Woops;Destroyed Imperial Bigboy;UPDATE

A lot of damage there, I don't know that MTH is going to repair it, they'd probably replace the shell.  It may be cheaper to sell this for parts and find another one.  The tender looks like it could be fixed, but there's a lot of work ahead for that locomotive!

OH how heartbreaking!!!! I am SO sorry.

Don't know the answer $$wise, but I would try and fix it if it were mine....

I am heartbroken. I love that engine. I'm into smoke & boy did that thing smoke.

Sorry to see this, Spence.

But I have to tell you: 'WHOOPS" is NOT the word I would have used.

Fred

Oh no!!

Spence,

I do not know the answer to your question.  I just want to commiserate with you on your accident with such a fine locomotive!  It is very sad!  

Spence - That is too bad.  Why do things like that always happen to our favorite engines? 

Art

Fred; LOL' I needed that. You made me laugh.

silly question here, do the electronics still function, does it still move?

Penn-P. Nothing works. It's not even recognized now.

Ouch.  You have my sympathies, because I know your pain all too well, Spence.  I left a razor saw on the layout about a year ago and my Legacy ATSF 3751 launched itself off the layout and fell 42 inches to the floor.  It was never the same again.  

Spence I feel your pain And I agree with Fred. And I would of been so upset that my neighbors would of heard me.

Ouch.  It can be replaced.  Now might be a high priced point in the cycle of trains purchases, but you already know that.  Keep an eye out with Trainz.  they seem to have these come up often.

My stomach sank when I read this, so I can't imagine how you feel.  

Hi Spence,

So sorry this happened to you, If there's anyway i can help just let me know.

Alex

Ohmigod; awful mess!

Been there, done that, but not with an engine as nice as that.

That shell may be repairable, but I don't know how successful that cab roof will be to bend back. Being cast, it may just crack. Worth a shot though. What have you got to lose?

Besides cosmetic damage you may also have a bent axle or two from a fall like that.

I would disassemble and check everything carefully before making the call to repair or replace.

As was said, you can likely replace the boiler casting with a new one.

Let us know how it goes.

Rod

Spence my friend....I am so sorry to hear this.  Glad you posted because this is a good reminder for all of us to check the track.  I can't tell you the number of times I almost forgot to pick something up off of the track before I ran the trains...I have been lucky so far...

Hope you are able to fix or replace it....

Alan

Sorry for your loss, Spence. when a favorite train bites the dust it is almost like  losing a family member. Sounds like selling it for parts is your best course.......hope you find a replacement soon!

-Pete

I ran into my cat she was sleeping in my tunnel on my old layout with my vision line challenger.. It didnt even derail ...I guess i am lucky .. Cat was unhurt to..

So sorry Spence.  As Roseanne Roseanna-Danna used to say, "It's always somethin".

Ouch, that hurts, I guess its time for a replacement then......I'll bet the motor's still  good though. I think Gun runners suggestion is probably the best option, parting it out and using the $$ towards another one.

Alex; it doesn't look like anything can be done to save this. This came out in about March of 2013. It's going to be hard to find a replacement.

Heartbreaking indeed, Spence. I feel for you, so sad. I'm certain the event generated substantial amounts of blue smoke as well.

Instantly felt sick when I saw this, but Spence you can be honest with us. your big boy destroyed right as the new Lionel big boy is coming out? I'm on to you.

Turn this into a dummy engine after selling off some parts maybe?  Can you imagine a DOUBLE HEADED BIG BOY CONSIST!?!?!  

Renumber it to 4005 and call it good

The Wreck of the 4005

That hurts, In the wallet too. I feel for you. Maybe you could convince UP to work on it. Then again They cant even repair or run their own steam. 

Oh, Man! I feel really bad for your loss, especially since I am still looking for a Railking PS3 Big Boy. Ironically that's exactly how I lost my favorite subway train of all time: the R-1. I was finished working on a tunnel and I left my small screwdriver on the tracks and once it hit that curve the power car and second car hit the floor, hard. Unfortunately, I was not able to find another set and had to sell the remaining non-powered cars, so I feel your pain. Again my sympathies and I hope you can find a replacement. *cough* Premier Big Boy

Agreed.

OUCH. I feel so bad for you, Spence.

I don't think he could of written the words he used. 

I had the same thoughts. Why not model 4005's wreck on your layout?

So sorry to hear this.....ouch!

Peter

oooohhhh.   That's an awful accident there Spence.  The shell can be repaired with a little heat, paint and patience, but I'll bet Midge has one and a tender shell on the shelf. The drawbar probably popped the connector joint on the engine, and those are readily available for sure.  It looks worse than it is... bet the boards are still good.  I'd send it in to MTH as a Christmas surprise and get a firsthand assessment.  Keep us posted, and sorry about your luck my friend.  I've had bad accidents too.

Anything can be fixed. Having said that...that was a big fall, certainly.

The fact that it won't respond may be "simply" loose boards; open the tender

up and press everything back together.

If you have bent driver axles...maybe try to find another one and keep this one (or

sell this one) for parts. The cab roof can actually be cut off (the damaged part)

and repaired...if you have a little scratch building experience.

Tough. Not a new thought, but this is why my layout has plexiglas shields (3 - 4")

along every edge that is not along the wall. 

You could always pay through the nose for one of the new scale (MTH or Lionel) Big Boys to "punish" yourself for being careless. Oh, the pain! (Uh-huh.) 

That stinks!  I haven't had an engine fall since I was in my early teens (knock on wood).  After my first engine fell, I instituted a new rule.  After doing any trackwork or layout work, run an engine that is easy to replace or has less value to you (this is much harder now that i'm in O scale).

I think you could make that big boy shell into a cool scene on the layout and sell the internal to help recover costs of a new one?

Nutz. I sold a favorite N&W Y6b (RK) and the new owner destroyed it just a few days after receiving it. I felt real sorry for him. It was a great engine. If it were mine, I'd try to salvage the electronics and part-out the reset.

My thought is, with the newer fancier Big Boys coming out, there may be a fire-sale on the older models in the next year or so.

Gilly

That is terrible, Spence.  I really feel bad for you.

.....

Dennis

That's painful to look at.

Gandy

Spence, I like the rest of the folks that have posted about your loss, am sorry as well.

I sent this post on to our Club members, told them to open it and look at your loss. Our Club has a 24x36 traveling "O" Gauge layout, and I've mentioned several times of this same thing is going to happen to us. We double head Allegheney's pulling lots of coal loads, and at times add a pusher behind this, and we have a minimal amount of protection if one does start off the track. Normally they short out, and comes to a halt, but one of these times, we're going to draw a short straw, and it's going to stop at floor level, like yours did.  I appreciate you sharing this with the crowd, as it's good food for thought for any of us!

We also have a hinged walk through bridge on one end, we raise to get into the inner circle, and it's come close, being left up at times, trains start running, and luckily, one of us has caught it, before the floor did! Thanks again Spence....Brandy