Sad Train Stories

[rrinker]

I have 2.

First happend MANY MANY years ago. We used to have a 4x8 plus a little we set up in the family room from november through january. My Dad did most of it, but I helped with wiring and I was the only one able to run trains without running switches and derailing. The year my Dad passed away, I wanted to keep up with setting up the trains, so I managed to get it all set up myself (I was about 10 that year) and operational. So I'm runnign a train with our MDC boxcab diesel - anyone that has one of those will know, they are kind of slow and noisy. So it's chugging around when all of the sudden it takes off at warp speed and flies off the end of the layout...WHOA! Smahed to bits. I still have the parts, plus a complete new loco I got a few years ago, I have a good kitbash project in mind for that - the new one runs just as slow and just as noisy as the old one - how it eveh got to warp speed liek that I'll never know.

Number 2 happend a few months ago, before I had a mainline loop complete on the current layout. I was runnign a train back and forth over the completed section using my father in law's Atlas Trainmaster (with sound). Got near the end of the track so I cut the throttle - only the drive train in Atlases is SO good it coasts - for a LONG time. Shoved 2 of my Kato covered hoppers right off the back of the layout and onto the floor. This things mostly snap together so it was pieces everywhere - luckily nothing broke and I was abe to round up all the pieces to reassemble them.

--Randy

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TA462

I was installing my very first decoder in a Proto GP9 and couldn't get it to work. I was sitting at the kitchen table and had the Loco on a piece of 3 foot flex track. I cranked up the throttle to full on my Digitrax Zephyr and it still wouldn't move. I phoned up a buddy of mine and asked him if he had any idea what I did wrong. He asked if I put it in forward or reverse on the Zephyr and of course I didn't. I turned it to forward and the Loco took off like a bat out of hell, knocking a container full of Kadee couplers, springs and screws on to the floor before it flew off the table crashing into a chair, leaving a nice gash in it and finally ending up on the floor. I still had the cordless phone in my hand and my buddy says to me "well, did it work?" I let out a big YAHOOO and told him "yep, that was the problem." I didn't mention anything else though, lol. I'm just glad the body was still off.

That'll teach you to program in some momentum [:D]
Good thing the body was off, I have several P2K's and with all that detailing I really don't think they could stand a trip to the floor. Sans body, it would be hard to damage that massive metal chassis.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

Yes WVHagan, you are right. However, after the initial shock, I imeadiatly determined that here is a fellow with mind "issues" that are better left to a professional. I simply "pulled the plug" on the power pack that day and on that individual "for good." I have long since restored the two coaches and they stand as a reminder to use discretion when "casting pearls to swine." Happy rails to you.

[fievel]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SteamHostler

Back when I was a kid, I had a 3' x 6' oval that was my first layout. The track plan had been published. I think it was called the "Pine Tree Central". Anyway the track ran right at the edge of the plywood (UGH) layout. One day I put every car I had into making up a train. The Loco was just past the center of the u-turn at one end of the layout and the caboose was a like distance past the on the other end. As I powered up this monster train, it started to pull some cars off the track and sent others wobbling. I had to make a quick choice as to what to catch. I caught the loco and watched my beautiful 200 tom crane car dive over the side to the floor. It was a nicer model than any I've seen on the market in HO today. It had working "Buckeye" trucks and the Pulleys on the ends of the main arms contained 3 sheeves each. The main hook had 3 or 4 sheeves as I recall. The car was made of potmetal and a lot of it got broken. It took me a lot of years to get it all fixed, but the laqst time I looked at it, one of the trucks had disinterated with age. This was some time proir to 1955. I wish now I had caught the car instead of the loco. Oh well, live and learn. After that incident, my dad made a sheetmetal tray all around the layout so no pieces ever went on the floor again.

It sounds like you had a pretty cool dad, SteamHostler !!![8D][^]

[Anonymous]

Mr. Kramer, your friend who said "hee, hee, Jesse James" needed a good old fashioned butt kicking! I don't really mean physical violence, but if he was no more apologetic than saying "hee, hee, Jesse James," he would at least have gotten a verbal ripping. I hope he offered to pay for the price of the cars, materials etc. or tried to make it up to you. That is the only decent thing to do.

[Anonymous]

Back when I was a kid, I had a 3' x 6' oval that was my first layout. The track plan had been published. I think it was called the "Pine Tree Central". Anyway the track ran right at the edge of the plywood (UGH) layout. One day I put every car I had into making up a train. The Loco was just past the center of the u-turn at one end of the layout and the caboose was a like distance past the on the other end. As I powered up this monster train, it started to pull some cars off the track and sent others wobbling. I had to make a quick choice as to what to catch. I caught the loco and watched my beautiful 200 tom crane car dive over the side to the floor. It was a nicer model than any I've seen on the market in HO today. It had working "Buckeye" trucks and the Pulleys on the ends of the main arms contained 3 sheeves each. The main hook had 3 or 4 sheeves as I recall. The car was made of potmetal and a lot of it got broken. It took me a lot of years to get it all fixed, but the laqst time I looked at it, one of the trucks had disinterated with age. This was some time proir to 1955. I wish now I had caught the car instead of the loco. Oh well, live and learn. After that incident, my dad made a sheetmetal tray all around the layout so no pieces ever went on the floor again.

[Anonymous]

There was a Bachmann unit I was presented with as a gift one year. I think it was a B and O 2-8-2. The one with the really big firebox.

That thing never did run right. I slowly disassembled it all the way down to the motor. Once the motor was opened two little springs jumped out and was gone.

Eventually everything was reassembled but it sits in a box for at least 10 years.

Recently I pulled it out and serviced it. I put it on a 5 foot section of track. It ran 2 feet and smoked on me.

I guess that engine was a sad engine from the day it left the factory. If they ever make that particular engine again as a Broadway unit or similar I think I will go into debt to get a copy. (Makes sense?)

Someone mentioned going into debt to get expensive engines, I thought that was sad also.

[CP5415]

I have a brass 0-4-0 Dockside locomotive that is over 40 years old.
It ran like a dream until I tried to clean it.
As I was cleaning one of the rods & OOPPSS!!!!!!

Now I have a broken Brass O-4-0 Dockside.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

Jaimezepeda, I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Now is the time to do some hustling for fellow model railroaders until you find someone who has a location you can share. Take heart, something will turn-up but only if you spread the word to other folks who might consider lending a helping hand for a worthy hobby that keeps folks out of trouble and into positive ideas. Wish I could help more, be patient but keep trying.

[Anonymous]

[V]
I belonged to a great club. Several years ago the building where we had our club burned to the ground. We lost it all. We had an HO scale layout and an N scale layout. We tried to start over again but we never found another place we could afford. I hardly ever see any of those guys anymore.
[V]

[Anonymous]

Well, it was like this. A friend of mine was interested in model R.R.ing but never had any "hands on" experience at it. One fine afternoon, after I had spiked in a complete circle for testing purposes, my friend (in his mid-30's) dropped in. He had helped me with the benchwork previously, so I didn't hesitate to allow him a turn at the throttle. I was running my P.F.M. (brass) Ps-4, Southern Rwy. 4-6-2 pushing a Walthers 75' (heavy weight baggage) and a Blue Line 80' day coach (both super detailed, hand painted, decaled kits). As the consist descended the 2% grade, my friend inexplicably opened the throttle up wide. The two cars careened off the mainline to the concrete garage floor below (42 inches). Thankfully, the loco was spared the same fate only by my throwing the toggle on the power pack in time. I was still in minor shock when he affected a silly grin and said "hee, hee, Jessie James." Well, I'm here to tell you, that was his first and last stint behind the throttle on this Pike. I figure the two coaches were close to thirty hours lost time and the "near miss," at least a year off my normal life expectency. Hope none of you ever share this nightmarish scenario. Let's keep those rails "happy rails."

[rtraincollector]

When I was a kid I had a layout I was still building in the rec room next to the windows . Well my Lionel 671 (6-8-6 )was on a cannon ball run ( the only type I knew then slow wasn't in my vocabulary) when it hit the siding switch which I open by mistake while wiring and it went right threw the window and fell 3 feet to the cement outside as my dad was walking up the sidewalk (Boy do I remember That day very well LOL. We all laugh about it now but boy did I catch it that day.

[krump]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith



ouch, I now have a headache.....[C):-)]- see below (I never get this quote thing right)





Also i hate to admit but when I was a kid I used to run my cheepie Lionel trains over the tops of the stairs so I could watch them tumble down the stairs...[:0]

[vsmith]

One of my locos hit an open switch next to the edge of the track , derailed and went right over the side..Luckily the dog bed happened to be right under it, and all it did was bounce once...Wheeeeuuuuw! [;)]







Also i hate to admit but when I was a kid I used to run my cheepie Lionel trains over the tops of the stairs so I could watch them tumble down the stairs...[:0]

[krump]

don't use food (like muffins) for scenery, they don't hold together very well, and the dog or cat, or kids enjoy eating the vegetation - at least until it goes rank... (I'm kidding of course). I've now found something better than used coffee grounds to use for dirt - actual dirt is better. [banghead][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[Anonymous]

well, i DO have a sad train story. One time i accidentally reversed the polarity of the track wires (way back before i had DCC) and my brand new Amtrak F40PH plowed through the buffer and skittered along the concrete floor for 10 feet. She still runs like a charm, though, but i think i messed up some of the cosmetic features. On the other hand, a coach behing the engine came off the track and broke off the coupler pin (Kadee coupler), so it is consequently out of service until i can replace the coupler.

[Anonymous]

I have a sad train story or two when I did something really STUPID but I'm sure not gonna tell it.

[selector]

Ouch, cspmo, that is a tough state to be in. It can really drain the fun out of your hobby. I hope you get back on your feet quickly. [sigh]

[cspmo]

I got myself deep in debit buying these expensive locomotives.

[RoyalOaker]

I have not been able to work on my trains for two weeks [:(] due to soccer, softball and other warm weather events.

[RedLeader]

Not much time ago, everything was going smoothly while testing the newly laid track. As part of the tests conducted, was the full speed trial. Every engine of the roster would be subject to these trials to ensure no failure. Two complete runs full ahead and two complete runs full reverse for every one. The turn came to 6319, a brand new Atlas U23B. She did fine on her full ahead test, now she was ready to take the full lenght of the layout main at full speed in reverse. Although this will never occur during operations, its the only way to be sure everything was laid correctly. She was dashing like lighting smoothly over the code 100 main line, until she reached a corssover. For some reason she derailed (then I discovered a small wire clipping inside the frog). The poor thing went airborne for about 3" and landed sideways on the floor (granite slab). At first glance, there wasn't great damage, only the cab was detached from the hood. A closer inspection revealed for my horror the real trauma. The force of impact had crushed the front part of cab against the hood, all the plastic conforming the window frames was bended and broken. Inmediately I set up an emergency O.R. and began surgery (literally, plastic surgery). Some putty, cutting and painting was required. I even used my soldering iron to un-bend some twisted plastic parts. Now she's fine, no permanent damage to her guts, but now she's is known as "Scar Face 6319"

[Anonymous]

When my now 35 year old son was a little grade schooler he and I were operating my two or three locos on a circle of track and we sent a AHM (Riverossi) Berkshire over the edge. Then about three years later I was showing him our club's layout and we ran one of those "old time" (diamond stacker and all) AHM cheapies around the club layout and something happened, not sure what. It stopped all forward motion and the boiler melted, obviously from some excess heat from the motor. Today my son is not interested in dad's trains.

[Anonymous]

I almost had a sad event. Will relate it here, b/c I'm sure everyone has seen the cartoons and moveis/tv shows when a car or truck or whatever "almost" goes over the cliff, and the vehicle is balanced rather precariously, ready to fall if anyone makes a wrong move or breaths funny....

I had just replaced my MRC DCC control with a Digitrax... My dad had brought over a couple of new Proto A/B units. I installed a decoder in the A unit, programmed the address and placed it on the mainline. I gave the loco some throttle, but forgot that I had thrown turnout #3 to go up the dead end siding... The dead end of the siding ending with one of the Atlas plastic rail bumpers about 1" from the edge of the layout.

Well, that loco went flying up the siding, which is only about 2' long, and I cut the throttle back down to 0... The loco barrelled into the bumper, and sent it flying across the room. The loco ended up half on and half off the layout, swaying back and forth like a teeter-totter :) All I could think of was how po'd my pop would have been if I busted up his brand new locos...

As npr765 said, no dents, but lesson learned!

[Anonymous]

Last mounth I was running my O gauge two level layout when I spun around and hit my controller!The ran so fast I didn't have time to trun it down and.......DING!It hit the wall and knoced down some trees.No dents but lession learned.

[fievel]

Back in 1988, I had an N scale Kato CSX GP38 go airborne.Bent the Rapido coupler
and broke two handrails. It still ran smoothly, but looked awful. [:(]

[MisterBeasley]

I had my first off-the-board-down-to-the-floor crisis last night. I'm still early in construction, and I knocked over a gondola car while positioning some foam. It was the car with the train camera. No permanent damage, though, as I've got a nice soft carpet down below. The camera, which is only press-fit into some foam roadbed chunks in the car bed, popped out but was otherwise unhurt. The newly-installed Kadee #5 came off as the draft gear cover popped off, but I just put it all back together after straightening the spring plate a bit. Gotta be more careful, though.

[Texas Zepher]

Back in 1985 or so (when I had very little money for trains), I found an Atlas E7 in N-scale cheap at a local swap meet. This was when this was a fairly new technology. The previous owner had over lubricated and it look like ran it on the floor through dirt. I took it home, totally disassembled, cleaned, shimmed, reassembled, and properly lubricated. All told I probably spent 10 hours on it. I put it on the layout and began break in.

It ran back and forth and around at varying speeds for about two hours. It ran better than ANY N-scale engine I had at the time. Finishing, I cranked it up to full speed for a final loop or two, when something distracted me. I went across the basement and dealt with whatever it was. I turned around just in time to see the locomotive take off the main, and head up the siding. I ran and lunged for the layout control power but it was too far away. I watched in slow motion as the loco went up around the branch, through zig through three tunnles, shoot through the stub ended mine, and go flying off the 52" ledge. It landed and broke up into all those pieces I had just reassembled. Cracked the body, broke one of the trucks, bent a couple wheels.

All I can figure is the turnout (an original Atlas) slowly worked over and over as I was test running. I was devistated and didn't have the heart to work on it any more. Its parts are still sitting around here in a box some where. I suppose that way it survived the great N-scale purge a few years later.

[Anonymous]

Had a Bachmann 0-6-0 switcher, ran like a dream until I fell behind in track maintenance, then it ended up getting dust into the motor. I cleaned it and cleaned it, but it was no good. She jerked and balked, and finally stalled. Now that little engine runs like a dream, as long as there is another engine pushing it. I had to remove the motor to get it run like that, though[V][:(] Fortunately it wasn't brass, like Virginian's. Real sorry about that. We all live and learn, I guess. I'm just glad I'm not at the throttle when things go wrong! At least I can escape with my life![:D]

[Virginian]

Many years ago, my first layout, with a reversing loop on a lower level. The switch stuck and a brand new not yet painted brass Key N&W K2 streamlined derailed and fell three feet plus onto the floor.
After that, nothing else bothered me much.

[grandeman]

After our move I had a section of track up and, in a momentary lapse, ran a Proto F3 over the edge! 4 feet onto the concrete. [V] Fortunately, it's not an expensive engine and, after resecuring one of the motor magnets, it runs like a champ. Live and learn though...

Other than that, there's not much sad in my model railroading (or railfanning for that matter). Both are great opportunities to spend much time with my 10 year old son. It doesn't get any better than that.