The Saga Begins, and Ends - “Taking Down the Railroad”

[sfcouple]

mobilman44

Thanks for the heads up on your forum posting describing the take-down of your wonderful layout.

As you know, I too had to take down a much smaller layout a couple of years ago and it is very difficult, physically and emotionally. The photos of the take-down will be interesting and I'm very sorry you are going through this.

I had one of your photos of a Santa Fe ABBA unit on my train room wall for years. When my layout was being torn down that photo was the first thing that was taken down. And I still have it along with all those wonderful memories.

Take Care,

Your friend in Montana!

[SeeYou190]

mobilman44

Here is a pic taken awhile back.  I'm relearning how to post them, so I may screw this up.

It looks like you relearned perfectly. I can see the pictures fine.

Like I said before, I have removed many layouts. Since you are the person that installed it, you should not have any problems. Trying to figure out how things were put together can be a problem.

What are you doing with the structures and large scenic elements?

Do you have help available for heavy pieces?

-Kevin

[PRR8259]

That was a nice layout indeed.  Very nicely done scenery.

Perhaps you might consider downsizing to something like a 5' x 9'?  Still have the ability to run some trains for awhile yet?  I know for many of us who have larger runs and big curves it might be hard to imagine, but I could see myself reverting back to something "easily removed" like that.  My goal would be to run the trains as long as I could.  For me it is about the trains themselves...and I just enjoy running them even if it would have to be in a simple oval.  For me it is relaxing.

John

[mobilman44]

Thanks all for the good words!

I built the entire layout, every facit of the thing, by myself.  And, I'll be taking it down entirely by myself.  With the help of the recipricating saw, and a couple of DeWalt cordless drills, the pieces will be small enough to fit in a trash bag and carried downstairs to the garage.

I have no thoughts of building another layout.  That said, I do have a sizeable Lionel collection and might put up something small and portable down the road. 

[SeeYou190]

Mobilman44 (sorry, I don't know your real name),

I have about a dozen "used" buildings from layouts of people I knew that are going to be repurposed on the next STRATTON AND GILLETTE layout.

If you want a small structure, something special to you with no resale value, to live on in this collection, I would be honored to include it.

-Kevin

[mobilman44]

Just a short update........

I spent yesterday cleaning out the hoard under the layout.  It was amazing as to how much varied stuff was under it.  Looks like about half hit the trash, some things (cans of paint, tools) went to the garage, and the rest will be sold or held for future modeling projects.  

While under the layout - which is a bit more difficult than when I built it 12 years ago - I realized that I definitely "over built" the benchwork.  Being 225#, and having the need to get on the layout during construction, I more than made sure it was solid and supportive.  I don't regret doing that, but I realize there is that much more framing pieces to remove.

Oh, thanks for the offer to memorialize one of my structures, and I will keep that in mind.  

Today is to be sunny, and final pics should be taken...........

Be safe out there!

Oh, I've always been Mobilman44 online, but you can call me "Bill"........

 

[NorthBrit]

Hi mobilman44.   When I first started to read about the taking down of your railroad. I thought 'How sad'.   I then thought about ways of suggesting on keeping your layout operable.    A lift out bridge  like I have was a thought.

Then I realised your mind was set on 'taking it all down'  any suggestion of saving was pointless.

I have to smile when you say the benchwork is more solid and supportive.  Mine is also.  I am sure  mine would take my weight (though I have not fully tried it.) 

I do hope that later you will be able to make a small portable style layout and we will see it.   Here in the UK there is a plan of a layout called 'Inglenook Sidings'.  The original was built in 1924 an has 'stood the test of time'.

Take care, 'Bill'  whilst dismantling  and 'thank' each section for the joy it has brought you.

 

David

[richhotrain]

NorthBrit

I have to smile when you say the benchwork is more solid and supportive.  Mine is also.  I am sure  mine would take my weight (though I have not fully tried it.) 

Same here, David. All of my layouts have been built with 2x4 framework and 1/2" plywood surfaces. The 2x4 legs are all reinforced with 2x4 angle bracing. I have actually stood and/or crawled on it several times to perform layout chores. I believe that it could support the weight of an elephant. LOL.

What I don't envy is mobilman's task of not only dismantling his layout, but also transporting it all to the garage on the way to the curb for garbage pickup. Been there, done that. Not fun.

Rich

[SeeYou190]

mobilman44

I've always been Mobilman44 online, but you can call me "Bill"

I have been CU190 (SeeYou190) for more than thirty years, online and off.

It has only been in the past year that I have been changing back to "Kevin" again.

-Kevin

[FRRYKid]

I can understand dismantling and moving layouts. I've had to do it twice. (I hope no more for a number of years.)

In 2018 I abandoned one I had been working on since I was an eight grader. It was located on the ranch I grew up on. My parents had to move to town due to my now late father's health issues. As I don't drive, I knew I wasn't going to get to it again. (I did raid all the turnouts off it as I hadn't ballasted any of them.)

I ended up turning what was planned as an expansion to that layout into a completely new layout. I ended up redesigning a part of the benchwork to fit the room. With a piece from the old layout I managed to shoehorn the new layout into my apartment's bedroom (with the addition of some furniture levelers as the floor of that room had a major slope). I ended up completely laying a new track plan however

After my dad passed about a year or so later, I had the opportunity to buy a house. Mom moved in with me. The house has a garage which has become the railroad room. I ended up then moving all the new layout pieces again to the new house. I also eventually added another piece from the original layout after it moved.

On a different but related front, I have also gotten railroad items from a couple of people I know. One is a coworker that had a few things he didn't need. (Toy stuff but with a caboose I can use) and the other is a person I met at the facility where my mother and late father lived for awhile. He was a Great Northern modeler. Some of the stuff I sold, some I haven't gotten to yet (COVID) and some I have integrated in my rolling stock as they work for my era.

Eventually, I will be getting my uncle's railroad stuff as well. He is to a point where he can no longer do it either. My cousins have also agreed with him that his trains would come to me. (I'm the only one they know that model railroads. He's the one that actually got me into model railroading.)

As much as we may not like it, eventually we all will get to the point where we can no longer model railroad. (I have a chair that I use when I'm working on my layout even now.)

[mobilman44]

Good Morning!

Well, the last couple of days were spent sorting out the stuff under the layout, and taking final pictures – mainly of the locos, passenger trains, and the unique cars.  I also took more of the various structures from different views.

 

Clearing out the hoard under the layout resulted in two large bags of “trash”, two boxes of stuff for the garage (paints, tools), a couple of boxes of scenery and modeling supplies for possible future use, which left the tools needed to tear down the layout.  I also left a few pillows and pieces of foam rubber to pamper the bum knees.

 

All the remaining rolling stock was removed and temporarily boxed.  I do have all the original boxes, but matching them with the many cars is a job for later on down the road.

 

This morning I will have the “last runs”, and then place the locos in boxes for temporary storage.  Most will end up on Ebay, but a few will find themselves in a display cabinet.

 

And then will come the actual demo process.........

[HVBL]

MM, I feel your pain. I am in the middle of a tear down myself. Depressing for sure. I would much rather tear down a big block chevy than a model railroad, but things gotta happen. Good luck!!

Rich

[rrebell]

As much as we may not like it, eventually we all will get to the point where we can no longer model railroad. (I have a chair that I use when I'm working on my layout even now.)

I have seen too much of this and know where it ends, when you start giving up, you lose the battle. Someone on here posts a cartoon about this, my thoughts completly.

[mobilman44]

After the “last runs”, the locomotives were removed and boxed…..a sad time for sure. 

 

But I jumped right in and gathered up the 30 something vehicles (mostly CMW) and put them safely in a couple of cigar boxes – of which I have many (thanks to an addicted SIL).  That was followed by picking up the small structures and putting them in shoe boxes.

 

That left the larger structures, and I moved them to the 3ft wide side of the layout.  This area will be the temporary workbench and storage area.  

 

Speaking of structures……….the smaller ones may well sell on Ebay and can be safely and economically shipped.  But the larger ones (i.e. coal tower, grain elevator, stations, mfg. facilities) are not easily shipped - for a reasonable price.  I really don’t know what to do with them, and will hold them on the side until I make a decision

 

Ok, up to this point the “nailed / glued down" surface of the layout has not been touched.  So yesterday I  “bit the bullet” and began the actual demo process.

 

I began by clearing off all the trees (90+) and telephone poles (25+).  Given I planted them to withstand hurricane force winds, not very many could be removed without damage, and were snipped off at the base.

 

This weekend’s task will be to take down the duck under!

 

 

 

[SeeYou190]

mobilman44

  But the larger ones (i.e. coal tower, grain elevator, stations, mfg. facilities) are not easily shipped - for a reasonable price.

Sell them on eBay, and charge 35-40 dollars for shipping.

I have seen many nicely built large structures sell for OK prices and high shipping. The people that buy these understand. 

Recently two very well built Magnuson structures went for over $200.00 each with $40.00 for shipping.

-Kevin

[richhotrain]

SeeYou190

 

mobilman44

  But the larger ones (i.e. coal tower, grain elevator, stations, mfg. facilities) are not easily shipped - for a reasonable price. 

Sell them on eBay, and charge 35-40 dollars for shipping.

I have seen many nicely built large structures sell for OK prices and high shipping. The people that buy these understand. 

Recently two very well built Magnuson structures went for over $200.00 each with $40.00 for shipping.

-Kevin 

In my experience, a lot depends upon how strongly the structure was initially assembled. One of my early structures was the Walthers Cornerstone Front Street Warehouse. I built it unpainted and used bottled glue with a cap brush to bind the parts together. I learned to hate the unpainted structure, so I decided to buy a new one and paint it before assembly. Turned out, it was easy to separate the walls and the roof from the original structure, so I was able to ship it in its original box.

Someday I am going to part with my Walthers 9-stall roundhouse, not so easy to disassemble and pretty large to ship intact.

For those who may recall, I scratchbuilt a large structure called the Coors Family Mansion and shipped that completed structure intact to the guy that I built it for. It arrived safely and intact. So, it can be done.

The OP mentioned the coaling tower. That could be a challenge.

Another challenge from my layout would be the Walthers Milwaukee Style Train Station, a behemoth of a structure.

Rich

[richhotrain]

mobilman44

But I jumped right in and gathered up the 30 something vehicles (mostly CMW) and put them safely in a couple of cigar boxes – of which I have many (thanks to an addicted SIL). 

I would worry about those little vehicles smelling like cigars. Might be better to enclose those vehicles in a Zip-Lock bag or place baking soda inside the cigar box to avoid odors that never seem to go away.

Rich

[SeeYou190]

Track Fiddler sent me this large, fragile, wooden structure from Minnesota to Florida with no damage at all.

He packed it so well, not even the USPS could cause it harm.

-Kevin

[NorthBrit]

richhotrain

 

 

 

I would worry about those little vehicles smelling like cigars. Might be better to enclose those vehicles in a Zip-Lock bag or place baking soda inside the cigar box to avoid odors that never seem to go away.

 Rich

 

 

I agree with Rich.   The odors will linger on the models for a long time.  Coming to selling in the future will put many people off buying.

 

David

[mobilman44]

No worries about cigar odor..........

SIL's taste in cigars is outragiously expensive, and the cigars were individually wrapped.  I cannot detect an odor in the ones I'm using, so for now its OK.

The idea was to get the vehicles quickly and safely off the layout, and the CMW's will soon be mated with their original packages.  

[BATMAN]

I have been following and I am sad to see your layout coming down MM. I always enjoyed the photos you posted of it.

As far as shipping fragile items like models, in the past I have bought big Tupperware tubs to place the items in filled with popcorn and strategically placed foam and paper. This has always been successful and the buyer was most happy paying for the tub and other items to pack it safely.

[mobilman44]

Just a short update....

Thanks all for the kind words and support.  It is much appreciated!

I just finished clearing off the duck under - top and underneath.  Removing the trackage - with minimal destruction - is not easy. 

The main reason is my swabbing of the ties (hence track nails) with a wash of flat black/thinner when I built the thing.  This nicely covered up the plastic shine, and made those nail heads all but disappear.  But when the time comes to remove them, many were very hard to see.

Tomorrow morning I'll cover the area floor with plastic, and cut out the duck under with my trusty Craftsman recipricating saw.  My knees will be thanking me!!!

Thanks again!

 

[SeeYou190]

mobilman44

This nicely covered up the plastic shine, and made those nail heads all but disappear.  But when the time comes to remove them, many were very hard to see.

You are being much more careful than I have ever been for a layout removal.

I have never tried to salvage trackage that had been ballasted. I would have ripped a lot up with sawzall by now.

-Kevin

[mobilman44]

You have a point there..........

When I took down my last layout (similar to this one), I was very careful removing the trackage as I could use it on the new one.  In fact, almost all of the turnouts were used, and many long sections of flex.  These were used on sidings, the yard, and the loco terminal, while new track was used on the mains.

On this demo, I know the turnouts will find a home, but even if I just salvage the longer sticks of flex, I now doubt they will sell.  A few years ago, when Atlas had the shortage, they would have sold easily.  But now, there are a plethora of Atlas 100 auctions on Ebay.  It's just my nature to save what I can, but.........

[mobilman44]

The duck under is no more!!! 

 

The reciprocating saw with the “limb cutting” blade worked beautifully!  The 1x4s and plywood were just no match for it.

 

And as of yesterday morning, for the first time in 12 years, I can get to the center of the RR without crawling.  And, I can easily get into the closet at that end of the room.

 

Using a tarp, the mess was minimal, and cleaned up nicely.  The four pieces fit in heavy duty bags, allowing me to get them to the garage without making a mess in the rest of the house.

 

After, I removed the loco terminal trackage and the wiring underneath.  This leaves another section that can be cut out, likely this morning.  In the pics, you can see the winding lower level as it works its way from 13 inches below grade on a steady 2 percent rise.

 

After further clean up, I attacked the electronics shelf and removed all the Digitrax components and other controls and boards.  I have to say, the Digitrax DCC worked quite well for me.

[SeeYou190]

The underside of your layout shows some very well crafted benchwork. Your carpentry was very neat.

The Digitrax installation also looks well done.

I hope you got a lot out of this layout while you had it.

I have torn down 5 previous STRATTON AND GILLETTE layouts. Except for the Dream House layout, all had reached the end of their time and I was ready to move on.

It sounds like this is the case with your layout.

-Kevin

[rrebell]

Let us know when you list the Digitrax stuff, list the tested cables too. Did tou use the Big Ugly blade in the saw, I have used that one many times in  tree work up to about 6" to 8" dia stuff.

[mobilman44]

Kevin, Thank you for the kind words!  Whatever "wood butcher" skills I have I attribute to 2 years of woodshop at Lane Tech HS (Chicago).  Also had a semester of electrical shop too.  Sadly, Lane Tech no longer has any shops.......

I'll be putting stuff on Ebay after I get the room finished.  I know I can't "advertise" on this forum, but maybe at the time I can give a couple of subtle hints........

Regarding blades, I have a number of new 6-8 teeth Milwaukee blades and will use them when the "limb cutting" blade dulls up.

 

 

[mobilman44]

Slowly but surely, progress is being made. 

 

 

After the removal of the duck under, I began working in a clockwise direction so as quickly get access to the second closet door.  This will let me store (temporarily) boxes of train stuff out of harm’s way. 

 

In building the layout, I put a Masonite panel over the door for the backdrop.  It is attached to the drywall/studs on either side of the door, leaving the door and its trim untouched.  Here are before and after pics of today's progress.

 

So far the trash removal has worked out well.  Layout pieces are bagged and carried down the stairs and to the garage.  I made a big deal out of not messing up the house when I built the layout, and I'm making an even bigger deal about not messing up the house while I’m taking the layout down.

 

Anyway, we get trash pickup on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so my goal is to have an “acceptable” stack for them each pickup day. This morning I cut all that had accumulated in the garage, making stacks for today and Saturday.  

 

Yes, I could store it all in the garage and then when its all done take it to a dump, but I prefer to piece it out, which keeps down the garage mess.  

[SeeYou190]

Sorry for maybe not fully understanding your pictures...

Was that closet door blocked closed by the layout? Is it just now being opened for the first time in years?

-Kevin