While running on the Woodland Railway last Saturday, my motorcar got stuck in the tunnel. Really stuck. Getting it out involved multiple retrievals, as it came out in pieces. First the roof. Then I managed to get the body. Then the two hood pieces. Finally the pilot. I was missing one fender and the support structure for the pilot. Today, I completed repairs, and changed the looks a bit. I cut down the pilot and added wider fenders. It’s all better. 
Ouch! But its lookin’ good, there Bruce.
Don’t let Fred see that trestle, he’ll complain there aren’t guard rails.
Glad to see it back–they were still clearing away the wreckage when I made it out to the garden railway later that day. Packing up the cranes, wiping away the chalk outlines left after you killed the guy who told you to run it into the tunnel, comforting the widow…
Good to hear Bruce! I like the new pilot. I am sorry to inform you, though, that your critters have been banned from tunnels on the Woodland Railway! 
-Brian
Hehe. It was actually a chance to redo things. Earlier, I had built a new cab on it because the paint job turned out bad, and I changed it a bit with the new one. I wasn’t really that happy with the pilot in my original, and this mishap gave me a chance to make it a bit more like the prototype. Here’s the original:
(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Locomotives/JBRR_M3/IMG_2996.JPG)
So I like the new look a lot better.
That’s an improvement–looks much more reasonable
Hey Bruce, what you need is an adjustable clearance gauge at the front to prevent it from entering such tunnels. 
(While he ducks)
The woodland railway is a pretty remarkable place. It’s not a “brute force” railway that just sits on the land like it was dropped from space, it’s really integrated into the landscape in a genuinely charming way. And as a result, sadly, so are parts of Bruce’s motorcar.
Bruce, ok if I email you? I’m making a run out to star hobby tomorrow to see what they have. A USA trains wooden reefer would be perfect…
Mike,
Time to ask Bruce if he could build his “stuff” in biodegradable fashion, to fit in with the woodland theme. 
I think that motor car should be retired. He spent a good portion of time at Dave McCurdy’s rounding up parts that came off…but it is a cute little bugger…
So, did you guys ever figure out what it was catching on in the tunnel?
I think it caught on some parts left from the last time I ran something there.
I’m staying out of long tunnels from here on out. Well, at least until the next time I run.
Dear Brian,
How about a frame for trains to pass through? If it makes it through the frame (gauge), it may enter the tunnel.
You could disguise it as one of those “brakeman warning” devices with the tassels(?) hanging down…
If you don’t want the gauge(s) near the portal(s), then put one on a test track or siding that everyone has to use before they are let loose on the tunnel portion of the layout.
Perhaps the frame could be lined with soft flexible (foam?) “feelers” so as not to damage the oversized rolling stock as it passes through…
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
Hmm, Telltales! I like that idea. Not that it would have helped in the case of Bruce’s two inspection vehicles, but for some of the larger locos whose stacks got a bit too close for comfort, it’d be great.
Quote:No worries there. Somewhere nearby, I'm pretty sure there's a frog or rodent shantytown built from lost/fallen parts that have disappeared in the tunnels. I have yet to find it, but I'm sure it's getting recycled somehow.
... Time to ask Bruce if he could build his "stuff" in biodegradable fashion, to fit in with the woodland theme.
Glad to see the M-3 back on the rails.
Later,
K
Joe Satnik said:
Dear Brian,How about a frame for trains to pass through? If it makes it through the frame (gauge), it may enter the tunnel.
You could disguise it as one of those “brakeman warning” devices with the tassels(?) hanging down…
If you don’t want the gauge(s) near the portal(s), then put one on a test track or siding that everyone has to use before they are let loose on the tunnel portion of the layout.
Perhaps the frame could be lined with soft flexible (foam?) “feelers” so as not to damage the oversized rolling stock as it passes through…
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
-Brian
Kevin…telltales…thanks, now I know.
Brian…Kevin’s Dad Jim’s Layout = Woodland Railway…thanks, now I know.
Bruce, Is that Woodland tunnel curved or straight? How long? Would a flatcar mounted closed circuit camera and flashlight have helped? You mean you didn’t have them in your toolbox?
Sincerely,
Joe Satnik
Joe, it’s curved, between 8 and 10’ long.
(http://home.comcast.net/~kcstrong/WRYops/wryops09.jpg)
The camera car was called out to take a look, but by the time it got there, most of the wreckage had been retrieved. Later, K
Find any critters?
Not this time. I do recall one time waiting for the train to emerge from the tunnel, and seeing a frog hopping for dear life a few inches ahead of the locomotive. Ordinarily, it’s just cobwebs stuck to the smoke stack.
Later,
K
Got the Light Inspection Car fixed up. It had lost the front piece; this time I made the replacement from brass. The figure had pieces of his hat brim missing and was cracked in a couple of places. All fixed now.
I guess I’m ready for the next tunnel run!
