Advice on a major decision updated (July 13 update)

Update on the progress since I am on Christmas Break.....all structures, engines, rolling stock, and accessories have been boxed away.  Track has been carefully removed from upper 2 levels and cataloged for next layout.  Upper level down and was able to save almost all bench work.  Here is where the "layout" stands now.

Hey Bryan,

I am following your thread here. So your going with a new track plan for your new larger layout. Do you have a track plan posted?

George,

Track plan is not finalized but yes it will be a new track plan.  2 subway lines, 4 track main level with 5 line yard and 3 passing sidings, 2 track upper level with small staging yard also.  Main level will have 108, 81, and 72 curves.  Just got the first of my 108 curves in from atlas and can't wait to see my larger stuff on those.

Bryan, looks like you got a lot accomplished over the Christmas break. Takes time to package up all the stuff first but now the dismantling  will move along faster. And before you know once you finish off that room and get into the new room in no time at all you will be running trains again...................Paul

Hey Bryan, are you by chance going to be able to go to Tuesday night at Paul's...........Paul

Paul,  Yes I am 100% going to Fishers tomorrow night.

Bryan since we saw your layout. you got a lot  done. hope to see you soon  also                            HAPPY  NEW  YEAR     Tom Sr. & Vicki Elesh    also Jr.   Ashley  

Tom, I thought you sent an email on the Happy New Years, my apology as I see you posted it to this thread.  Happy New Year to you and your family and best of luck on your exciting year coming up.

Okay for everyone following this thread here is the update.  Phase I (tear down and pack up) is complete.  Phase II (turning old train room into wife's workout/home gym) was completed tonight.  Also for good measure is a current picture of my office which is turning into a holding area for all the new track that has been getting delivered that needs to be inventoried for the new layout. 

Having the wife's approval and support is usually the barrier to expansion.   Plan then go for it.  The space is big enough to allow for walking around it which is great.  Take a phased approach since the cost will increase due to more track, wood, scenery, etc.  Keep us updated as progress is made.

Bryan, you have gotten a lot done within a short period of time. Almost hard to visualize that there was once a nice layout in that room. It truly is great to be that young to work at that speed.  Before you know it the new layout will be up and running. But the real thrill is seeing your creation come to life. Maybe catch you next Tuesday night. ..........Paul

Phase III done; which was take the home entertainment/theater  area and move it to the other side of the basement.  It took awhile since I had to remove and rewire all the speakers and components and extend the cable run.  With a snow day today I am going to start Phase IV which is removing my first wall to  open up another 14 x 15 foot area.

Bryan, sounds like you got a good size chunk done. With the school off for Christmas that had to give you time to get so much done. It will be interesting to watch the progress....Paul

Ahhh.....life in the snow belt...where even grown ups get snow days!

How much snow did you get in Willoughby Hills?  Chesterland has around 18".....so far.

Bryan in Ohio posted:

George,

Track plan is not finalized but yes it will be a new track plan.  2 subway lines, 4 track main level with 5 line yard and 3 passing sidings, 2 track upper level with small staging yard also.  Main level will have 108, 81, and 72 curves.  Just got the first of my 108 curves in from atlas and can't wait to see my larger stuff on those.

your going to love the 108 curves......i went from 90 and 99 curves to 108 when that track came out,and it was a huge difference in the way the larger trains looked and handled.....the number #1 mistake i see on those pretty " magazine" layouts is ,even if there is room ,they still used 42 or 54[whatever]  on the curves.......Jim

'

Sorry I didn't get back to some of your comments.  Berkshire, I think were I live we got around 18" those 2 days.  Jim, I agree I had to set up an oval of the 108 just to see them and see what those auto carriers looked like....beautiful.

Now the reason for the update.  Was able to take down the wall separating the main part of the basement and this storage area.  Next I start framing and dry walling that room.

Bryan:  Your walls and floors look bone dry.  Should really turn out nice!

First, I wish I had a basement as large as yours.  Second, if SWMBO said I could have nearly all of it, I would move on in in a New York minute !!

Bryan, thanks for the photos and descriptions of your progress--this is among my favorite threads.

Suggestion:  Edit your thread's title to include mention of the thread being updated by you with new photos/descriptions--e.g. "updated 2/7/16".

Bryan, thanks for editing the thread title; makes it much easier to follow your progress as posted.

Bryan, impressive strides you've made. You will be doing the one thing I hated to do. Dry wall. Looking forward to the Golden Spike ceremony when the new layout is complete......Paul

I had to tear down a partially complete layout before moving into my current house and building my current layout, which is much larger than the previous layout. I never looked back. The current layout is, in every way, better than the previous layout because I applied everything I had learned into making something better. Likewise, one day we will move out of this house and I will have to tear this layout down and start over. It'll be sad to see the current layout go, but I know that the next layout will be even better because I will apply the lessons learned while building this layout.

-Eric Siegel

Bryan,

Nice size room to work with, please keep us posted

alex

ericstrains.com posted:

I had to tear down a partially complete layout before moving into my current house and building my current layout, which is much larger than the previous layout. I never looked back. The current layout is, in every way, better than the previous layout because I applied everything I had learned into making something better. Likewise, one day we will move out of this house and I will have to tear this layout down and start over. It'll be sad to see the current layout go, but I know that the next layout will be even better because I will apply the lessons learned while building this layout.

-Eric Siegel

Well, Eric....the Juice was certainly worth the Squeeze as your current layout is just fantastic!  Roughly 50,000 views per product review don't lie. 

I remember reading an article in OGRR a few years ago about Norm Charboneau tearing down his then current layout which was nothing short of a gem.  At first, I was somewhat bummed as a paradigm for this hobby was about to bite then dust.  Then, Norm started posting pictures and video of his current layout.....which is indeed (somehow) nicer.

As much as most of us like "old stuff", sometimes we're better off when we go "out with the old and in with new".

Bryan,

   Look like you are moving along, keep us informed as you continue building your layout.

PCRR/Dave

John Allen's last layout included his first one!

Hi Bryan, You have what we city dwellers call a very wonderful problem. Do you take down a layout Mario and many others could only dream about it's size, or do I build something else even bigger? All I can say is good for you, I should have such a problem!

But, here is a thought; no layout is ever done, we are always changing things and rethinking what we wont to accomplish. This is a good trait to have in our hobby because it keeps things dynamic thus interesting. The problem this creates is we never get to a completed, train running concept, so here is my thought. 

How about tunnels through the wall that could lead to a sitting area where your friends can congregate around another set of layout vignettes that compliment the original plan in the next room.  You may not be able to remove an joining wall but how about a doorway your guest could pass through. It would really be cool to have a line that can pass an engine to your work bench for repair where you could have a whole back shop scene. Think of the fun you could have building access tunnels, bridges and drop leafs to build the right away and how cool would it be to watch on TV from an on board camera.

It would even be cool to have a sitting area where folks could watch the action from a TV per a HD home network, and

above engine camera. Not much more money to accomplish then the coast of a medium priced engine.

In this way you can have the fun of growth through formulation of new ideas without the sadness of destroying that beautiful work you already accomplished.

Growth without destruction can be a beautiful thing! 

In any case have fun and give your beautiful wife a kiss from all of us. I'm sure most would feel the same.

Bryan,

Lots of space to make a really nice layout. Good Luck.

Bryan, sorry I only read your first entry on the first page when I made my post. I missed the other two pages of development.  Oh well have have fun, I'm sure it will be great.

Thanks everyone for the advice and the "best of lucks".  I know all this work is kind of the boring stuff but it will be worth it come June when the benchwork starts to go up.

Mario, love your idea about adding a camera with a TV to view action.  A friend of mine has that setup and it is really cool.  I am going to look into doing something similar.  Next projects up is framing and dry walling that room along with adding better lighting.  Currently there is only 1 light bulb hanging from the ceiling. 

Someone sent me an email asking how goes it since I haven't updated this since February.  Well after basketball season ended I had a few issues with some of my rental properties so the layout rebuild took a back seat.  However, this week since I am on spring break and it rains here everyday, I have been getting some good time on the rebuild.  Once again not the fun stuff yet but did insulate the walls to the expansion room along with framing and hanging the drywall.  First coat of mud went on last night and later today I will sand that down and put 2nd coat on.  Also was able to pull electrical and rough that in for the new lights in that room along with buying new lights for the main part of the basement.  

Bryan, that is a good head start on the room for the layout. Now I know who to call for plastering which is at the bottom of my fun list LOL. Sometimes it is difficult to do when you have a lot on your plate that takes away from working on the layout but in the end you will be able to step back and look at what you accomplished and just enjoy running trains..............Paul

Got the new room and the new lighting in the main part of the basement all finished up this weekend and tonight.  Now just have to move the door in the outer room over 5 feet and change some of the shelving in the room behind it and then it is dare I say BENCHWORK TIME.  I can finally start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and all the prework is coming together.

Good to see progress. Looking good. I'll show you my progress and a place where the Z4000 would of gone LOL. Just kidding Bryan. Can't wait to see pics of layout going up..............Paul

"Looking good, Mr. Kotter.  Looking good!" 

Okay here is the final pictures of the rework to the basement.  All pre phases are done and I can start bench work later this week.  I have to say at times I didn't think it was going to be worth it but now that it is done and I can start building I know we (wife had a vote also) made the right decision.  To recap since end of November...1) tore down layout 2) used old layout room to build the wife a home gym 3) moved tv and furniture and rewired basement for home entertainment system 4) took down wall opening up more of of basement 5) framed, drywalled, painted new area 6) put in new lighting 7) moved door to workshop over.

Bryan, This looks great!  

Bryan, I am caught up with your progress.  Now the fun stuff.  Can't wait to watch your progress.  Wow, really moving forward quickly.  Nice job.  Keep up the pics.  I really enjoy being able to watch your progress. Thanks....

My God Bryan, I completely  gutted my layout to add in  the Lionel Transfer table.

Dude, your being  darn right sensible!

Besides, building it is most of the fun in my opinion.

Take your new house for example, you can spend a few years getting where you wont it and  only takes fifteen minutes to show it.

Twelve hours to build a real hunger and five minutes of eating to get too fat.

In short, only do what is fun because that is what a hobby is all about.

Don't worry about the work, because if your doing what you love there ant no work at all!