the M word

[CBQ_Guy]

Well, you've got her opinion on the matter...

Now, what's the man of the house got to say? [:-^]

[Anonymous]

Hmm well I will bring my rolling stock and structures, swithc machines.
I do not see any successful way to move anything else.
I will start over and correct the mistakes I made before.
to me move means a legitimate exscues to start with a clean slate.

[Anonymous]

it might help to know that even if it is movable it may not survive. I just moved and had not had enough time to set my layout up on its legs in our new home. Before I got that done, the town lost power to it's sewage lift station, which in turn allowed our new basement to become thier new sewage storage tank. The resulting flood left me not only without a layout, but the stratmore structures that were aparently only valuable to me. it almost makes me want to take up macrame!

[johncolley]

While you still have this one, look at it with a critical eye and work out your lists of givens and druthers, What details would you change and what would you keep, before you even know what your new space dimensions are. Also, while you have time, salvage what ever you can and carefully package up all your rolling stock, power source, etc. You don't want to be doing that when you are pressed for the move date.

[Anonymous]

Been there done that! One *MAJOR* factor I overlooked when my wife and I were house-hunting back in the Spring of 2000: Climate control.

Since it was late May when we toured the house we're currently living in, I simply looked at the empty 2-car garage and thought, "Cool---24by22---plenty of space---nada problem!"

Later, when we had bought the house and moved in, I experienced a late-July heat wave and couldn't handle any prolonged stays in the garage. Same issue in winter except opposite end of thermometer. And of course I foolishly didn't budget for the expenses of having the walls and ceiling insulated, or a separate electrical circuit for the heat pump.

The net result: My new layout STILL hasn't been built. Hopefully this will change soon, as I just inherited a few thousand from my late mother's estate.

Bottom line: Always consider temp/humidity control in addition to square footage when shopping for a layout-friendly new home.

[grayfox1119]

Even though my 1st layout under construction now, will more than likely stay right where it is as we are retired and NOT moving, I am going to make sure that my benchwork is not nailed or screwed together, but with carriage bolts and wing nuts for the main connection points.
I used this technique for my wife's dept56 Christmas village layout, which takes up 6 4'x4' tables in an "L" configuration, and I can set these tables up in 1/2 hour!! This is the way to go for me at least.

[Anonymous]

I am still in the final stages of recovery from a recent move. I have already decided that when we move next time, probably in a couple years, I am packing all my structures and rolling stock, tearing up the track (and salvaging what survives), and tossing the benchwork. There is just no practical way to move such huge sections of table work - even though it is sectional! The only question is whether to scrape and save the ground cover materials (the cheap skate option) or just buy new bags of the stuff (the sane option). The good thing about moving though is you get a chance to build the railroad you'd build if you hadn't built the one you did. Maybe when the time comes to start over, I'll actually lay the track the right way!

[mondotrains]

I know what you mean because we are thinking of moving. Just yesterday, we went looking at new homes and I'm going through the same anxiety you are.

I tore up my last layout 4 years ago and my new layout is in the detailing/scenery stage with all track installed, soldered and running nicely.

This morning I thought about it carefully and realized that the next layout will be much larger and probably will have many more features and less of the "problems" inherent with the current layout because of the space limitations e.g. aisle width. I also realized that much of the time I've spent in the last 4 years was used to build all the structures, including bridges, which will obviously be salvaged for the next layout. In fact, when I come to think about it, it only took a few weeks to get the new benchwork built and about 12 months to get the track down and wired. However, this time I will probably go with DCC so the wiring will be easier.

I guess I've just convinced myself that moving is great!

Hope it goes well for you.

Mondo

[ndbprr]

My first "portable" layout was built in my 20's and based on what was the absolute largest dimension I could fit out of the basement. IT would up in the trash. My next p[ortable layout consisted of 30' x 8' box construction and I still have a couple of thsoe modules. The next one being started is going to 30" x 4' sections. Moving them won't be too bad and more modules can be added or deleted as space permits. It does however tie me to the same theme of modeling which may or may not prove to be a benefit.

[Anonymous]

Superhohon, once the trauma of starting over with a "clean slate" sets in; you will probably sit down at the drafting board with more enthusiasm than ever before. Rarely will previous track plans translate to new environs even if salvage was an easy matter. I wish you success in planning your brand new layout.

[trolleyboy]

Man that's rough, and your right layouts built to be portable never seem to be.It's worse once the scenery happens light weight hydrocal is anything but. Having had to move one moveable layout myself I feel your pain.It is always best to look forward to the new basement however. Good luck with your move Rob

[Anonymous]

My present layout has been 3 1/2 years in the making and I am almost finished, starting into the detailing stage. As luck would have it my wife started talking about the most evil of the four letter words, MOVE.
I built it in sections with the thought of being portable but anyone who has tried this knows it is just a futile attempt. And I'm sure our next house my "train room's" dimensions will not even be close to my present area.
Anyway after my inital dissappointment, I got to thinking. BIGGER LAYOUT, now maybe at last I can have room for a......and maybe a......... and that.........that I have always wanted. The possibilities are endless.....

To bad my present layout had to die for this.