Modeling A Wreck, Too Morbid?

As long as limbs weren't left laying around, I think it would have been cool thing to see modeled,

that photo is a nasty wreck.

I suppose it depends on how bad a wreck you decide to model. Perhaps a scene with a couple or three cars off the rails, but with the engine(s) upright and no human collateral damage.

I believe on was featured in OGR, bill bra ledges layout. The train went off a trestle with the engine and tender at the bottom of the pile, and the passenger car teetering at the top.

The metro train that ran headon into a UP train in southern Calif. a year or two ago. I had the TV on and saw uninterupted coverage from the beginning. At first there were only a few firemen. A half hour later they were swarming over the wreckage.
San Fernando Valley CA.

After looking at it for 8 months you'll wish you hadn't done it- see what happens-

Jim,

Souns like those HO folks don't what to operate trains like in the real world only in a perfect world.

A few cars (5-6) of the track upright with one laying on it's side would be real world to me or maybe a derailed car on a siding or in a yard.

It would only be morbid, IMHO, if you modeled the bodies or casualties. Not all wrecks have fatalities involved.

Besides, I've seen plenty of modeled auto wrecks, so why not a train wreck.

Andy

quote:

Posted November 25, 2011 07:52 PM Hide Post
After looking at it for 8 months you'll wish you hadn't done it- see what happens-

Jeff Sohn

Jim to keep interest in it you could show crews working to clear the wreck. Then every couple of months have another car back on the track.

I did this with a hot dog stand on my mod for the Club.
The stand had a fire destoring it(I actualy burned the old stand),poureda new concrete pad,construction crews and equipment arrive on site,new building materials being delivered, construction crew at work and finally the new restarant was completed. Time span was about 1-1 1/2 years and 10-11 shows the Club did in that time. This year we have added "Kevin's Famous BBQ" cook out check our web for pictures from the Strong Muesum show.

A friend of mine has a derailment scene on his HO layout. He has a couple old boxcars that he heated and 'beat-up' a little, some ties, rail, etc laying around, workers and equipment 'cleaning up'. A neat idea IMO, not morbid unless you have dead bodies laying around.

I don't have to model wrecks, they just sorta happen...

The local N gauge modular club has a module depicting a Highway/Rail Grade Crossing collision. Scene is complete with bodies and yellow blankets with "feet" sticking out. I don't find it morbid at all. Has a good educational role (complete with the clubs OLS displays) and most people seem to get a kick out of it.

To add to the "morbid" feel, I have a Church and cemetery on my layout. I don't find that morbid at all. If I had room, I'd consider adding a train wreck as well.

Phil Klopp has a Wreck scene on his layout. It allows him to use his lionel Wreck crane. also note that Lionel has a Wreck Acessory too![ the Spilled tank car]

A wreck or derailed car goes very well with a MOW wrecker crane in a "wreck train", a flat of panel track sections, etc.

We model wrecks quite frequently at the National Capitla Trackers!!! It ususally invovled a Milwaukee Road locomotive bearing down on a Chesapeake & Ohio Yellowbelly!!!

quote:

Originally posted by SJC:
The local N gauge modular club has a module depicting a Highway/Rail Grade Crossing collision. Scene is complete with bodies and yellow blankets with "feet" sticking out. I don't find it morbid at all. Has a good educational role (complete with the clubs OLS displays) and most people seem to get a kick out of it.

To add to the "morbid" feel, I have a Church and cemetery on my layout. I don't find that morbid at all. If I had room, I'd consider adding a train wreck as well.

[quote]The local N gauge modular club has a module depicting a Highway/Rail Grade Crossing collision. Scene is complete with bodies and yellow blankets with "feet" sticking out. I don't find it morbid at all. Has a good educational role (complete with the clubs OLS displays) and most people seem to get a kick out of it.[/quote


I think that's over the top. There are pleanty of other way's to educate the danger of a railroad crossing. I agree with the others a couple of cars derailed is fine but kids don't need that much reality on a toy train layout.

I posted this in W/E photo fun, it happened a couple of days ago, no injuries, just a mess, I think modeling it would be terrific.

I have mixed feelings about this issue. True it is a harsh reality of life that train accidents do occur so I would not be bothered by a display of one. After all Lionel and MTH both sell products that depect burning buildings. So if someone had a scene showing a person receiving first aid or oxygen and such it would not bother me at all.
But, people get robbed and beaten everyday and there will not be any scenes showing that on my layout,ever.
I think this duality of thought comes from the fact that in most of our minds toy trains is an escape from the real world. It is a place where we can create the kind of neighborhood we would like to live in. Or at lest provide us with a snap shot of a world we remember from a happy time and place in our past.

It is a very interesting question because I think it cuts to the core of how we view our layouts. But, I don't think there is a right or wrong answer, it's basicly your platform and you should do what speaks to you.

IMHO, there is a world of difference between a derailment and a wreck. Perhaps it's just me, but I think a wreck implies casualties, and a derailment implies property damage without casualties. (I know this isn't always the case)
I wouldn't want a wreck on any layout I built. While I doubt I would model one, I think a derailment scene would be OK.

I personally don't find this too morbid at all. I will probably have some sort of wreck scene eventually, whether it is the Lionel tank car or something more elaborate. I will also have a cemetery at some point. I don't think they are in poor taste at all.

I also can see the point of being a little more graphic for a safety related diorama/module. Would I do that on my regular layout? Probably not. In this case though, I think it helped with the intended message.

Maybe I am reading too much into the question but I think it is pretty common for someone building a layout to not want to shock or offend their visitors and this is another example of this concern. It is hard to predict how people are going to react to our (sometimes twisted) senses of humor. Say I had a scene where a person in a Michigan sweatshirt was trampling a Buckeye flag. Some people would think that was really cool and some would say "whatever". But maybe someone would get really angry and offended. You can't predict. All you can do is say you're sorry and move on. So, my take on scenes like this is to build what you like and don't obsess about what you can't control.

I don't need to model a wreck; I have actual wrecks on an occasional basis. I have also learned that the number and severity of my wrecks is directly proportional to the amount of spirits I have consumed prior to the wreck. Who'd a thunkit?!

Yeah, like some of the others above, wrecks just kinda happen, sometimes.

A simple major derailment with damage would give you plenty of wreck crane/MOW action without having to bring out the body bags. Freight or passenger.

quote:

I was a "guest" member at a HO club with a large layout. My friend and I wished to model a derailment, but were asked not too as they felt it was too morbid, uncaring, etc.

Morbid! Uncaring!
Don't those weenies know that not all train wrecks occur at the head end of the train. Most probably occur on back in the train.

What I found timely about this post was that just the other day I was at my LHS and sitting there on the front counter was a 1/50 scale Caterpiller dozer with a side crane and counter balance. This piece of mechanized wizardry is just what "The Sidewinders" used to clean up a wreck. It was quite a show to watch these guys pick up a car at each end with one of these things and walk it right up a river bank and set the car on a set of trucks. I say go for it.

If they are modeling passenger trains from the time period of 1880-1900 then those train wrecks are full of gruesome injuries and fatalities. It could look morbid. What was the time period of the club. Were they thinking of a grade crossing collision?


Perhaps you did not come up with the right description and have photos ready. Something that might occur on a branchline where the tracks would give out, causing a short local freight train to topple over would just be messy.

Perhaps they meant that a wreck would be too messy.

Andrew

Falcon Service

Er, are there not those who do stuff for 10-31? Some of that stuff is enought to make me gag!

Resentation is inportant here.

I did see once the remains of a wreck at the bottom of a river. I was weathered into the scence. Well dome!

quote:

I suppose it depends on how bad a wreck you decide to model. Perhaps a scene with a couple or three cars off the rails, but with the engine(s) upright and no human collateral damage.

I agree with this. I see no problem with modeling a wreck scene, particularly on a nicely detailed hi-rail layout, so long as the scene depicts what is more or less the aftermath of the wreck with emphasis being on the wrecked cars and/or locomotive and without any direct relationship to bodies or the injured who may have been involved a bit earlier.

My feeling is if you're going to model a wreck, you need to do it right. And that involves more than just laying a couple of boxcars on their sides beside the track or in a gully. I have seen some very nicely--and tastefully--modeled wreck scenes on layouts in all scales.

This is on a layout ,I won't say where. A lot have seen the layout, how many have seen it?
BLT

Trains magazine is doing a whole issue devoted to wrecks - for profit. To me, that's morbid.

Just like on the nightly news....as long as the wreck is tastefully covered. It IS a part, like it or not, of real life. Me, I just don't have room for one and it would be low priority.

There is a live steam club here in the Atlanta area that has a wreck scene staged at the base of one of their bridges. They dumped a couple of old hopper cars over the side and it gives passengers on their trains during open houses something to think about.

For me, I am a bit disappointed after reading through this thread. I would have thought there were other "children of the '50's" such as myself who still like to stage the occasional "Gomez Adams" cornfield meet.

Curt

quote:

Originally posted by juniata guy:
For me, I am a bit disappointed after reading through this thread. I would have thought there were other "children of the '50's" such as myself who still like to stage the occasional "Gomez Adams" cornfield meet.

Curt

But where would we get the dynamite???

Good point Eric! We used firecrackers when I was a kid, so I guess they would have to suffice now as well.

Curt

Something just occurs...if you don't have wrecks, then what use will there be for those neat O Gauge crane cars??

Anyway, we in O Gauge have always been tempted. You know. "I wonder just how fast it will take that curve without flying off".

And me included. That is, when I was about ten and had an 027 layout. Today, I know what I paid for these things...

quote:

Originally posted by Ginsaw:
Something just occurs...if you don't have wrecks, then what use will there be for those neat O Gauge crane cars??

Anyway, we in O Gauge have always been tempted. You know. "I wonder just how fast it will take that curve without flying off".

My brother-in-law wanted to know why it was called the "NYC FLYER" if it wasn't supposed to... Good thing it was on carpet and was one of those old diecast sets... He never did touch the throttle again though.

quote:

And me included. That is, when I was about ten and had an 027 layout. Today, I know what I paid for these things...

Same here.

I always thought I would have to model a permanent wreck scene with some of my Atlas O Pennsy H21a hoppers on their sides because otherwise the gorgeous underbody details of this model would go unseen!



Tom

Remember the classic wreck where the loco plowed through a train station and ended up on a lower level? I do not recall if life and limb were lost, but aside from that it would be interesting to model. However, I would probably opt for a removable modeling section of scenic details to interchange with happier circumstances.

quote:

Originally posted by falconservice:
If they are modeling passenger trains from the time period of 1880-1900 then those train wrecks are full of gruesome injuries and fatalities. It could look morbid. What was the time period of the club. Were they thinking of a grade crossing collision?

...

Andrew

Falcon Service

There you go. I can see it now - the next Lionel or MTH accessory - the telescoping passenger car set with optional burning car feature

Uh, maybe not...

George

Just so there isn't anyone scalded by steam.

quote:

Originally posted by pennsynut:
Remember the classic wreck where the loco plowed through a train station and ended up on a lower level? I do not recall if life and limb were lost, but aside from that it would be interesting to model. However, I would probably opt for a removable modeling section of scenic details to interchange with happier circumstances.

that would be the PRR GG1 4876 at union station, the inauguration was held there, and they actually built the floor overtop of the engine, then removed it after the event. i believe they cut the engine in three pieces and hauled back up to altoona.... think the engine is in blatimore now?





one of the local HO clubs here has a photo album of 'wrecked trains" mostly from their layout, but some others too.
http://www.scmrclub.org/

-Andrew Lawrence

quote:

Originally posted by Andrew Lawrence:

quote:

Originally posted by pennsynut:
Remember the classic wreck where the loco plowed through a train station and ended up on a lower level? I do not recall if life and limb were lost, but aside from that it would be interesting to model. However, I would probably opt for a removable modeling section of scenic details to interchange with happier circumstances.

that would be the PRR GG1 4876 at union station, the inauguration was held there, and they actually built the floor overtop of the engine, then removed it after the event. i believe they cut the engine in three pieces and hauled back up to altoona.... think the engine is in blatimore now?





one of the local HO clubs here has a photo album of 'wrecked trains" mostly from their layout, but some others too.
http://www.scmrclub.org/

-Andrew Lawrence

The Inauguration has never been held at WASH US. It has been at the Capitol since Andrew Jackson. The engine is in Baltimore, as property of the B&O Museum. The museum has no plans for it currently and the engine is in extremely poor condition.