Gandy Dancer wrote: GAPPLEG wrote:If it's your dream pursue it , but I guess it would be not a money maker.Not really trying to make money. If I was going to do that I could turn it into an assisted living complex.I just want to make better use of the space, and maximize the MR enjoyment from it.
GAPPLEG wrote:If it's your dream pursue it , but I guess it would be not a money maker.
I just want to make better use of the space, and maximize the MR enjoyment from it.
How about an assisted living complex for model railroaders? A lot of us are getting long at the tooth around here. That might allow some folks to get the help they need yet stay in the hobby.
Have fun
galaxy wrote:If you have fundage for this project, can you add/get into collecting/rebuiling and laying some track to run 1:1 trains as well? In the 60 miles from nowhere? That would be a good draw.
Also three basketball court sized layout....how long will it be before this garganguan (which we would all love) will be done so I can run my trains?
How about if you developed a layoutplan? Then assign modules ala club style that visitors could senick themselves (within some parameters to maintain some cohesiveness rather than unrelated modules side by side) and add (permanently??) to the layout. That way, they could revisit with purpose and help it grow!
R. T. POTEET wrote:Your post stated that you were sixty miles from the middle of nowhere.You could perhaps get this to work; if I were you, however, I think I would take my money and see if there's not a bridge for sale somewhere in England!!!
You could perhaps get this to work; if I were you, however, I think I would take my money and see if there's not a bridge for sale somewhere in England!!!
Smoke wrote:Where would it be located? I noticed in your profile that your in Colorado,
galaxy wrote:How about if you developed a layoutplan? Then assign modules ala club style that visitors could senick themselves (within some parameters to maintain some cohesiveness rather than unrelated modules side by side) and add (permanently??) to the layout. That way, they could revisit with purpose and help it grow!
Good idea! Kind of like Steve King's VM layout in MR, you make a temporary loop, then when people come, they can build another section. It will also give them an excuse to come back!
"We need to go back to work on their layout!"
If you decide to do this, can you post when it's open? Maybe I can convince my parents to go there for a vacation. They wouldn't have to worry about where I would be!
Now then....how many locos can I fit in my suitcase?
The building may be cheap, but I would check out the utilities. I would imagine that heating that much space get's expensive in the winter. Also, there's the maintenance even assuming the building's in good shape.
I think you'd be further ahead to build your own place.
Enjoy
Paul
Gandy Dancer,
If you have fundage for this project, can you add/get into collecting/rebuiling and laying some track to run 1:1 trains as well? In the 60 miles from nowhere? That would be a good draw.
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Well, I am bit of a nut...but then again, I have had my business for almost 10 years, and everyone thoughts I was crazy. I dont know much about what you have, in the sense of what the land is like and climate, butif you go for it, think about the RV crowd. Set up a RV campground and you get people to come that way as well. I have spent some time RVing and I have seen all kinds of crazy RV themed campgrounds. Horses, fishing, canoeing, mountain biking, golf.. oh, you get the idea. Help bring a few more in. Just thinking outside the box. But, sounds like alot of fun.
Considering my shop in 2,000 sqr feet, I cant even imagine a building that big. I would have a ball.
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
Here in Corpus Christi, there is a hotel on the bayfront with a really big model railroad. Not just for model railroaders-- but guests who stay at the hotel get a ride on the railroad.
Their website has still pictures and video.
http://www.railwayinnsuites.com/
(disclaimer, no financial or other vested interest here. It's just neat seeing this guy's old time 4-4-0 when I drive past on my way to college.)
Not what you're proposing but I thought it might just show something that has apparently worked for somebody. Been in business, five years or more as I recall.
I have heard of a model railroader who has a bed and breakfast in central Texas called the Katy House. He opens his personal layout for guests.
R. T. POTEET wrote: You could perhaps get this to work; if I were you, however, I think I would take my money and see if there's not a bridge for sale somewhere in England!!!
I was born in Brooklyn, New York. Would you be interested in a bridge a bit closer than England?
Seriously, Colorado is a big place, and a lot of it is pretty nice, even without any nearby tourist traps.
How about putting together your idea with that of the current owner - turn it into model railroad condos. You get both a place to live, and membership in the train club in the basement. Heck, if it's a single-story building, you could offer interchange service between the club and personal layouts. That helix up to the second floor is going to be a doozy, though.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Jerry SP FOREVER http://photobucket.com/albums/f317/GAPPLEG/
Where would it be located? I noticed in your profile that your in Colorado, so I would probably know where you would be talking about.
-Smoke
I wouldn't do it unless I had goobs of money.
On the other hand there might be goverment funds for an Institution for the Foaminally Insane.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Here is an seed of an idea I had. I wanted to throw it out and see what others thought about it. I can't decide if it is brilliant or really stupid.
I have the opportunity to purchase a very large building for very cheap price. This would give me an "L" shaped layout area (about the size of three basket ball courts). But there is a lot more space in the building. Even if I carve out about 6200 square feet for my private living quarters, 900 for my office, and 2400 for my laboratory there is about 100,000 left over (not to mention the "real" gym).
I don't want to run a regular hotel, bed & breakfast, or anything like that. I don't want to make it into condos (the current owner's plans). So I got to thinking about a private hotel where only model railroaders could come. They could bring their trains and run them on my layout. Maybe even have small conventions where they could bring their modular layouts and operate them with other operating groups from other parts of the country.
There are no other tourist attractions in this area. The closest (but not greatest) are 60 miles away.
The suites would be free for those coming to set up exhibits for the model railroad museum, or to help out with the large layout.
I had thought about a MR club, swap meets, etc. But the location is not conducive for that sort of thing.