Some (re)assembly required

[fiatfan]

Last night I was running a few test laps to check out a new throttle that I had built. I had a P2K SD7 on point with about a twelve car mixed freight. After completing several laps at varying speeds, I opended it up down a 3% grade around a 22" radius curve. No problem, have done it many times before.

For whatever unknown reason, this time around, the coupler pin on the front coupler decided to catch on something, causing the engine to dive about three and a half feet to the floor. The rest of the cars stayed on the track and rolled about 8 feet down the track.

The shell had popped off the engine, the drive shafts had popped out of the u-joints, and the covers had come off of both the front and rear gearcases. The only ofther damage I have been able to discover is that one of the air horns came off the cab and the glazing came out of both of the cab windows. I have found half the air horn and one of the windows. I'm still looking for the other window.

Right now, I consider myself fortunate that this is the extent of the damage.

Tom

[Anonymous]

My grandaughter drove my P2K SP Daylight E-7A off the layout and the wooden floor was 42" away - I now own a bunch of spare parts and am looking for a replacement.

Bob

[bikerraypa]

I always keep my track on any layout at least two locomotive widths from the edge, and usually build and scenic a little redoubt of some kind, just enough of a hump that they can't get airborne. My R/C planes fly. I don't want my locomotives to. [:D]

[twhite]

Boy, talk about horror stories, guys--I am so glad that the sheer cliff on the east side of Yuba Summit (6' drop to the garage concrete) is on a 2% ASCENDING grade! Of course, I still have that 12" tall curved viaduct on a 2% DESCENDING grade and everytime I run a train over it I keep wondering 'Hm, wonder how fast I can take that---' I think I won't, now.
Tom [xx(]

[canazar]

Ouch... Bummer man. Hopefully you will be able to get it back together again. Maybe for the window, you could replace it with some clear plastic of another building model, etc. Either, way good luck. .... atleast it didnt take the rolling stock with it.

Best Regards
John k