and $75.00 every time I drive her to or pick her up at the airport which is often.
Well then, let her have at it! At least you can replace some of the trains if destroyed, well, the ones you can get through PWRS. I've never bought anything through them before but they have a box car coming that I might be tempted.
Years ago I had some PWRS special run Intermountain D&RGW 4750 covered hoppers - they were the first to offer them in orange D&RGW RTR form, although the orange was too dark so I sold them off.
Add that to your "lessons learned"!!!
Whoah! Yes, make sure those are protected. They are a loooong time in coming, very expensive. Protect them with your life.
The North American Railcar Corporation has stunning offerings. When I go into PWRS I have to take time to check out what they have produced, beautiful stuff.
It may be just me, but I don't think they advertise enough. Though I may just be reading the wrong publications or hanging out on the wrong websites. I don't yet ownanything from NARC, however, I hear they may come out with some early 1900s offerings, so never say never. I think they could be stiff competition for Rapido, though at this point in time the offerings are quite different between the two.
https://www.pwrs.ca/main.php
G Paine Oh My, what a mess. Need to call out the 5 finger Big Hook
Gee wiz George, it looks like you have six fingers on that hand............
On my Right hand I only have three and two halves.
Johnboy out..................
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
BATMAN The North American Railcar Corporation has stunning offerings. When I go into PWRS I have to take time to check out what they have produced, beautiful stuff. It may be just me, but I don't think they advertise enough. Though I may just be reading the wrong publications or hanging out on the wrong websites. I don't yet ownanything from NARC, however, I hear they may come out with some early 1900s offerings, so never say never. I think they could be stiff competition for Rapido, though at this point in time the offerings are quite different between the two. https://www.pwrs.ca/main.php
You could be right. Only reason why I have a clue about the NARC box cars is someone posted a topic about them are a forum:
http://atlasrescueforum.proboards.com/thread/6511/narcorp-pwrs-5077-engineering-samples?page=1
The other annoying thing is apparently you can only get these box cars thorugh them and if I only want one, shipping from the far north west will proably be a bit nutty.
riogrande5761 The other annoying thing is apparently you can only get these box cars thorugh them and if I only want one, shipping from the far north west will proably be a bit nutty.
Maybe not. They also have a warehouse in Blaine Washington about 3 miles away from the Canadian warehouse. They ship a lot of stuff all over the world and ship from either the U.S. or Canada depending on where the stuff is going. Tariffs and taxes can greatly affect the price depending on what country it is going to or from. The amount they ship to Europe is quite something.
We have a mailbox in Blaine and will pick mailorder stuff up and drive it back across the border. We are always completely honest with the border guard and have found we do not get stopped and charged duty and or taxes for anything under about $1500.00. Even then it is usually only Provincial and Federal sales tax never duty.
We bought our above ground swimming pool, mailorder from Georgia (the State) it was $700.00 cheaper than buying it locally. It weighs 680lbs in the box and our mailbox company in Blaine has a forklift that they put it in the back of my P/U with. I think that was the only thing I ever had to pay tax on.
I have been at PWRS at closing time when Canada Post and other courier companies show up. The Canada Post truck, a five-ton was quite full. PWRS are doing something right I guess.
I always give PWRS a chance to match an online deal I have found, sometimes they do, sometimes they can't and tell me why. Fair enough. I think they are being honest and straightforward with me about their answer. I don't pay shipping so that always is factored in.
Believe it or not, I have talked to people that will pay $20.00 shipping and save $4.00 on an item rather than paying the extra $4.00 and have no shipping charges.
I always think about not having the PWRS wealth of stores at my fingertips when thinking about moving to Vancouver Island. I get funny looks from the boss.
Yes the PWRS boxcars will be shipped out of Blaine that is what the lady told me and i placed a order for four of them.
Russell
riogrande5761 angelob6660 I had to force my sister to pay for destroyed freight cars and track when her dog went into it. Considering freight cars can run up between $30 and $55 these days, thats no small thing do have destroyed by a pet. BTW, how low is the layout to the ground anyway?
angelob6660
I had to force my sister to pay for destroyed freight cars and track when her dog went into it.
The layout is 3 feet off the ground. It's a nice one to sit down and enjoy watching. I do have to watch him since he's a average pit bull. When it out in the open to be played with.
Great photos. Pull up a stool b/c I'm buying. Here's to all the times we've had relatives over and have caused damage to our layouts. It could be worse, much worse! I'd hate to have lost anything.
BATMAN riogrande5761 The other annoying thing is apparently you can only get these box cars thorugh them and if I only want one, shipping from the far north west will proably be a bit nutty. Maybe not. They also have a warehouse in Blaine Washington about 3 miles away from the Canadian warehouse. They ship a lot of stuff all over the world and ship from either the U.S. or Canada depending on where the stuff is going.
Maybe not. They also have a warehouse in Blaine Washington about 3 miles away from the Canadian warehouse. They ship a lot of stuff all over the world and ship from either the U.S. or Canada depending on where the stuff is going.
Maybe nutty was not quite the right word, but the farther away you are from a shipper within the US, the higher the cost. I ship models I sell to the west coast via US Postal and a parcel with 6 to 8 models in it cost in the low twenties, which is quite high. I've been switching to flat rate boxes now for coast to coast shipping to knock the cost down some for customers.
Another example, I placed an order for six Arrowhead models coming out of "you can see forever, Sheridan Wyoming, and shipping was pushing $16. That's up there IMO. I'm going to try to find a closer vendor for Arrowhead models going forward because I'd like to knock that down a bit as it does add up over multiple orders.
Anyway, with PWRS on the west coast in the extremem upper northwest, I imagine their shipping will be on the high side too, maybe a little shy of nutty.
Maybe some people are lousy are basic math? Or cut their nose off to spite their face based on some twisted "basic principle". Of course total cost is the real picture so I'm not sure where their brains are hitting the wall.