I had to dismantle a layout not because of a relocation, but because of a change in priorities. When I was 14 my parents built a 24 x 40 addition onto their woodworking shop. They asked my brother and me if we would like to have a basement included in the building for all of our sh...stuff. My mind instantly thought of a large train layout. Upon completion of the addition I immediately started to construct a decent sized layout. Unfortunately, I had made no plans and just started building the structure. As time went on I realized that I was in a rut and nothing was getting done. I would put some track down only to pull it up after a couple of days. The layout sat unfinished for about three years.
My other passion being pipe organs, I had always dreamed of installing one in out home. I had an opportunity to acquire a small pipe organ that would actually fit into the basement. My dad agreed to let me get it with the stipulation that the train layout come down. It was gone in less than a day! I installed the organ in the basement and enlarged it several times. The skills I learned from installing and enlarging the organ greatly helped in my goals of becoming an organbuilder.
Fast forward about 10 years. My wife and I bought a home with a spare room that I could build a train layout in. I did quite a bit of planning and came up with a layout that fit my traditional sized trains perfectly. All was well until I bought my first scale locomotive and freight cars. Down came the first layout, the room was remodeled and a new layout was designed and constructed with operations in mind. Today I enjoy this layout with our granddaughter and friends.
What I learned from this experience is plan, plan, plan then plan some more. I think my dad had a crystal ball when he allowed me to get the pipe organ. He knew I would have to think things through and plan how things would go together. Lessons learned.
Tom
