LDD WIP: Montparnasse steamtrain crash

[Steven L]

I’ve recently discovered Lego Digital Designer. I like the program and love to build with unlimited bricks.

I like my builds to be more than just a static model. For instance, an engineer yelling at the boilerman or a bum in the boxcar. For my new project I was searching the internet for inspiration. That’s when I found this:

JK: Very nice image, but way to big also for the new rules: image can be found here

It’s the crash of a steamtrain in Paris. Montpernasse station to be exact, in 1895.

This topic is about the build of this event. The two objects I have to investigate is the train and the station. I’ve found pics of the station, so I can build that. (only the front of the building, as I’m going to work towards the picture.) The train looks like it’s got one set of small wheels in front and two sets of gear wheels behind that. And a short backhead/cab. The tender is hanging and it looks like a passenger coach.

So first up, the station façade.

[The_Skirrid]

Here is a scan of the article in Nature magazine. They tried shifting it with a team of 14 horses before bringing in a monster winch.

[Steven L]

Thanks for the info, The_Skirrid. I've seen a photograph of the other side, like the first etching in your link. But I haven't seen a picture from the inside of the station. It looks like a box car or baggage car. The link you posted shure put things more into perspective.

[The_Skirrid]

There's a few photos of the winching team kicking around, but I can't find one of the horse attempt.

Quick, Bricklink 14 horses

[eurotrash]

This scene is included in Scorsese's Hugo movie. You might want to check that out for architectural details of the station as well.

[Steven L]

I have seen that movie and the scene you mentioned. However, in the movie it's called Montpernasse trainstation, but it isn't. The real station didn't have a clock tower next to it. (the story revolves around the clock tower, so Scorsese took the liberty to add a clock tower. Wikipedia has a picture of the actual trainstation.

JK: Very nice image too, but also way to big also for the new rules: image can be found here

[Frank STENGEL]

The train looks like it’s got one set of small wheels in front and two sets of gear wheels behind that.

Indeed, it is a type 120A (french numbering, 240 in other circles) from the chemins de fer de l'ouest. There aren't that many photos of a similar loc. This page (sorry in french, look for "1860 à 1875" and after) has got a few. There is no roof above the conductor: just a windshield. The first car was a luggage car similar to the first one found there.

[Steven L]

Thanks everyone for all the help. Now it's time to start building.

[medib]

Chemin de Fer Ouest

West Train Station.... :)

[ronenson]

They made a reproduction of the accident in Brasil (http://www.mundoavapor.com.br/). I think they used some artistic freedom, 'cause it

doesn't look exactly like the original picture, but it sure adds color:

[Anticyclone]

It's nice to see someone else give this a try, Steven. I actually started recreating this accident in LEGO a few years back and It's still a WIP for me. I got all but the other half of the station completed. I can't wait to see how yours turns out. :)

[Steven L]

@RONENSON: That looks great, but a lot of artistic freedom. As for the color scheme, I think I'm going for the "Hugo" movie. I think it used to have a copper roof, so a nice green/blue roof with off-white and gray-brown bricks.

Right now I’ve got the two big arches, through where the locomotive crashed. I might have to make it two or four bricks wider. Pics later.

@Anticyclone: Are you making it in real life or with LDD?

I’ve found a making off video of the Hugo train crash. Lots of details visable and I think the train resembles the actual train.

Edited August 20, 2013 by Steven L

[Anticyclone]

@Steven L: Mine is built out of real LEGO.

[alois]

I have seen that movie and the scene you mentioned. However, in the movie it's called Montpernasse trainstation, but it isn't. The real station didn't have a clock tower next to it. (the story revolves around the clock tower, so Scorsese took the liberty to add a clock tower. Wikipedia has a picture of the actual trainstation.

Image

It says 'Buffet de la gare Montparnasse' on the facade, so why shouldn't this be the Gare Montparnasse? By the way, Montparnasse station was demolished long ago and replaceby a modern building. Maybe that's what's confusing you.

[Steven L]

@Anticyclone: that must be awesome!

@alois: This is Scorsese's trainstation:

This is the traincrash from Hugo:

When you look at the first picture I posted, of the actual crash, you see one arch where the train went through and another one next to it. In Hugo there is just one arch. When you look at the etch in the PDF someone posted earlier, you see the other side of the crash. No clock tower. You can actually see appartement buildings across the street.

Reading your post back, I think there is a misunderstanding. The station IS called Gare Montpernasse but the building in Hugo is fictive (although based on Gare Montpernasse). For my build, I'm this far right now: It's the double arches where the train went through. I've put two double tracks behind it for size.

Edited August 30, 2013 by Steven L

[Steven L]

Update:

I've added the left and right wing. Changed the color scheme (not entirely happy with it, but it's getting there). I had to alter the two arches because it didn't line up with the seven smaller arches on the first floor. I know it's an upside down build, but I wanted the arch where the train goes to be in proportion with the train.

I also added the LXF file if someone want to take a closer look. I still have to lower the brick count, but that's for later.

montparnasse crash.lxf

Edited August 30, 2013 by Steven L

[antp]

Chemin de Fer Ouest

West Train Station.... :)

"Chemins de fer de l'ouest" = "west railroads", that's the name of the company, not the name of the station ;)

[Steven L]

You are right, antp. It's sometimes confusing with all the different names and companies. And it's all in Frensh. I almost started modeling the "Hugo" trainstation, but then I found the Wikipedia page about the train crash with a link to the old Montpernasse trainstation.

I've added the first floor yesterday (Left and right wing mostly copy/paste from the second floor). Also added a clock in the center of the building. For colors I'm thinking about using Gare Saint-Lazare http://en.wikipedia....zare_Facade.JPG. So light gray with beige and a dark gray roof.

I'll post pictures later.

I was working on a street light but I couldn't find a way to build something like this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Street_lamp_hunting_lodge_Moenchbruch_-_Stra%C3%9Fenlaterne_Jagdschloss_M%C3%B6nchbruch.jpg But instead of two, it has 3 lights, the last one where the center spike is. Any thoughts?

[ScotNick]

I designed a lamp for you:

Here is one with a little bit more details:

Hope I was able to help.

[Murdoch17]

There is always the BrickForge lamp:

http://www.brickforge.com/store/home.php?cat=407

[Steven L]

Thanks for the help ScotNick and Murdoch17, I made a combination of both:

The trainstation looks like this now:

I've also made, in a new file, the train:

From the side:

There are two things I don't like about the train: In the picture of the crash, you see that the big wheels have closed wheel arches. If I want to mimic that, I have to make the train two nobs wider, and I don't want that. Also, I have to find a way to make the wheel arches fit the wheels. So I used the arches you see here.

Second thing I don't like is the flex rod, wrapped along the chimney. In the actual photograph, you see two tubes running over the train, around the chimney.

I've added the LXF, if you want to take a closer look.

montparnasse train.lxf

Edited August 30, 2013 by Steven L

[Steven L]

Added the train to the station, to see how it looks.

The lavender is scaffolding. It will be removed later.

In the back you see a horse. It's going to be a tram. I'm going to add detail and a few people walking around and looking at the train. I'm thinking about a small flower stand on the corner of the street. To show that life continues around the accident.

Edited August 30, 2013 by Steven L

[Barduck]

unbelieve the amount of work and detail you've put in there with only one week work

[Steven L]

I'm a draftsman by profession. Using CAD programs makes you think in easy steps. So I'm used to cut and paste engineering. The windows are made with one window frame and one window, than copy/pasted ones, than the two windows copy/pasted and so on. In 5 steps you get 32 windows. Beats placing 32 windows and 32 window frames. Left and right wing are also copy/pasted (to bad there isn't a mirror tool). A lot of objects, like the train and the wagons are joined into one, so they are easy to select and move.

[Steven L]

Added some more: Flower stand (my wife is a florist at the market. This looks like her.

Horse and tram added. It can pass the derailed train.

The train crash with the horse tram in the back.

I added the new LXF file, so you can have a closer look if you want.

Edited August 30, 2013 by Steven L