When the layout has to come down.

For one thing it goes down much faster than it goes up. It took me eight years to build my last layout and a week to take it down. I learned I should have packed some large buildings better. Things like round houses and engine houses need very large boxes and lots of protection. For me it was impossible to save the scenery. It just had to come down and be thrown away. Track, switches, buildings, trees and all the small things could be saved. We had to pack a container to ship to Maui so we packed everything. No one else touched the trains. I think the most important thing was saving all the original boxes. All the trains made it in perfect shape. Good luck. Don

I can't even imagine having to do that!  The best option for me would be to remove everything and cut it up like and old locomotive for scrap. I built it to last but never had the idea I would have to take it down someday. I would do things a lot more different if I were to do it again with pre- constructed frame work.

Well George, you are a young guy and now you should consider this as your practice layout.  Moving is an exciting time in life, and in terms of your layout as well.  You get to start fresh and employ all the things you've learned!

 

So, when are you moving?  Just asking cuz I'll be out of town that week, sorry. 

Let's say this was one of my hardest things to do when i moved. I did a lot of procrastination and that was the killer for me. make sure you start out by just doing a little bit at a time- that is what I DID not do I had to run all most every engine be for i put it back into it's Lionel or MTH boxes  most of the scenery was by by. all my wood went to the dump i saved most off my tree's in zip locks. I found out that the  HOME DEPOT large box worked the best for storing my engines. the larger engine like the SD80/90 and steam engines that did not fit I went and picked up some different size boxes at the container store.NUMBER YOUR BOXS 1-100 and list what is in that box with that number. GOOD LUCK!!SO WHERE YOU HEADED

This is an important thread as we all face this (or someone else will have to face this) at one time. I am in transition right now. I had to leave a layout that I built, but did not tear it down. I now want to rebuild in my new location, but somewhere in the back of my head I am a bit reluctant. I realize that by building, it will eventually have to be torn down. I am 62, not old, but not a spring chicken either. When I build this new layout, down the road, will I be healthy enough to take it down, or will it fall on someone else to do that. It concerns me that I might be putting this burden on someone else. A layout is not like remodeling a bathroom or basement that increases your property value. There are some gorgeous layouts that some of our forumites have, Do any of you struggle with these thoughts too?

 

Rick

I've had this in mind ever since I built my first layout that was bigger than a 4'X8".  I figured I still had a few moves to do in my lifetime so I built my subsequent layouts with moving them eventually in mind.  The move into our current house was exciting since the basement was much larger and I'd be building my biggest layout.  So I kind of looked forward to packing everything up.

 

I built my benchwork, including my current layout, in module style so it could disassemble easier.  I framed each 4X8 piece of plywood separately (I wish I made them 4'X4', more modules but lighter to move) and attached them together with 3" drywall screws.

 

When we did our last move, after packing the trains and scenery away in storage boxes, I just backed out the screws holding the modules together then removed the legs for each module and stacked up the framed benchwork on their sides for moving.  I stored the detached legs in separate tall boxes from a storage store.  All the boxes or plastic totes were numbered and I made a short list of their contents.  I put the box numbers all over the box so the movers would know I had them inventoried.  Since we moved within driving distance from our previous home, larger and/or expensive locomotives were transported in my car for safety.

 

Once I began to rebuild in the new house it was fairly easy to just reattach the legs and place the modules in place.  However, I needed a lot more lumber to fill the new larger basement.  The mistake I made was buying it all at once.  While setting up the rest of the house, the lumber began to warp in the humid basement.  I was able to salvage most of the framing lumber by just putting together the warped pieces as if they were straight which resulted in some twisted framing.  Once attached to the wall I placed heavy objects on it and eventually it straightened out sufficiently.  So only buy fresh lumber for what you can build in a short time.

 

What you save from your layout will depend on how you constructed it.  All trains, track, trees, buildings and any landscaping I could remove were saved.  Mountains and their framework were demolished and trashed.

 

I figure I may have one more move left in me someday, hopefully for a bigger layout, so the layout will be ready to remove when the time comes.  By then if I need any additional lumber, I will probably go with Mianne Benchwork to make it easier.

I'm done moving, and the way I figure it, it is not my problem. Because when the time comes, I won't be around. That task will fall to either my wife, or whoever buys my house. It would help if they liked trains.

 

That said, I have moved many times in the past. The worst was leaving Mall of America 19 years ago. The tear down had to be completed within a week. Everything that wasn't nailed down (and a few things that were) were taken. I even took the lighting system. The scenery was a total loss. Track, power systems, structures, trees, accessories, and even the wire were all hastily packed. I heard later, that they ended up bringing in a bobcat to demolish the layout, and that it took the better part of a week. 

 

I've moved twice since then. My current house was built in great part to accommodate my layout. Progress can be followed here https://ogrforum.com/d...nt/12129987972340381

I was once involved with a club layout which later had to be completely removed. I once dismantled the full-basement layout of a deceased friend and found a dealer to buy the salvageable items. I once had a career which involved moving halfway across the country, and back again later. I remember years of transition with no permanent home. So I have always been wary of building a large "permanent" layout that is custom-fit to its location.

 

I did have the foresight to build a small "core module" HO railroad which I still have, 30+ years later. It's a three-lap multi-level oval with a corner wye on one table. It's relatively easy to add a flat yard on a shelf to fit available space with this layout, using the wye connection. I accepted the limitations of 18" radius curves, which suit the kind of mountain-line freight railroad theme that I have adopted. I'm reasonably happy with my current HO railroad and don't plan to expand it any further.

 

I never planned to build more than a modest figure-8 layout for my dad's 1931-vintage train, which was originally my only O-gauge. When I got hooked on O-gauge expansion I built a substantial floor layout mostly around the perimeter of an upstairs hobby room, so that it doesn't monopolize the limited floorspace of my modest house. It's all conventional track loose-laid on carpet and easily changed or removed. I've considered building a larger hobby room but probably won't. I keep the hobby manageable by limiting myself at some point.

 

My current seasonal project in a temporary residence was designed to be easy non-permanent construction which can be easily removed when the time comes. https://ogrforum.com/d...nt/10440673242762760

 

For some people, a smaller layout in a smaller scale will be more manageable. You can take it with you mostly intact when you move and not lose all that work that you put into it.

 

When you're not sure about the permanance of your residence it makes good sense to build modular and not go overboard with a really big layout. IMO.

When I built my O gauge layout I was already familiar with the standard construction methods for N-Trak modules, so I applied some of those features. 1x4 framing, 2x2 legs with T-nuts and bolts for height adjustment, 1/2" plywood for the table top. The layout is built in three separate table sections and joined together with 1/4-20 bolts, same way the legs and braces are attached. I did not install plugs in the wiring across the table joints so I would have to label a bunch of wires if I was planning on reassembling it, but the benchwork itself would come down pretty easily.

Some folks on the forum use 2x4's for framing and legs, and 3/4" plywood. If that's the way they roll it's all good, but if they have to take it apart it won't be fun to lug chunks of that heavy benchwork that they built in place and don't know how heavy it is. 

Billy hit the nail on the head, procrastination is one of the key factors with taking these down. Something that you put so much effort towards and which brings us enjoyment will be gone from our lives. I could see how some people may have difficulty with this.

 

The plan I have worked out so far is to incorporate this into a meet for our train club members. Call it free labor, but I thought it will be an excellent way to let members have one last run on my layout while helping box up all my trains and accessories.

 

Our decision to move was based on finding a good school system for our boys and just wanting more space. We will be staying in Maryland but I know it will take some time to find the right home. Well a home with adequate space or basement for a layout of course.

It is a sad day indeed.  I recall having to "disassemble" (butcher is more like it) my layout in Pittsburg when we moved many years ago.  Of course, I had the new layout I would build to look forward to - along with that long list of improvements I promised myself I would make.

 

I avoid tearing up a layout when I can because is is dogwork and a bit depressing, as you say.  Six years ago I decided to "remove" my N gauge layout and move to O.  After considering it carefully, I built my new layout right on top of the old N - it had a solid benchtop, etc: I just cut down moutains and removed buildings and mounted new plywood on top of support pedestals I mounted ever foot of so - then drilled and filled the "interior" with expanding foam (like Great Stuff) for noise control.  It saved time and money, made for a stronger bench than ever, and raised the bench height four inches, which worked out well. But I think the greatest benefit of doing that was that I went directly to toe uplifting task of building the new layout, skipping what would have been a long and "very downer" phase of removing the old.

I do it every Christmas! Sad indeed. I have to get started taking this one down....have been putting it off for two weeks. Not as complicated as the permanent ones you guys put up....but still, sad. Greg

 

Not Fun!!!!

 

We decided to move down from our beautiful mountain home last year due to advancing age and some other considerations (like sliding off the road in the ice - the Lord protected us in that one!) and me falling last spring and breaking my ankle. I kept working on the layout while we had the house listed due to the slow market in hopes of staying awhile longer but when we received an offer (the only offer) I accepted that the end was near. 

Was close enough to being 'finished' that I went ahead and did some quick landscaping to be able to get some good photos for an article and for our memories. You should have seen me hobbling around in a cast crawling under the layout shooting pictures!

When the actual demolishing started it was sad indeed. Was able to save a lot of the lumber and trees, rocks, scratch-built bridges, and equipment- a lot of which wis being incorporated on the club layout.

My new 'train room' is but 13'x10' so a home layout is now out of the question.

But life goes on and God is good.

And it gets heavier and bulkier the older you get! 

 

Even though my layout (S Scale) was designed to be disassembled, I know pretty well that the trackwork will not survive the process. 

 

I suspect any following layout will be much different in construction and concept.

 

Rusty

As permanent as my layout is, I know that in the next few years, it will have to come down. Actually, I am getting to the point where I am a bit hesitant to do much work to it, because I know probably in the next 2-5 years it will come down, and my next layout will probably not be as big (moving out of my parent's house). It's a depressing thought, but I kinda look forward to using what I learned on this layout to build a new one.

I agree with Sam, It's not fun. I just completed taking down mine just so I could start from scratch a new lay out in my 16X34 what I call my train barn. I first went to U-Haul and purchased a dozen of each size box and numbered each one. I made a list of each item I put in the box hoping I can find them again. I was lucky that I did keep about every factor box as well. A lot of scenery did get trashed and some items were broken in the process. I was also lucky to have a nice closed in trailer to store most of it in. I had looked into renting one of those PODS, but cancelled out due to the cost. Your case is a lot different than mine so maybe the PODS would work better. I wish you the best. Getting a train group to help sounds like a very good idea if your in one. Here I'm a one man band. (Photo) This is my current mess, but, at least I'm putting things together instead of taking them apart. Not near as depressing.

CarGuy, that's the right attitude.  Use what you've learned and always try something new on the next layout.  Because of that, I really had no regrets trashing my last three layouts.  I was trying to save one mountain once though, and the last I saw of it it was sailing through the air out of the pickup, headed towards the river.

 

When moving across three states, the movers didn't touch the trains.  I packed them like firewood in the Dodge Caravan using bubble wrap around those that lacked boxes, and Clyde the cat and I drove for 9 hours. 

My original layout in NJ was a simple 4' x 10' and I had planned on expanding it one day. Shortly after planning the new layout, I was offered a job in MA and I had to sell the house and move. I packed all of the engines, rolling stock and accessories and had nothing left but the track and benchwork. I carefully removed all of the 027 track and gave it to a coworker. Then I made sure that all of the wiring was removed. The next step was a circular saw that cut up the benchwork into manageable pieces to fit in my pickup truck. The final step was the dumpster.

It was sad to get rid of the old layout but the sadness didn't last long. I was concentrating on starting a new job, building a new house and planning a new layout. Eventually the new and improved layout got built and the pain of destroying the old layout was gone.

My Trains are still up but it's getting close to taking them down, my snow is getting

dirty.

 

quote:

 It concerns me that I might be putting this burden on someone else. A layout is not like remodeling a bathroom or basement that increases your property value. There are some gorgeous layouts that some of our forumites have, Do any of you struggle with these thoughts too?

Sure do! And finding a proper solution or compromise to the problem is what I'm mulling over now. The biggest problem to me seems to be the electrical wiring and keeping it mobile.

We have lived in the same house for the last 19 1/2 years, but will most likely move when I retire in 9 more years (8 years 11 months, but hey who's counting! )  I'm hoping to do a major rebuild to my layout this year.  My scenery has always been very sparse (lack of time to do anything else) and the future scenery likely will be very basic (a couple of dioramas) and a small town. 

 

I don't want to go to overboard as I don't know if in the future I will have a nice size basement or have to do a much simplier around a spare bedroom layout.  I just figure that the benchwork and wiring for the current layout is a one house deal and I will start anew at the new house.

 

Don, Did y'all end up with two shipping containers, one for the fun stuff and one for the regular household stuff?

 

Jim

Elliot, I have had the pleasure of visiting your Entertrainment at the Mall of America in June of 1993 and that moment starting getting me into o gauge trains. It must have been a painful process to dismantle that layout and leave so much behind. I understand how the scenery was a total loss especially the fascades of the old St. Paul houses. I look forward to seeing the progress of your new layout. 

This is a reality I am in the process of facing.  Soon my little layout that I have so enjoyed building with my kids will be a thing of the past. 

Jim, we only took one container. The house we bought came with everything from dive gear to golf clubs. All furniture, towels, sheets, tools, dishes, pots and pans, everything. The people we bought the house from had five other homes all over the world. They didn't want to bother with all the stuff so they just left it. That's not uncommon on the islands. It costs a lot to ship back to the mainland and then what are you going to do with it. Most everything was new or near new. A couple of the houses we looked at came with a car or jeep. We gave most of our furniture away. By the way the whales are here now in huge numbers. We had three go under our boat in one afternoon. This one came up and took a long look at us. Makes you kind of feel very small. Don

The oldest portion of my layout is now 22 years old.  Over the years, I've built detachable extensions to that original layout.  In the time I have had the layout, it has made 2 out of state moves and 1 in state move.  Starting about 3 weeks before moving day, I re-check all of my wiring to make sure it is properly labeled.  This extra effort has paid off when I have moved the layout into the new location; re-connecting wiring is a snap and I normally have trains running within 2 hours of starting the process.

 

Like Don, I have also always kept all of the boxes. Although they are a pain to store, having the original box provides excellent protection for each engine and car.  Not that I'm looking forward to doing it again any time soon, but when we have moved I have almost enjoyed the process of boxing up the trains and then taking them out again when we reach the new location.  Opening each of those boxes again can give you nearly the same "rush" that you experienced the first time you got it home from the store and took it out.

 

And I have never allowed the moving company to touch any of my train stuff.  I've always insisted that my employer allow me to rent a U-Haul or Ryder truck and move my layout and trains myself.

 

Rick, 62?  Really?  Didn't realize you were such a geezer bud!   

 

Curt

This is the middle of my third layout, other two came down because of construction I was doing on our house.  That all in 13 years of playing with the trains.  The things I have learned was go with the biggest curves you can manage both in area and with your wallet.  Second, label all the stuff and pack it good.  Its easy to get at next time.  Third, take your time when laying out the layout and do alot of running of the trains before putting on scenery.  Fourth,  make sure all those trains can negociate the curves and have clearances away from walls tunnels etc.  Fifth, try and be neat and effeciant with your wiring.  Not to have a big rats nest.  Make sure you have fun building your next one.  I probably will take this one apart in a few more years?  Oh well it is the joy of model railroading!

laz57

When I moved about 5 years ago all I could save was what was on the layout. Over two thousand dollars of premium wood was chopped up and put in the trash. It was such a mess I really don't want to do it again. When I built the smaller layout  l now have I used Mianne bench work. It goes together and it is easy on my 66 year old bones.

Sad times, indeed. Divorce and a job opportunity that took me from Pennsylvania to the western slope of Colorado in 2010 meant taking down 10 years of work; and, much of it could not be salvaged simply from the nature of construction. I did however salvage most of the 2x4s, wiring, rock molds, trees, and thousands of screws and bolts; and am currently re-using the stuff in my new layout, which is being built back in PA I am happy to say. Using screws & bolts made it fairly easy to take down - it is  heart-breaking though.

 

Some shots of wandering "travelers of the rails" were shot during demolition of my rendition of Penn Station:

Have gone through this process three times before, but I kept in mind that the new layout would be better, if only beacuase I was more experienced. So I kept a positive attitude during the demolition phase and never looked back.

Wow George! This is a surprise......

 

Looks like next month's meeting will be to dismantle the layout! Just remember, Jaclyn can have whatever she wants in the house as long as the basement meets size requirements foryour your ultimate layout!!! 36' x 72', nothing smaller!

I just moved a month ago. I had a small 12 x 4 foot layout. When I built the frame I made it like a storage cabinet. When we had our house listed I decluttered it but I left it up and operational.  The family that ended up buying our house wanted to keep the cabinet, and mountains. They are planning on a train layout of their own, however using ho scale. Made it easy for me, I packed up the small stuff and did not have to dismantle the layout itself. Now it is time to find a spot in the new house to start a new layout.

Hey, George, . . . this doesn't have anything to do with the Raven's kickin' Steeler butt this year, now, does it?

 

Seriously, lots of big plastic tubs, and boxes will come in handy.....

and we'll arange for Jeff's trip was postponned, . . . . he'll be driving the U-haul for you!

Thank you ClutchGuy. When it was all happening, it was sort of a panic situation, no time to get emotional over the loss. That came later and lasted a long time.

 

Actually, the houses of which you speak were salvaged, and are still packed in the same box in which they departed the mall. Unlike so much of the stuff that was moved, I do want to incorporate them into my current layout. I have a couple places in mind where they would fit right in.

 

Jim,  Believe me the negotiations have begun. Nothing smaller than that! She say's she just doesn't understand all of this.  As for the Ravens kicking the steelers butt? I think not! But congrats on your Superbowl.  Be prepared to work on March 9 at the club meet. 

 

One of our club members actually thought ahead when he built his layout. He made everything sectional, and nothing so large that he could not get it out of a set of Bilco doors. None of the track pieces bridge a section by much. It took a lot of preplanning and discipline, but paid off in the end.

 

He picked a nice sunny day for the move. When we arrived, he already had the layout down and in pieces. We had one piece that was a bit of a squeeze getting it through the door, but everything else was easy. We loaded it on a buddy's flatbed, strapped it down, and went for a 10 mile drive on backroads. Took us 3 trips with the flatbed. 

 

He was back up and running in 3 weeks, it would have been less, but there was the rest of the house to deal with.

 

Chris

LVHR

 Click on a photo for a larger view.

 

 

Some of the sections

 

 

This one was easy!

 

Sliding a piece on the flatbed.

Sectional, bolt together is the way to go. Moved my current layout a few times without damage and plus its relatively easy to take apart and put back together. In reconfiguring for the new space I have had to occasionally modify a section but even with that there is not much throwaway. Scrap plywood can become scenery forms, braces, splice plates,etc. Scrap lumber can be recycled into cross-braces and risers. I've never had to buy much extra or toss that much away. I've seen too many friends go out any buy top #1 lumber and build a permanent layout then tear it all down and throw it in a dumpster only to do it all over again in the next residence. What a waste of time, money and effort! Since I never have to go all the way to ground zero, moving never causes much stress.

 

Peter

I cant believe your attitude."oh well it will be my wifes problem"UN real.

I tore down a 8x12 layout when we moved. Built Using lag bolt construction. Sort of worked in tear down mode. Still used sawz-all and sledge hammer toward the end. Really sad and I don't think anybody fully understood what a complete bummer that was. Except you guys probably To avoid this: Plan ahead,Maybe think toward dis-assembling sometime while in planning stage On tear down inventory carefully, pack carefully do not put off. It will be hard to start I was able to reuse quite a bit. I also promised myself there would be another layout bigger and better in the future

I'm sorry that you feel that way. I made a very blunt and honest comment, and I stand by it. My wife was aware of my post, and it didn't bother her in the least. Her response was, "It's not as if it were puppies." 

 

Everyone dies, and most leave an estate or personal property of some sort, the disposition of which falls to the living. I have a house full of stuff, the train layout is the least of it. 

My attitude is that I will keep working on my layout until I die. I swore 13 years ago that I was never moving again, and I stand by that too!