It's about half the basement Double main two helix the second helix is in the other room so you don't know it's there and a narrow upper shelf on two sides for continoues runs.
I guess I'm just burned out after 40+ yrs this was my 5th or 6 th layout
and after reading some things postd here I think i should get rid of it myself rather then just go in a dumpster.
mikeGTWI just went down and took a look at mine Decided it's time to disassemble gonna take some time it's 25 x 36 in part of the basement. I haven't touched it in 6 mo and no one has seen it for years
Thats a big layout. What caused you lack of interest to move forward? Perhaps in time you may change your mind? Got some photos?
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration
bearmanI have lived in this house since 1995, and my plan is to take my last breath in this house. I will let my daughter figure out what to do with my layout when the time comes.
.
My exact plans with only two minor differences. You have had your house a couple years longer than I have, and I have three daughters that will be encumbered by dad's stupid thing he built in the house!
I am extracting all the fun I need from my hobbies while I am still breathing. After I am gone, take it all to the landfill.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Erie-diamondHere's another alternative. If there is a model rr club near you, visit them and maybe they would take it off your hands and you will know it will be put to good use.
Honestly, as a member of several model railroad clubs, I have noticed little interest from the club as a whole. They might offer to put your layout in their club newsletter.
Individual members may be interested, but the club as a group typically doesnt want someone else's unfinished layout hanging around the clubhouse (if there's a clubhouse, there is probably already a layout in there). One of the clubs I am in actually used to specifically state on the contact us page that we dont buy train collections/layouts. We would still get people who dont read the contact us section. If you do go down the route of talking to local clubs, make sure they dont specifically state that they are not interested on their website.
My personal experience with this is the layout gets disassembled anyway (not many vehicles fit a 4x8, 5x9 or larger layout in one piece), and the track, lumber, salvageable cork, and buildings get parted out separately to different new owners. As others stated, for pennies on the dollar.
There are a few very specific cases where a whole layout will net you some money, but its not the typical experience.
Your mileage may vary.
a John Armstrong ObservationYesterday I was sorting thru some old documents, etc I had saved, and I ran across this old (1995), "Conversation with John Armstrong" from Model Railroad Planning.
At the end of the article he is asked,
"One last question. If you had to move and wanted to salvage part of the CS for a new layout, would you save the yard, and build new staging?"
John's reply:" Oh gosh. I think I'd probably just lie there and die. There are some things you just don't want to think about. "
I took down my layout.last September thanks to a divorce. It took a lot of time to build, and I am not sure if I will have time to build another. But, it's disassembled and in storage so I've got a chance. But, I don't have a home with a train room, so it's all on hold. I'd like to run my trains again. There are issues I'd like to fix, too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Much of my layout is in 8' or 10' sections, but a sawzall might be needed to cut the scenery. There are some sections which I wouldn't bother trying to move or save whole, but might salvage the material. Getting even the sections mentioned out of the layout room whole might be difficult or impossible due to access restrictions...longish pieces of lumber, with care, went into the room okay, but even shorter sections of layout, obviously with more width than a board, and depth, too, might not make it.
Wayne
hominamad What should I do? Should I take it apart gently and stick it in the attic, hoping that one day years from now I'll finish? Or should I just rip it off like a bandaid and not look back?
What should I do? Should I take it apart gently and stick it in the attic, hoping that one day years from now I'll finish? Or should I just rip it off like a bandaid and not look back?
In my mid 40's, I began building my "serious" layouts - the 3rd & 4th ones; each time, convincing myself that we were in our "forever" home. Both these layouts progressed to the completed Plywood-Pacific stage when the relo monster gobbled them up.
Since I had a dedicated train room in each house, I always designed my layouts to maximize the utility of the space. This meant I could include the large majority of my wish-list items. It also meant that moving it was not going to be an option.
Now I'm retired, and on my 5th layout, so it appears I'll be able to finish it (to the extent that it ever happens!). But having gone through the distress of tearing down years of work, my outlook on mid-life layout design has changed.
With 20-20 hindsight, for anyone who is some years from receiving Social Security, I'd recommend building a modular/sectional layout, perhaps based on 2' x 6' units and supported on a room-specific L-girder sub-frame. When its time to move, remove the layout sections, rebuild the sub-frame to fit the new location, install the sections and fill in the gaps with new sections.
The trade-off is portability vs. maxmizing utility, but your layout could be up and running in its new home a few weekends. Also by preserving your past work, you can make progress on the loco roster, car fleet and structures.
So, to your question - I recommend salvaging what you can from the old layout and packing it away, then begin tinkering with what-if sectional plans starting with 8' x 8' and 10' x 10' rooms. When time, space and interest coincide, start building your first layout section.
Jim
I have lived in this house since 1995, and my plan is to take my last breath in this house. I will let my daughter figure out what to do with my layout when the time comes. when I am gone, my layout is someone else's problem.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
I'm having to dismantle my old (30 years or so) layout as my parents have moved into town and I don't figure that I will get out to the ranch with any regularity. I also don't figure that I will ever have any place big enough to set it up again. Most of the benchwork will not be saved. I will however save a section that has the beginnings of the lake. I will also save the buildings and all the turnouts I can. (None of them were ballasted.) I also have saved all the equipment that I have collected over the years. (150-160 piecces or so.)
I am starting on a new layout that is shoehorned in my bedroom. The pieces, including the already mentioned section, were all pieces that were planned for the old layout. The main section was a planned yard expansion that will never attach to the old layout but will form the basis of the new layout. The only thing that had to be done with done components had to be trimmed. (The lake section was shortened and a corner secction was narrowed.)
DONATE to a disabled vet
hominamad Years ago I embarked on my first model railroad construction attempt. Over the course of a year, I put countless hours of hard work into it. It was a modified version of the 4x8 Virginian layout, which I converted into a 5x9. All the benchwork was meticulously done... track work done as well as possible. Even started installing the turnouts... and got to the point where I could finally run trains around it.Then... I realized that I was going to need the space for something else. It really wasn't the end of the world. In fact I stopped working on it 3 years ago.. Work, life, kids, all took precedence. Now I have a 50% completed build, with no scenery, and am trying to figure out how to phsycially and emotionally deal with taking this thing apart.I know I could sell the individual parts on Craigslist or eBay, but it would make me feel so much better if someone would come take the whole thing and finish it and get pleasure from it. The thought of taking a saw and destroying all my hard work is too much to bear!Has anyone been here before? What should I do? Should I take it apart gently and stick it in the attic, hoping that one day years from now I'll finish? Or should I just rip it off like a bandaid and not look back?Curious to know what others have done in this situation.Thanks for reading...H
Years ago I embarked on my first model railroad construction attempt. Over the course of a year, I put countless hours of hard work into it. It was a modified version of the 4x8 Virginian layout, which I converted into a 5x9. All the benchwork was meticulously done... track work done as well as possible. Even started installing the turnouts... and got to the point where I could finally run trains around it.Then... I realized that I was going to need the space for something else. It really wasn't the end of the world. In fact I stopped working on it 3 years ago.. Work, life, kids, all took precedence. Now I have a 50% completed build, with no scenery, and am trying to figure out how to phsycially and emotionally deal with taking this thing apart.I know I could sell the individual parts on Craigslist or eBay, but it would make me feel so much better if someone would come take the whole thing and finish it and get pleasure from it. The thought of taking a saw and destroying all my hard work is too much to bear!Has anyone been here before? What should I do? Should I take it apart gently and stick it in the attic, hoping that one day years from now I'll finish? Or should I just rip it off like a bandaid and not look back?Curious to know what others have done in this situation.Thanks for reading...H
I might suggest you contact a veterans group. I had occassion somewhat recently to run across a fellow who was trying to gather to gather some trains for his disabled friend into a hobby. I mailed them out a considerable amount of my misc 'stuff'.
The small size of your layout makes this a possibility.
JimmyDeignan I was fortunate to be able to sell my Pennsy Middle Division Layout. It was quite the undertaking. Cutting it apart as carefully as we could to minimize damage was of the utmost importance. It was bought by a buyer from Taiwan. Literally on the other side of our planet from me. It was advertised on eBay for $28,500. I never expected a guy from so far away to buy it. His cost to crate & ship it was about $20,000. Below is a link to a few pictures & videos of the layout, the tear down, the move, the crating, and it's arrival in Taiwan, where it was dropped on the street before being loaded by crane into the gentlman's building. https://www.flickr.com/photos/railroadkits/sets/72157699143470771
I was fortunate to be able to sell my Pennsy Middle Division Layout. It was quite the undertaking. Cutting it apart as carefully as we could to minimize damage was of the utmost importance.
It was bought by a buyer from Taiwan. Literally on the other side of our planet from me. It was advertised on eBay for $28,500. I never expected a guy from so far away to buy it. His cost to crate & ship it was about $20,000.
Below is a link to a few pictures & videos of the layout, the tear down, the move, the crating, and it's arrival in Taiwan, where it was dropped on the street before being loaded by crane into the gentlman's building.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/railroadkits/sets/72157699143470771
I was fortunate to be able to sell my Pennsy Middle Division Layout. It was quite the undertaking. Cutting it apart as carefully as we could to minimize damage was of the utmost importance. It was bought by a buyer from Taiwan. Literally on the other side of our planet from me. It was advertised on eBay for $28,500. I never expected a guy from so far away to buy it. His cost to crate & ship it was about $20,000. Below is a link to a few pictures & videos of the layout, the tear down, the move, the crating, and it's arrival in Taiwan, where it was dropped on the street before being loaded by crane into the gentlman's building. https://www.flickr.com/photos/railroadkits/sets/72157699143470771
That was quite the layout. Reminded me of one i helped tear down near DC for an estate where the gentleman passed away and his wife wanted to sell the house. I salvaged the waterfront scene from it, and hope to incorporate it into my new layout.
Are you totally out of the hobby now?
There was a time a few years ago where i contemplated moving to Thailand to live with my Thai wife there. But now I'm retired to FL
PS: just saw you 'history' after I made this reply
BrianHere is one pic of that waterfront scene I salvaged
I wonder if it would be possible for me to save some of those images you had on Flicker??
When I dismantle my first layout I tried to salvage the nails but I couldn't save the cork. Then I threw in the trash. I miss it but than it passes when I was building the new one.
I think my current layout will be scrapped. It's half way done too and I haven't touch it months.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Why did you dismantle the layout after it was published in MRR?
E-L man tom,
Same here. My first layout was only plywood with track down and trains could run. I was just barely starting on the scenery when I had to move. In that case it was a garage layout and built in sections that could be unbolted. I sold it to a guy in Kokomo Indiana and he brought a U-haul down and took it away. That worked out pretty well.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I've had to tear down two layouts because of moves. The first time I had the layout only tracked and wired, no scenery. It was just the luck of the draw, as I just happened to be at that stage when I had to tear it down. The second move, I again had it to the tracked ane wired stage, but anticipated the move, so it wasn't scenicked. I did enjoy running trains on it for about four months before tearing it down.
My new layout room is under construction and I'm playing with various modifications of published track plans that will fit my space. I was able to salvage almost all of the track and turnouts from both moves and I kept part of the original track in tact on the benchwork, although I probably won't even go with the same track configuration and just remove the track and start anew. The benchwork and all the other components are in storage.
Like others, I say salvage what you can and either pitch, sell or give away the rest.
While a layout that is semi finished may not be storable in some environments, you can still save components for re-use. That is what I did.
After carefully removing the track, track nails, spikes, drywall screws and even pieces of wood for re-use, I removed the scenery shell and stripped the layout down to the "bones", the original basic framing. I saved it all for re-incorporation into a future layout. Some frame parts will drop right into the new track plan, others will need to be modified or cut to fit into places. This will reduce the amount of lumber I will need to buy and I've heard lumber prices have gone up.
Stacking track and componets:
Stripping scenery off to get basic framing:
Last of two 2x8 foot sections standing:
Draft of new track plan. Red gridded area's are where two 2x8 sections of old benchwork will drop-in when ready to start building.
If the layout is fairly easily transported, I would try to sell it on the local craigslist. That's what I did with my recent small N-scale layout. If you decide to give that a try, post some photos with the add after removing everyting that you aren't getting rid of with the layout. In my case, I saved all the trains and buikdings but left the scenery intact, including streetlights, trees, etc.
If, after a few weeks you have no takers, youj can always dispose of it in ways others have mentioned.
Never, ever, willingly get rid of something you like, even if you can't logically forsee a near time when you can use it.
My layout was torn down because of a move. It's okay, I didn't like it that much anyway.
If you can attic the 5 x 9 benchwork, go for it. At the least, remove and save the turnouts and as much track as you can. They can be reused later.
Of course, if there comes a time when you can again operate a layout, your interests may have changed. Throw it out then.
- Douglas
hominamadBTW - my post was intentionally melodramatic as an attempt at humor - of course this is not a REAL tragedy
Remember this is the internet and emoticons and other aids were invented because people can't always read others minds or figure out is someone is trying to be "funny" or as the Brits would say, take the Mickey out of us, which happens often here. If you want to avoid people misunderstanding, help us out or you may get a bunch of assorted responses.
.. but it is very sad having to admit to myself that this project won't be continuing anymore. I definitely plan on re-entering the hobby at some point in my life when I have more time to devote towards it.
Believe me, you are not alone. Just a few years ago I was accused of being a (dirty word in some train forums), wait for it, "collector" because I didn't have a layout - horrors, and has for years been working on building a train roster after tearing down my last layout, waiting for the day a new layout would be built.
I went through a separation in 2000 and had to tear down an almost finished 14x25 foot layout. After that I lived in small apartments with no room for a layout or no place to do constructions stuff for even a 4x8 for about 14 years. Thats a long time. So when I finally got a 10x18' room to build a layout, it was a long time in coming. But even that place my 2nd wife and I only planned on being there for about 4 years, so the layout I build there I knew was temporary. Thats the one in the demolition photo's above.
Anyway, most of us here on the forum have undergone the "tragedy" (hah) of tearing down labors of love, and moving on. Keep hope alive - it's even worth being accused of giving advise with now layout or being a collector, gasp.
The poetic justice of that instance of being about 4 years ago is I was giving some "advise" here at MR forums based on my experiences and someone came in and said, more or less, "hey, what business do you have giving advise, you don't even have a layout". Someone else, who knew I was well into a layout, came in and corrected the him. That guy had to eat crow, feathers and all.
hominamad I have a Craigslist ad that has pics, etc. Am I allowed to post that here?
I have a Craigslist ad that has pics, etc. Am I allowed to post that here?
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Amazing layout! Must have been very sad dismantling that.
Very helpful replies everyone. Especially like the idea of contacting the local club to see if anyone there is interested or maybe I could donate it as someone else suggested.
BTW - my post was intentionally melodramatic as an attempt at humor - of course this is not a REAL tragedy, but it is very sad having to admit to myself that this project won't be continuing anymore. I definitely plan on re-entering the hobby at some point in my life when I have more time to devote towards it.
Thanks everyone.
Sound like you have only laid track so far. That is easy to dismantle and salvage. Most of us have gone far beyond that point with landscaping and that make tearing down a layout much more painful.
I suggest you shift to a strategy that give you more flexability in the future. If you like to build but do not have the space desired for a full layout, build modules such as the 2x4 standard module you see at train shows. These are much easier to stash away in the corner of a garage and can be pulled out from time to time to run trains. Somtime in the future when you do find the space you want, you can use these modules to become a starting point for a bigger layout.
I chose a different option to deal with my need to move occassionally combined with my lack of internal space for a layout. I took a 26' RV travel trailer, gutted it and built my layout in it. Allowed me to build a 8'4" x 23' N scale layout in a space that I can take with me when I move. It has already been through one move. I chose a travel trailer because it looks like an RV which most neighborhoods will allow to be parked at your home. A utility trailer can also work but may not be allowed in some neighborhoods. Although the initial cost can be an issue for many, that cost is sometimes less than the money and time lost in tearing down a static layout. I bought an old RV for $1500 and then spent another $1500 making it serviceable That worked for me.
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
I'm pretty sure that he didn't mean "tragedy" in the traditional sense...give the op a little more credit than that!
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
Salvage what you can to reuse on a future layout, if that might be a possibility, and scrap the rest. If you see no future layout sell what you can and scrap the rest.