The tragedy of getting rid of your layout

[Nevin]

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

 

Being in academics has alway meant the possibility of moving of moving.  I've always looked upon it as an opportunity for my hobby.  My current layout is about finished, but we are planning another move and that means it willcome down.  Maybe I'll continue to model the same railroad or I'll go in another direction (more likely).  Research and designing is a lot of the fun! It isn't a tragedy, it is a new beginning.  

[kasskaboose]

As others mentioned, what you experience is not not a tragedy.  Far from it!  Here's a tragedy: get texts from boss about no longer having steady employment two hours after returning home from vacation (that happened to me three weeks ago).  Oh, and experience that with three young children.  There is a tragedy.  Feel better?

Anyway, I had to dismantle my 1st layout for a move.  It was sad to see it get tossed but I was excited about the opportunity to build a larger layout.  Even better was reusing some of the stuff and applying lessons learned. 

Those who walked away from the layout can attest that returning is very rewarding.  Perhaps you need a mental break for the layout?  There's nothing wrong with that.

[Erie-diamond]

Here'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. If not maybe put it in the want adds of your local paper. I can't speak for others but I for one, check want adds for train stuff.

[tstage]

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?

Personally, unless your attic is a controlled environment, I wouldn't store anything MRR-related up there.  The expansion/contraction effect from the heat & cold can wreak havoc on both your layout and locomotives.

As others have said: Salvage what you can, dispose what you can't, and take special care of what you do keep so that it's still usable if and when you should get back into the hobby again.

Tom

[SeeYou190]

This is not a tragedy, it is an opportunity.

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I have gotten rid of five previous STRATTON & GILLETTE layouts, and "lessons learned" have always gone into the next one.

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Throw away everything you did not like and all unfinished projects. Save the prizes. Start over again when you can.

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This is actually a little bit enjoyable.

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Have fun!

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-Kevin

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[riogrande5761]

H,

Don't you think "tragedy" is a bit overly melodramatic?  There are other things in life which the word applies to but not getting rid of a model RR.  Is it a bummer?  Sure, but not a tragedy.  Perspective much?

I tore down my most "complete" layout yet a year ago during summer when my wife and I sold our townhome and moved into a house. 

I put a lot of work into that layout, I got some good practice, I learned some things about scenery since I hadn't done it yet.  There is nothing like hands-on to teach you skills and techniques.

No, getting rid of a layout is no tragedy, rather it is part of the hobby and part of the learning experience.  You move on, you learn lessons, and you apply them to improve and build something hopefully more enjoyable and satisfying in the future.

[richhotrain]

If not now, when?

If you leave it up until you die, a responsible party will dismantle and dump it.

So, that is what you should do now, dismantle and dump it.

Rich

[IRONROOSTER]

Oh you can ask around, but you probably won't find any takers.

Best to salvage what you can and dump the rest.

I have done this many times.  For example, I have legs sitting in my new basement waiting for their 4th layout.  I have also reused track.  About the only thing I can't really salvage is scenery and cork roadbed.

Paul

[Tinplate Toddler]

I have been there quite a number of times in my "career" as a model railroader. I sold all the layouts I built either for parts or as a whole and I have learned a rather harsh lesson from that.

People have no appreciation for neither the money, nor the labor that goes into building a layout. Layouts therefore have nearly no sales value, even those, which are completed and highly detailed. If you are leaving the hobby, dismantle the layout, dalvage whatever has a marketable value and sell that via the usual channels. Expect to get cents for a dollar, though.

You could also donate the layout.

If you see a chance to rekindle your interest later on, store the layout safely.

 

[NWP SWP]

Yo, H, can you post a track plan and perhaps some pictures? What state are you in too?

I might be interested in taking it off your hands if that's the route you go.

[pt714]

Others with more experience will surely speak soon. I've gotten rid of four (admittedly small) layouts so far, two by Sawzall from childhood and two by cannibalism in adulthood. The most valuable thing I take from one layout to another is the education, the things I learn only by doing (and doing badly, until I learn to do them well) because there are so many facets to this hobby and so many skills to learn. The countless hours you've put into your layout will really serve you when you next choose to build again.

Also, most everything except scenery and some substructural elements can be repurposed in some way-- take apart what you feel will serve you well in the future and keep it. No matter how you feel about your current layout, the next one will surely be even better. 

Phil

[dragonriversteel]

I think at least 75% of folks on this forum have been through this,myself included.

Ten years ago I had to tear down my HO steel mill layout because of health reason. Goofed off trying to fill the model railroad void for a few years. No other hobby could compare.

My wife saw how miserable I was without a hobby. She asked ,why don't you try model railroading again ? Yeah,why not ?

Present day.

So for the past two years I've been scratch building everything needed for my new HO steel mill layout. Machinery,steel mill vehicles,overhead cranes,tugs & barges etc.

Don't give up.

I know it's frustrating seeing all your work destroyed. All you can do is salvage what you can. 

Keep modeling after you decide what to do with your layout. Look at it as a new canvas to paint your imagination in the next ten years. Who knows where you'll be in ten years ?

Don't give up.

Patrick

[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