I have used the NMRA gauge for years to check track and wheel gauge. It also has a clearance gauge for structures. When I set my Walthers Cornerstone coaling tower in place, I neglected to check the clearance. My steamers all cleared, but imagine my dismay when I ran one of my diesels, with window shades, past it, only to hear a CLUNK, and the train came to an abrupt stop. OOPS! Luckily, all I had to do was soak the ballast, slide a putty knife under the track and slide the track, ever so slightly away from the tower. I pinned the track in place with pushpins, and once it dried, was held in place.
Nothing like having a tool and not using it to its full capability.
Darn I keep cutting it and it still too short! [swg] Been there done that. I built my gravel plant only to find that hoppers on the track would not fit under the load-out. I built it to the height of the tallest hopper I had and never thought about the ties and track under it. [D)] I ended up building a raised foundation for the plant.
Hey, talk about having an NMRA gauge and not using it, I recently added a number of little people to the platforms of my newly installed passenger station. Didn’t think they were too close to the edge and didn’t even consider measuring. Needless to say, I have had a number of fatalities and other serious injuries to my little people. In one case, however, the hot glue must have formed a pretty strong bond because one of my little people actually caused a slow moving switcher to stop!
I built the Walther’s grain elevator and tested with a few hoppers so I was good to go! Not. Running some op’s and one of the hoppers started pushing the elevator?
Recently I was testing some newly installed track work and to test I usually run an engine as fast as possible as well as slow (tends to show any flaws). Well my engine hit a ground throw mounted too high and crash, the track work was perfect and the ground throw was fine but the switcher needed some work and it was not a junker!
I did but I guess it was close and didn’t notice, didn’t hit at middle speed either. When I hand moved it though after the accident, it was just brushing by so no contact till high speed and once it caught instead of bouncing off as it was approaching from an angle, it just drew it in. Looks like it just shifted the innards around some but no cosmetic damage so ran fine again after re-seating stuff.
I hope the proper authorities were notified and are currently conducting an investigation. I look forward to hearing the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) report in a year or so. [(-D]
Yup! Did something similar lately myself. Built a yard with a runaround and the ladder right adjacent to the runaround. When I tied in the runaround to the second turnout I didn’t use a straitedge to keep everything straight and allowed the runaround track to bulge about and eighth of an inch. Left a locomotive on the runaround and went to push some cars into the first track of the yard and kaboom. Fortunately no damage was done other than to my ego.