BigDaddy What happens to the layout when I pass on? I had to clean out my mothers house last year and I inherited her pack rat genes. My kids might salvage the layout for the grandkids, or they might order a big dumpster. Bottom line, I don't want spend a lot of dough on infrastructure that will get trashed. Yes they could take it all apart and sell it on ebay, but practically, with them living far away, it's never going to happen.
What happens to the layout when I pass on? I had to clean out my mothers house last year and I inherited her pack rat genes. My kids might salvage the layout for the grandkids, or they might order a big dumpster. Bottom line, I don't want spend a lot of dough on infrastructure that will get trashed. Yes they could take it all apart and sell it on ebay, but practically, with them living far away, it's never going to happen.
BigDaddy The subject of what happens after you die is worth another thread. It is highly situational as far as is the home empty, how far away are the heirs who are going to dispose of stuff, do they have time or even interest? Are there heirs at all? Some people out live their children, or have no children and are very much alone. I don't want this thread to morph into post mortum sibiling rivalries and appraisals. If someone wants to start that thread I'll be happy to participate.
The subject of what happens after you die is worth another thread. It is highly situational as far as is the home empty, how far away are the heirs who are going to dispose of stuff, do they have time or even interest? Are there heirs at all? Some people out live their children, or have no children and are very much alone.
I don't want this thread to morph into post mortum sibiling rivalries and appraisals. If someone wants to start that thread I'll be happy to participate.
I lost a brother-in-law several years ago, and his layout still sits in his basement, complete with electronics, locos and rolling stock.
In my own case, I have kept all of the original boxes and written a detailed memorandum to my son of how to dispose of everything. But the question remains, what does happen to your layout after you die?
It's not only your layout, but everything that you own, your furniture, your household goods, your tools, your indoor and outdoor appliances, whatever.
My suggestion is that if your children are not interested in selling stuff on eBay, then call in someone who will buy it all, lock, stock, and barrel, so to speak, even if it means a dime on the dollar.
If you spend too much time worrying about what will happen to your layout before you die, then tear it down now and you will have one less thing to worry about.
What say you?
Rich
Alton Junction
Why would one even worry about this ??? I guess if you spend a lot of time worrying about what happens to your stuff after you die, than I agree with Rich, get rid of everything now, and sit and wait to die.
I perfer to live the way I want, and have what I want, until that time comes. After that......who cares?
Mike.
My You Tube
I wouldn't say I am worried about, but having had to put my mom, who has Alzheimers, in assisted living, I, an only child, was saddled with another house 60 miles away. She became afraid of strangers and there was no maintenence in the 16 years since my step father died. The hot water heater was 25 years old, the water conditioner was shot, the well was contaminated, the roof leaked. Important financial papers were mixed in with coupons and recipes. Then there was all the stuff she saved, my step fathers clothes, boxes by the 100's, ashtrays from when she smoked 50 years ago, books, jewlery tools china etc. The burden of cleaning up the mess and fixing up the house was enormous and for me it started at the worst possible time: one month after open heart surgery. Most of the baby boom generation have had the same experience as I have.
Add to all that mess, our hypothesis is there was a substantial model railroad hobby (which wasn't the case here.) I've read any number of posts here where people have 50-70 engines. I see ads and people at shows who build custom layouts, so the people who have custom layouts built for them must be lurking here somewhere.
There are probably many people here who have $10,000 and more tied up in the hobby they have enjoyed for 20-40 years. It wouldn't surprise me to find out (and I don't think most people would or should admit to it on an internet forum) that they have six figures wrapped up in.
Even at fire sale prices there could be an interesting dollar amount engines, custom cars or structures and the electronic boosters, circuit breakers and signaling apparatus.
So I think making a list of the valuable stuff would be a good idea. Also a list of contacts of friends in the hobby that might be interested in purchasing or helping in dispose of the collection would be helpful.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Someone else is going to have to deal with it. I'm not worried.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
My sweet wife, and my two kids know what stuff cost, as they have bought me many things, like top of the line locos, and RTR cars. My kids know all about eBay, Amazon, etc., for anything they want to sell.
Most of the other stuff, like "custom cars or structures" are only worth what someone would pay, regarless of what they are worth in your mind.
If making list, and cataloging everything makes sense to you, then by all means do what gives you peace of mind.
Not my problem.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Who Cares, my layout was built for Me, my enjoyment. It has served it's purpose.Once I 'm gone, ''who ever'' can take it, along with all my other stuff and do whatever.
I went to a train auction this past weekend.. Lots of blue boxes, about 15 brass engines, unbuilt and built buildings, trucks, track, wheelsets, etc, etc, oh and every model railroader ever. Every thing went for a fair price. There were about 30 guys there and three resellers showed up who bought most of the stuff. After about 3 hours everything was sold.
Steve
What a morbid topic. You can easily replace train for most other prized possession after you pass away. I prefer not to worry about the stuff and focus on the enjoyment. The satisfaction factor is really, really pricelss.
I have several items on my layout that belong to various members of my operating crew. I want these returned. I don't consider any of my buildings of museum quality, and the layout itself cannot be moved.
When I am done, my son will most likely sell rolling stock etc on Ebay, as he hasn't done MRing in 25+ yeasrs.
It matters not to me.
I have spoken to my wife, both kids and the SIL. They know to sell it for whatever a buyer wants to give them. Anything not sold can go either to a pawn shop or the local NMRA membership. There are a few brass locomotives that they know to send to one of the big brass companies.
Its like a will, if you don't have one it makes it tougher on your heirs to dispose of your assets. Why burden them, make a general list of things and what they should expect.
I've bought a couple of items on eBay that were listed as "estate sale." I've tried to give these a good home on my layout. I'd like to think that my engines and rolling stock would find a good place as well.
Alas, my wife resents the time I spend with my trains, and would more likely consign them to a dumpster out of spite.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
This whole thing reminds me of Queequeg in Moby Dick.
Charlie
My executor might have a problem.
Unless a family member wants to move into it, the house will go on the market. That means the layout will be dismantled. Most of it will recycle (steel, not forest products) but not in its present configuration.
Every piece of assembled and operable rolling stock has a car card, with the item's complete pedigree on the back. Selling on E-bay or at auction, that data will be useful to the seller - and might come as a shock when the buyer gets it. (Brass 2-8-2, original price under $20 American....)
With the exception of some unmodified MRC and similar power packs, the layout electricals would only be of interest to a recycler of such items - at about 2 percent of cost.
Scenic details - dumpster filler.
In any event, I won't be around to be concerned.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Since it represents a very small portion of my net worth, who cares!
I discussed this with my wife has once. Her cousin Adam is a 16 year old train guy but into Lionel. So I left instructions that he could have whatever he wants from my HO layout. The rest will go out with trash I suspect.
Joe Staten Island West
MisterBeasley Alas, my wife resents the time I spend with my trains, and would more likely consign them to a dumpster out of spite.
Big Daddy I don't want spend a lot of dough on infrastructure that will get trashed.
I won't be around to care and don't care what happens to my stuff when I croak. I plan to do a lot of frivolous spending before then. Not buying things to enjoy because of what will happen to them when you die!? Think about what you just said, you're dead, you won't be around to care, enjoy yourself.
I am the excecutor to more peoples estates than any sane man should be. I make it clear to all when they ask me to do the job that I will not go through their stuff other than to see that certain people get certain items that have been spelled out in the will. The rest will go to the auction house that will pick it all up. To a person they all could care less.
The last person that died whose estate I had to look after, left all her stuff including a house to a niece and nephew. It was full of high end antique furniture. The kids didn't want any of it and it sold for pennies on the dollar at the auction house. So it all boils down to how much effort the beneficiaries want to put in as far as selling things themselves or just taking the easy route and letting the auction house deal with it.
I know that my wife would give my RR stuff away to a club or a Dad with a young family a little short on funds, but if it ends up in the dumpster I won't be around to care.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
A friend of mine described the perfect retirement, when you are on your death bed you cut the final check to the undertaker and it bounces the next day.
MisterBeasley I've bought a couple of items on eBay that were listed as "estate sale." I've tried to give these a good home on my layout. I'd like to think that my engines and rolling stock would find a good place as well. Alas, my wife resents the time I spend with my trains, and would more likely consign them to a dumpster out of spite.
You are a better, more tolerant man than I Mr. B. I think my wife would end up in the dumpster first.
CharlieYou are a better, more tolerant man than I Mr. B. I think my wife would end up in the dumpster first.
kasskabooseI keep reminding her that unlike golf, or being at a bar, you know where I am with model trains. We should start a support group for people in our situation.
I know a couple of nice local bars with live music, no cover and draft beer. If you want to meet me there sometime, look for the guy who's not wearing a wedding ring that night and smells better than he usually does....
Always play with your wife more than you play with yourself. Play with your trains when she is at work or when she is tired of your affection.
Anyway, I saw on TV someone cleaning out a house which had a large model railroad. Everything went straight into the dumpster because the workers considered the trains to be toys and thought they had no value.
j...........
P.S. My girlfriend (soon to be wife) gets everything when I go. She will sell it on ebay. She never throws anything away that she could sell.
Well, hopefuly I will have made a list of the more valuable items before I die as a guide. Otherwise it's up to my wife or children to keep/dispose of the stuff as they see fit. I have 1 son with some interest in trains as well as one grandson - so they'll probably get most of it.
Paul
Bear!
I subscribe to the 'bounce the last cheque' philosophy too. So did my dad but fortunately for us kids be managed to screw that up.
(Canadian spelling of 'check' eh!)
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Many times I have said to myself that I need to get off my butt and do an inventory and valuation of my train stuff so my family can get the best prices for it. Then I remind myself of what we went through with my parent's possessions. My brother insisted that we get the maximum dollar for every single one of the multitude of possessions that they had so we spent weeks sorting through the stuff. We took 17 trailers full of junk to the dump, and the trailer was not small! We had three garage sales as well as several viewings by antique dealers. We also commuted 115 kms each way to get to the house many, many times.
The antique dealers only bought a very few items. The garage sales generated less money than it cost us to drive back and forth. We wasted literally hundreds of hours in the whole useless process. We should have called in someone to clean the place out and let them make what they could on it. We lost money.
The point of this rant is that I will never ever subject any member of my family to the same exhausting and useless process. I will tell them to call in a model railway liquidator and take what they offer. I will make my family aware of the documentation that I already have re my rolling stock so they can show it to the buyer.
Besides, my wife would kill me again if she really knew what I have spent on the hobby!
hon30critter Many times I have said to myself that I need to get off my butt and do an inventory and valuation of my train stuff so my family can get the best prices for it. Then I remind myself of what we went through with my parent's possessions. My brother insisted that we get the maximum dollar for every single one of the multitude of possessions that they had so we spent weeks sorting through the stuff. We took 17 trailers full of junk to the dump, and the trailer was not small! We had three garage sales as well as several viewings by antique dealers. We also commuted 115 kms each way to get to the house many, many times. The antique dealers only bought a very few items. The garage sales generated less money than it cost us to drive back and forth. We wasted literally hundreds of hours in the whole useless process. We should have called in someone to clean the place out and let them make what they could on it. We lost money. The point of this rant is that I will never ever subject any member of my family to the same exhausting and useless process. I will tell them to call in a model railway liquidator and take what they offer. I will make my family aware of the documentation that I already have re my rolling stock so they can show it to the buyer. Besides, my wife would kill me again if she really knew what I have spent on the hobby! Dave
The Abbot told me "It all gets trashed when I die".
Well, I will make a bill of goods specifying what has value and what does not. This way they will know what to save for sale on eBay, what can be salvaged to the shops, and what goes to the burn pile.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
My neighbors father was a pack rat. Back in the day when you actually could buy mail order guns, instead of buying a 1903 Springfield rifle for $50, he bought a parts gun, made of cheaper parts. You get the idea.
He died, leaving a row of steamer trunks along both sides of the garage from floor to ceiling. As they were throwing another box of useless magazine away, a gold coin fell out. He mixed gold and silver coins and ingots with old magazines. They have no idea how much gold they threw away before they made that discovery.
I cannot say that I do not care, partly because I know there is at least some genuine value in the stuff and also because I hate to add any burdens on my wife.
A good buddy died before his time. His widow told us at the funeral that the layout would stay in place as long as we wanted to operate it. We had a few sessions - very melancholy to see his empty dispatcher's chair, and the guy who ran the switch lists said it was spooky to find his laptop still plugged in and running (it had the car forwarding system on it). Finally she did say it was time for the layout to go. When it came time his closest friends helped disassemble the layout, which was huge, and surprisingly, most of it was sold. They held a big garage sale to sell off the rolling stock, structures, figures, trees, magazines, tools, etc. -- pennies on the dollar of course but his widow understood. This guy had a large supply of kits that he had intended to get to.
Contrast with an estate sale I went to -- the guy died after a long illness that prevented him from working on the railroad or, obviously, from taking any steps to disassemble it. Then his wife died a few years after. Even the newest stuff was 20 years old, and the oldest stuff was from the 1940s. The two daughters took it on themselves to try to sell the stuff. They had no idea about trains and as a consequence were asking way too much for some stuff, way too little for others (such as the guy's prized brass locomotives). The magazines and books alas all reeked of "damp basement." The layout itself was really unsalable and unsalvagable and I tried to explain to the daughters why this was so. It was evident they had never talked to their dad about what to do with his trains. I bought some stuff at what I thought was a fair price. The guy had been a real craftsman in his prime and I am happy to own some examples of his skills.
I hope that when I start to fade I have the strength to dismantle my own layout rather than put any burden on my dear wife. She does understand that for the most part nobody really wants another guy's layout no matter how pretty it is. She also understands that for the equipment, what she'd get is pennies on the dollar, even stuff still factory sealed in the box with the original price tag. I have told her however that my railroad books are another matter and in many cases the list price of the book is a fraction of what it could sell for now, assuming good condition. But if all of them went to Goodwill or Purple Heart or even the dumpster, I understand. Same with my slides and digital images. I got my money's worth out of all of it.
What I worry about more is my four file cabinets and two bedroom dressers full of valuable railroadiana, some of it from the 1850s. For some of those items I feel more that I have been entrusted with pieces of railroad history than that I own them and can do with them what I please. There is perhaps no basis for that feeling but there it is. Probably what I should do is start the process myself of finding new homes.
Dave Nelson