End of the Harpers Ferry Layout

Bummer! I hope this "tear Down" will inspire you to correct your mistakes and build a bigger and better layout!

Moving is painful.  I was in the Navy and moved many times.  I think that the opportunity to build a new and better layout will payoff in the long run.  Best wishes for your new layout and home.  NH Joe

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Bummer! I hope this "tear Down" will inspire you to correct your mistakes and build a bigger and better layout!

Are you implying that he made mistakes.....LOL

Harpers Ferry is a favorite spot of mine.  I've been thru there, and to there, on Amtrak and hiking the Appalachian Trail.  Many fun visits to this historic town. Looking forward to seeing your future layout!

Look forward to seeing version 2.0!

Last couple of layouts I've designed with Atlas O.   Selling all my used MTH Realtrax at York.   I like Atlas for its wider assortment of curves (especially O-63 since it nests neatly inside of O-72 and my articulated steam engines will still negotiate).   Also I was never happy with the look of Realtrax built in roadbed.   Simply didn't look right on bridges and trestles (which is a main feature I'm modeling at Harpers Ferry, WV)

Not unlike a real train, part of the pleasure of O scale is the journey, not the destination.   I don't mind all of the revisions, expansions, builds and tear downs.   I've learned a lot from others here and I'm glad to share.   New layout build will be well documented.

Have you considered Ross/Gargraves?  That's what I'm building my new layout with.  You can't beat the assortment of switches Ross has, and using Gargraves flex track, the curves are not an issue, make them any radius you like.

Obsidian posted:

Also I was never happy with the look of Realtrax built in roadbed.   Simply didn't look right on bridges and trestles (which is a main feature I'm modeling at Harpers Ferry, WV)

Never been to Harpers Ferry, are most of the bridges open deck? From a prototype railroad point of view, open deck bridges require matching the tracks at the bridge. Closed deck bridges are cheaper to maintain the track work on because it is just like a continuation of the ground.

I've helped a few friends and we used transition track pieces to go to Gargraves on the bridge and then back after the bridge.

That is pretty gut-wrenching! Best of luck with your move. 

I try my best not to think about having to tear down my layout for a move, finances, loss of interest, etc. I know it will be the worst. I can only imagine what you are going through but know getting to start a new and improved layout will be a great adventure, especially now that you are equipped with more experience and knowledge. I'll be watching for the new build.

Dave

I feel your pain.  It still hurts when I think about tearing down my layout.  Best of luck with the rebuild.

I have a fond memory of Harper’s Ferry.  We went there on a stop on a family trip, think 7 kids in a station wagon from Chicago.  We walked on the trestle, daring a train to come through the tunnel, and I swear I skipped a rock 21 times at the beach at the confluence of the 2 rivers.  It had the perfect spot to do so.  Which was a world record, we had the Guinness book with us and they had it at 16, and I have 2 brothers as witnesses.  Tho I’m probably the only one that remembers that amazing feat. Alas, greatness is not always recognized.  That is a cool town also.  Thanks for the Harper’s Ferry reference. 

I'm sorry to see the layout go.  I enjoyed it.   I'm sure it was really hard to tear it down, as I have dealt with the same issue in the past.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with in your new home!

That is so sad, I have not seen it yet but those tear down pics were really hard to take.  We're moving in the near future (as soon as the house sells) but I doubt that we'll be able to find a house the size we have and I'm not counting on having a layout, mine will be in Grapevine down at the RR station.  At least I'll be able to run my trains.  We'll see what happens. I hope your new home will be all you want it to be and your new layout will be even better than the one you are tearing down.  Be gentle!!  

Last run video.   Keeps me sane in the maelstrom of selling, buying and moving.  Thanks for all of the supportive replies.   Funny what we'll do for this hobby.   We moved 16 years ago to our present house in part to get a finished basement to build a layout.  My OGR posts will show a history of layout expansions via holes in walls, resulting in out of sight trains.   Unlike the room where my last layout was, the unfinished state of the room in the new home  makes it useless to anyone accept me.   As you can see the previous train room was carpeted which did save/minimize damage to derailed cars but made finding dropped parts difficult.  I think I'll finish the floor of the new room with peel and stick vinyl tiles that can be replaced if damaged and easier to keep clean.

Obsidian posted:

Not unlike a real train, part of the pleasure of O scale is the journey, not the destination.   I don't mind all of the revisions, expansions, builds and tear downs.   I've learned a lot from others here and I'm glad to share.   New layout build will be well documented.

And I do hope you'll be willing and able to share that new layout--and even document the "lessons learned" in the process of building it--with our OGR magazine subscribers and readers. I love Harpers Ferry and look forward to seeing your new layout.

Obsidian posted:

  I think I'll finish the floor of the new room with peel and stick vinyl tiles that can be replaced if damaged and easier to keep clean.

 

Another viable alternative for train room flooring that I "discovered" when looking for something new and more versatile for my own train room are those interlocking exercise/gym tiles that provide a very comfortable and extremely easy-to-care-for surface. I bought the thickest ones I could find and stuck with a black color even though other colors are available. They aren't cheap, but they are an excellent floor covering. You might want to check them out at your local home improvement centers.

Nice video. Sorry to see the layout go, gone by this post, but looking forward to the new, improved Harper’s Ferry layout. Harper’s Ferry is my favorite area to visit.  Great train watching at the station, seeing trains going in/out of tunnel and cross the rivers on the bridges.

Good Luck and have fun with it. Keep us posted as you move into your New, Bigger and better home.

Congratulations!

Good luck on your move......looking forward to the new layout!

Peter

Always tough to tear down a layout.

Best of luck with the next version!  Could you please publish your track plan?

Thanks,

George