Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Had a disastrous tumble happenn to my Alco S-2!

1839 views
15 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • 1,512 posts
Had a disastrous tumble happenn to my Alco S-2!
Posted by philo426 on Monday, September 14, 2020 9:44 AM

Man I had a really bad fall to my Atheran switcher with the diecast Carey Locomotive Works Alco S-2 body!Broke the front and rear pilots clean off and the front plate with the handrails skittered off and it took me a long time to find it! I was so bummed I put the parts in the box and didn't look at it for a week!   I have heard good things about JB Weld epoxy so I used it to get it back together.Not a thing of beauty but she is whole again.Luckily the Atheran drive unit was undamaged.   

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Monday, September 14, 2020 10:29 AM

I enlarged the picture, and it looks good. 

I'll bet that Cary body is heavy.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • 1,512 posts
Posted by philo426 on Monday, September 14, 2020 10:38 AM

It is quite heavy accounts for all of the damage incurred in the fall!

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 2,360 posts
Posted by kasskaboose on Monday, September 14, 2020 10:41 AM

Can you pls share how it fell?  I ask b/c that can serve as a lesson learned.  Any way to avoid disaster is a good one! 

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, September 14, 2020 11:18 AM

 Those Cary bodies are VERY heavy - if still using the original Athearn sintered wheels, one of those can probably pull a real railcar. Typical damage for a heavy cast piece - parts just snap clean off.

                                      --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • 1,512 posts
Posted by philo426 on Monday, September 14, 2020 12:02 PM
  1. Well since it is so heavy I like to use it to polish steel Bachmann EZ track after the initial wipedown with alcohol.Accidentially bumped the throttle and she flew off of the table!
  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,775 posts
Posted by snjroy on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 9:25 AM

My layout is still in the open-grid benchwork phase. It's been like that for several months... Although my trackwork is sound, one of my locos took the big leap and one of the tender steps broke. I was wondering if someone ever thought of placing some kind of temporary net above the benchwork to prevent these acrobatic falls.

Simon

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,667 posts
Posted by rrebell on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 9:52 AM

Bought a new engine recetly and after testing it slipped out of my hands onto mostly carpet, may have been fine except a tool was there also, sheared off back steps but it still runs fine,

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • 1,512 posts
Posted by philo426 on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 10:46 AM

JB Weld workswell but takes awhile to set ...it was easy to put the switcher in the bench vise so that gravity works for you.

  • Member since
    April 2020
  • 526 posts
Posted by Ringo58 on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 12:03 PM

philo426
  1. Well since it is so heavy I like to use it to polish steel Bachmann EZ track after the initial wipedown with alcohol.Accidentially bumped the throttle and she flew off of the table!
 

I was messing with my drawrs the throttle sits on and same thing here, bumped the trottle to 100 and my genesis gp7 took off twards the end of the table, I was lucky and quick enough to grab it about a foot off the ground. Only suffered one broken coupler!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 12:06 PM

With my messed up right arm, I drop enough equipment already.

Fortunately, I have never had a full-throttle run off. (knocking on wood)

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • 1,512 posts
Posted by philo426 on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 12:17 PM

A real mess up totally on me !I have had this Switcher for over 30 years and it has always been rock solid.I think the diecast body absorbed the impact and protected the drive mechanism.Added a couple Kadee #5s for fun! 

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • 1,512 posts
Posted by philo426 on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 12:23 PM

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,877 posts
Posted by maxman on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 4:06 PM

snjroy
I was wondering if someone ever thought of placing some kind of temporary net above the benchwork ......

 

I guess that would work if things fell upward.  Do you have gravity inversions in your neighborhood?

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,877 posts
Posted by maxman on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 4:07 PM

Ringo58
I was messing with my drawrs

Somehow this is too much information.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 6:08 PM

maxman

 

 
snjroy
I was wondering if someone ever thought of placing some kind of temporary net above the benchwork ......

 

 

I guess that would work if things fell upward.  Do you have gravity inversions in your neighborhood?

 

 Well, if you are in Australia.....

                       --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!