...It was a dark and stormy night. Actually it was here in OK, tornadoes claimed 11 lives in Lone Grove and the OKC area in the first tornado related storms of 2009.
I also derailed my Proto 2000 Spectrum Series 2-10-2 Heavy, Illinois Central 2924. It was a gentle derail - the locomotive and tender rolled over and slid down a grade (6-7"). The DCC & Sound connection and wiring was intact. The wreck resulted in the breaking of the cheap plastic loco to tender coupling device of the Proto 2000 DCC and Sound. I was a tad bit upset to find this part of the loco and tender was so fragile. It's 2 months old, Walthers told me today it was not warrantied for repair (I didn't figure it would be) but was told to send them part #s to see if they were available.
I'm inclined to change the way the Proto locomotive and tender couples to something a bit stronger & less apt to break. Something like the Bachmann USRA 2-10-2 Light coupler - a simple piece of metal hooked between both units. As shown in the exploded view of parts & snipped by me.
(http://i42.tinypic.com/33jpfdf.jpg)
It would be a lot more substantial than the paper matchstick sized plastic connection that Walthers - Proto - Life-Like puts on their top end series of steamers.
I know you're supposed to be easy on these locomotives and such but if the first accident you have destroys the action and fun maybe[/i] it's time to retool.
Okie Rick
I've always thought the P2K drawbar connection was superior to the Bachmann Spectrum -- a single click to attach and detatch, rather than a bunch of flimsy wires and two tiny plugs that are hard to handle and connect from beneath, rather than a solid straight-on plug.
My connection bar didn't live long enough to be enjoyed. I can't physically repair the locomotive myself so it's going to take a trip back to "Keith at Repairs" at Walthers.
Rick w/ mouthstick
For what we pay for Proto equipment, the "coupling" should be a little more durable.