enginman1 stole my idea with his plexiglass. I had an AA set of CB&Q E-9s that I had put stainless steel sides on. They were sitting on a stub track off where I couldn’t see them that I had forgetfully left the power on. Those silent beauties gave no hint they were moving until I heard 2 “clunks”. The result was a trip to Lowe’s where I bought some of the clear, flexible plastic intended for temporary storm windows (MUCH cheaper than plexiglass). I stapled a strip extending about 2" above the table level along any track close enough to be a hazard. It’s prctically invisible and it works.
Given that it dropped a scale 609 feet, I doubt a real loco would have survived as well.
wow
you are LUCKY!!!
that is a tribute to BLI!!!
which, ironically, ive never had the chance to run
robengland has a real good point, and the netting idea is very practical,
jut make sure there is no tension, otherwise, you would have two impacts where things could break!!!
I think I will be able to get it going again. I never saw this happen… period. On the layout there is a lot of trackwork UNDER the layout to come out of several tunnels… This happened just under the layout where I was running “blind”. Looking at the 3 track cleaning cars, I suspect the couplers let go and that sudden release of drag caused the engine to immediately speed up and go off of the track. I think the track cleaning cars had plastic couplers that flexed or something. They were creating a lot of drag. By using only one of the RDS-15’s I was unable to pull the 3 cars up the grade of the layout. I don’t know who made these cars, but they have a lot of resistance on the rails, and seem to clean very well. I guess this weekend I will try to resurrect my beloved PRR 8615.
I was able to reassemble the engine this morning. The frame had gotten bent, which I bent back to where it should be. I had two wires to resolder on the trucks, and to reinstall the driveshafts, worm gears, and wheels. It is back together now and actually DOES still run. Not as well as before, it is noisier now, more like an Athearn. I will keep playing with it and try to get it back right. Luckily I have her sister (PRR8614), so I have something to compare it to.