My model project, the Ghost River Valley RR, being a neglected branch line, has the normal track and rolling stock maintenance problems one could expect of a small operation in tough railroading times (besides that scenery is taking priority at the moment rather than operations). So when I do run a train I have more than my fare share of derailments or separations.A question for those of you with smoothly running MRRs or those who hold/attend serious operating sessions is : during the odd time that you have either a derailment or separation of rolling stock do you treat these as a realistic event or do you ignore them?If these events are so infrequent on your mature MRRs do you have operating rules such as the dispatch of a crane or MOW train.In real life, as to separations (partings) and accidents my original copy of the 1889 Rules of the Pennsylvania RR Co. has specific rules for such situations. In some cases the “TrainMaster” or superintendent would be dispatched to the scene. Does anybody out there have their own house rules?
Cheers,
You would be better off to get the track fixed before scenery or anything else!! My present layout is only a 4x8 double oval + yard, but I ran my most troublesome loco, a Lionel Veranda Turbine, over the track as each 3’ flex section and/or switch was installed. As each loop was completed, I ran the loco at least 10 laps in each direction, and then stopped it and reversed it at each track joint just to make sure!! I also did this on previous layouts, paying particular attention to grade changes as well as switches and track joints. This will eliminate all problems except your own goofs - like I occaisionaly leave a switch set the wrong way!! When this happens, blame it on a natural disaster and call out the wreck train!![swg]
Generally speaking, from a real world standpoint, your most common derailment is going to be of the “wheels on the ground” type. For whatever reason “Wheels go boom!” and get kicked off. No big deal. Could be harmonic rock getting the car to shift side to side putting pressure on the outside of a curve, or wide guage that an overweight car just doesn’t agree with, all sorts of things. This is the majority of the derailments that train and MOW crews will deal with.
More often then not, those derailments are handled out of the back of a hi-rail pickup truck with blocking and a couple of chain binders. Nothing special.Maybe a few hour delay waiting for someone and rerailing a car or two. Not too big of a deal.
I believe Classic Metal Works is coming out with a hi-rail truck (sort of like a remote control car, in that it’s battery powered and controlled with a separate controller) that would be great for this.
One good friend of mine occasionally runs out a wreck train when there’s a derailment on my layout (I used to have a lot, and I’m trying to combat that with metal wheels and ground throws, as many wrecks were caused by partially opened switch points) which adds some interest, but it’s hard when the only MOW stock consists of a plow, a boxcar, and occasionally an older home-road flatcar if it happens to be in the yard empty.
Fix the track work. Don’t make up a story. Improperly installed couplers and out of gauge wheels will cause most of your derailments.
With THAT said…I saw a club in Texas that has a policy where if a member has a major accident with a loco, he is banned from operating a train for 1 month and his name is put on a tombstone in the layouts cemetery and they have a mock funeral for him. Some guys had multiple tombstones.[(-D]