While shooting a new model train video, there was a nasty head-on collision between a $1000 locomotive with a $500 camera mounted on it and a $600 locomotive. The camera was hanging out over the right side of the locomotive… just a little too far… and slammed right in to the oncoming train. It was a severe impact!
I was working on putting together an all-new video with the LGB G-scale locomotive, modeled after a locomotive from the Rhaetian Railway (RhB). The locomotive features realistic smoke from the smokestack, with a chuffing sound that is synchronized to the puffing of the smoke. This locomotive, LGB model number 20273, is one of the most rare items in my model train collection. Only 399 of them were produced worldwide.
My original concept for the video was to shoot the train running on my layout from multiple camera angles, and then edit it all together in to a 5 or 10 minute video. It took me about a half a day to assemble the layout and get it all running properly, and then I spent several hours shooting video of the train from multiple camera perspectives. For my final shot of the day, I mounted a GoPro on to the right side of the locomotive.
After the crash, I reviewed the footage from the GoPro and realized that there was no need to use any of the other shots from different angles. This one simple view from the right side was the best view of all, and the crash itself was far more interesting than anything else I had shot. I ended up discarding everything else I shot, because this one little video clip was far more interesting than anything else I shot that day!