Another incident, this time involving multiple cats. At one time I was thinking about building a subway under the layout that would rise up to the surface. I had only built the grade ramp and a couple feet of track on the surface to test it.
One day I let the cats follow me to the basement and had some fun with them running the subway train up and down the ramp. They were a bit afraid at first but then they got brave and started chasing the train down the ramp and running up ahead of it. It was hilarious.
Next time I went to the basement the cats followed me. As I was working on a different area I didn’t pay attention to them. Next day I tested the subway again and heard a grinding sound. I looked under the layout and saw the subway cars derailed, again stripping the traction tires off. And some of the wiring was chewed!! They decided the subway cars were now their toy and probably climbed on them knocking them off the track.
After that I made sure the cats stayed upstairs!
