When to dismantle a train layout - for good? VIDEO Added 03 June 2018

Alex M posted:

Alex 

 I wouldn’t dismantle the layout at this time, you’re only 72 which is still quite young.  You said you would want to sell your current house when you turn 80 , I would continue to enjoy the layout for 8 years then dismantle it at that time. 

Alex 

Yes, Alex, that would make sense. 

We like our house, and enjoy having family and friends stay with us, for which the house is perfectly suitable. But with over 2400 sq-ft main floor, 2300 sq-ft basemanent, 3-1/2 acres of land of which we mow about 2-1/2 acres, and with woods to take care of regularly, I anticipate that we wil be ready to sell by then, I suppose.

Here is a video that a friend of mine made around Christmas time, and which I found JUST TODAY! He is not a model railroader or rail fan, but enjoyed seen the trains. He did a good job with the video.

Alex

Wow Alex, that is such a great layout! I hope you enjoy it for as long as you want. Weather it be for fun or just something to do to escape for a little while!

I know buy reading your build thread and some emails from you I have learned a bundle of information! So this is my chance to say thank you again for teaching us who wish to learn!

An amazing video and layout!

-Greg 

Ingeniero No1 posted:

The Question

How would you decide when to dismantle your layout (and sell the components*) if there is no one in your family that has a real interest in it?

 My Family

My two sons, who are in their fifties, are doing great and live in Colorado and Texas; we live in Missouri. My grandchildren also are doing well; they own their homes, and are starting their families. My great-grand children are too young. None of the aforementioned has any particular interest on my layout as it now stands. When the time comes, our house will be sold, and from experience, I know it is much better not to have a train layout to sell a house; at least not one that is 33-ft x 38-ft.

 My Health (I am 72)

Last December I suffered a TIA, and a few days later, an unrelated detached retina. Just one week after I was healed from the ‘first’ detachment, the same retina detached again, but on the opposite side. Needless to say, I was not able to do as much as I normally do this past winter and early spring. That second detachment is all but completely healed now. There was no permanent damage done by the TIA.

Now

In spite of all this, I truly feel great, and can do almost everything I used to do 30 years ago. I exercise with weights three times a week, walk two miles every day, do other stuff such as pull ups and push ups;  and other than for chocolate cake, I do eat healthy food. I compete in a dozen or more rifle matches at 600 and 1000 yards every summer, which requires a lot of reloading and preparation; I do quite a bit of do wood work in my shop, and work on the train.

What I had been thinking . . .

I had planned to dismantle my train layout when I turned 80. However, due to the TIA and retinal detachments last winter, I am considering dismantling the layout starting February 2019; well after the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

I will appreciate your opinions. Thanks!

Alex

(*) I have the original boxes for all the locomotives, the cars, most of the buildings and accessories, and most of the figures (the little inhabitants of the layout)

 

 

 

Having to deal with many serious health issues all of a sudden at 75 .... just pulled the batteries from everything and covered the entire layout with thin sheets of plastic until such time as I can put some of the other pressing issues to rest.  Wife says leave it and she and the grandkids will deal with it when necessary.  To do it over I'd build a layout 1/4 the size and not purchase 80% of the trains we've accumulated.

Hi: Alex:  Your layout is superb.  Why not sell the entire house & land  along with the train layout and what you want to leave in the house in one deal. There are many young railroaders that would jump at the chance to have a ready made railroad in the house they are buying.  I too am 75 years of age and just worked all my life and bought 3 rail trains  -- just too many!  So at 75, I am selling my trains on this forum and it is most difficult.   If you sell the house "deal", just ask the buyers if you can come back and visit your railroad.  This might sound too far fetched, but you never know until you try.  Sincerely yours,   railbear601

Alex:

To tear down this layout would be nothing short of criminal.  Keep it up and enjoy it for as long as you are still in the house.

Curt

Alex,

I have seen your videos on Youtube for a couple of years now. Your work is simply wonderful. A wise man once said think ahead in life to help plan for tough decisions in your future(something like that). Well that sounds nice and all but in the case of the trains, don't think too hard. If you spend too much time thinking about the end of this masterpiece it takes away from enjoying it. 

I also need to add, in reading through various entries in this thread, there are a lot of troopers who have dealt with and are dealing with some serious health related issues. It's not a mystery to me that in those times, trains have been a source of comfort and I believe, healing. A shout out to all who have shared their fights, you're amazing in your own right. 

Thank your friend for creating this video and showcasing the artistry that is in you. Continue to enjoy what I'm sure was, a lot of long hours, labor of love, and expertise created by a great guy.

Dave

I have discussed this issue with my wife.  We have decided that she should donate my trains to my train club.  Money should not be an issue for her.  The club has 501c3 status so she will get a charitable deduction and it will help the club. I have told the club that they will have to take the layout down and pick up everything.  The only exception will be that my daughter may want to take something. Hopefully this won’t happen for many years.

I would want to keep the layout as long as possible.  Even just to sit and watch them go around, but that's just me.

I would try to find someone local to give the layout to when i died.  Maybe a couple of people in case one moves away.  Show them how it comes apart etc and how its wired.  They get it for free for doing the removal.

I would make a list of the trains and how to dispose of them, (Auction house, etc).

Live long and play hard.

Ingeniero No1 posted:

Alex M posted:

Alex 

 I wouldn’t dismantle the layout at this time, you’re only 72 which is still quite young.  You said you would want to sell your current house when you turn 80 , I would continue to enjoy the layout for 8 years then dismantle it at that time. 

Alex 

Yes, Alex, that would make sense. 

We like our house, and enjoy having family and friends stay with us, for which the house is perfectly suitable. But with over 2400 sq-ft main floor, 2300 sq-ft basemanent, 3-1/2 acres of land of which we mow about 2-1/2 acres, and with woods to take care of regularly, I anticipate that we wil be ready to sell by then, I suppose.

Here is a video that a friend of mine made around Christmas time, and which I found JUST TODAY! He is not a model railroader or rail fan, but enjoyed seen the trains. He did a good job with the video.

Alex

Alex 

Thanks for that video , it really shows the beauty of your layout , it’s to beautiful to dismantle. Keep it and enjoy it. 

PS Keep the videos Coming and say hello to Judy 

Alex 

Alex,

Lots of good comments here, but the ones that resonate with me the most is enjoying your layout as long as you can.  Each of us has a different view of what to do after we are gone, and not wanting to be a burden on the family to have to dismantle the layout.  My view is that my trains are a form of enjoyment, and not an investment.  Much like someones golf clubs, or a boat, some value sure, but note really part of a retirement fund. If the clean up of the layout once I am gone is a call to 1800-gotjunk, or some other way agreed to dispose of it, the value of the trains are not a material impact to the family, but the enjoyment you get in your final years is priceless.

From my seats, keep it as long as you enjoy it.

Alex.....thank you for bringing up this important and thought-provoking topic.  I turn 65 this week, am in good health, and I plan to spend at least 10 years in my current home.......but you just never know.....

I certainly need to think a few things through.....

Thank you, Alex.....my best wishes for your health and for the knowledge to make the correct decision for yourself and your family.

Peter

Hi Alex, I showed my wife your video and let her read what you posted. She said that's a shame that you should enjoy it for as long as you want! Then turned to me and told me the same thing, but also added that if the kids and grandkids didn't want it that she was going to sell everything and go on a trip! LOL I told her that's fine and that if the VA will let me have it in my spot on the wall to put an engine in with me! 

I think she is a great woman and just wants to see me happy! Like most of our wife's! 

I tend to agree with those who say if you are enjoying the layout as is, can keep up with maintaining it, then why tear it down? Only speaking for myself, but there were times when I was too ill or worn out to do things I enjoy, yet the knowledge that  I had those things available to me if/when I got better, helped keep me going. If you go through a period of health scares/issues, it could be having the layout drives you forward in your recovery, and to me even if I was unable to do much on the layout, just sitting there and looking at it would be a tonic, no matter I couldn't really do anything

why not enjoy it as much as you can, and then have a plan in place for either when you are not around, or when you finally decide the effort of having it is overriding the joy of it. You could have your well prepared list of trains and such, that your family could potentially use to get a dealer to buy it, and you could set aside money in your will to have someone come in and take down the layout and dispose of the debris (handyman service + dumpster for example), so no one in your family has to do that.....you could even ask a railroad friend to handle the layout, so your family doesn't have to do that part. I suspect your wife and family would like for you to keep what you enjoy and if you made it so they didn't have to do much to figure out how to sell off the collection and get rid of the layout, so much the better.  

NEVER! My layout is just three loops and is standard and LGB, and is more of a display, so I will leave it to my son in law or grandsons to dismantle! I realize health issues and age are factors in such a decision - I am 75 and have been on renal hemodialysis for over 13 years, but I am hanging in there as long as I can and my trains are NOT going anywhere anytime soon! 

First there is no easy and stock answer to this as the trains are a part of your life. Second, if you are at the point of asking this question then it may be the right time for you.

It's not like asking when do I sell my shares of Apple. Clearly, when you need the money. 

Rich883 posted:

Alex,

Lots of good comments here, but the ones that resonate with me the most is enjoying your layout as long as you can.  Each of us has a different view of what to do after we are gone, and not wanting to be a burden on the family to have to dismantle the layout.  My view is that my trains are a form of enjoyment, and not an investment.  Much like someones golf clubs, or a boat, some value sure, but note really part of a retirement fund. If the clean up of the layout once I am gone is a call to 1800-gotjunk, or some other way agreed to dispose of it, the value of the trains are not a material impact to the family, but the enjoyment you get in your final years is priceless.

From my seats, keep it as long as you enjoy it.

Alex,

I think most agree to enjoy it while you can and are able and I hope those here who have layouts are able to do the same with theirs for as long as they desire. Having older friends without hobbies I've seen how they have nothing enjoyable to look forward to each day.

Rich,

"Much like someones golf clubs, or a boat, some value sure, but note really part of a retirement fund."

I have no friends who were not greatly relieved when the family boat finally sold, and of course at a loss!

moving to small house within one year no room for 30 x 14 layout in new house a smaller 9 x 12 is possible but once you have 30 x 14 a 9 x 12 will not do 

so I am selling on e bay slowly but selling 

My plan is they'll have to pry my cold dead hand off the throttle handle.

Bogie

Well in my opinion the engineer in Alex is coming out.  These types enjoy the build more than the run.  Now that further construction is not so much the challenge, interest tends to wane.  I would recommend the tear down, saving the curved trestle, sell off the locos that do not currently grab your attention.  New stuff keeps coming out, so less may be more but updating may be of interest to you.  Start something new at this point, it does not need  to be O-72 or larger.  Try O-54 on for size with a new smaller plan and two axle locos.  Older rolling stock.  Keep the mind and the fingers occupied.  Good luck.  Bert

wb47 posted:

Well in my opinion the engineer in Alex is coming out.  These types enjoy the build more than the run.  Now that further construction is not so much the challenge, interest tends to wane.  I would recommend the tear down, saving the curved trestle, sell off the locos that do not currently grab your attention.  New stuff keeps coming out, so less may be more but updating may be of interest to you.  Start something new at this point, it does not need  to be O-72 or larger.  Try O-54 on for size with a new smaller plan and two axle locos.  Older rolling stock.  Keep the mind and the fingers occupied.  Good luck.  Bert

Yeah, I like Bert's way of thinking - keeping it interesting by changing things up! When I first started (back) up in this hobby, I was all about diesels. Over time, I am settling into steam switchers as being a main interest - and they mostly don't need O72 curves! 

Apply the same test as you do when cleaning out the attic/basement/shed/garage/closets - if you ain't touched it in a year, sell it! Except of course for your very 1st train - I'll never sell my 602 Seaboard

I'm going to tell you three stories, including my own:

1. I attended an operating session last fall, where the owner had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. His widow actually kept the layout for a while, and even allowed his friends to come in a number of times to operate it. There was an agreed date as to when the last session would be. At that session she had someone come in and shoot video, and then it was done, and time to tear it down. I even bought a few non train items from her for my layout, fast clocks and aprons,
2. I don't think I ever met Bill, he passed away probably ten years ago, but I have visited his layout twice since 2013. The the layout is world class, and his widow had no qualms about keeping it and the rest of the basement, just the way it was when he passed. A friend of mine helped him build it, and now goes over there to run it for local layout tours. His widow even knows how to run it for friends. Even from the grave, his layout lives on, and will be on the National Narrow Gauge Convention Layout Tour in September. To see some pictures, click HERE.
3. Just before Thanksgiving 2006, I went in for a biopsy of a thing on my right arm. They called me and said I needed to come back in, right then, and proceeded to tell me that it was melanoma. I went to see the oncologist, and he said the the five year survival rate for this type was 42% (less than a coin flip).  I immediately stopped all work on the layout, had two surgeries, and went through 5-1/2 years of poking and prodding. From the day I found out, to the day the oncologist said he didn't want to see me anymore, I never touched the layout. It was a bright sunny day in May, and my wife and I were walking from the doctor's office back to the car, and  said to her, now what? She said, "Why don't you start working on the layout again?" it took a little while to get up the gumption to go downstairs again. That was about six years ago. I have no idea where I would be today, if I hadn't gotten back into trains. The one thing I didn't do, was tear it down. My wife and I have agreed the layout won't come down while I'm alive. This layout represents my life's work.

Alex, you've built a beautiful layout. Don't allow the calendar tell you when it's time to take it down. It took so long to build it, it takes far less time to destroy it. It is difficult to say if you'll feel regret when it's gone. You could ask Eliot Scher about that.

BTW, it took seven months to build enterTRAINment at Mall of America. It took seven days to take it down. I regretted every minute of that, but I had no choice because the space was rented.

These stories prompt a recollection:  Remember Norman Cole?  He had the cover of OGR twice!.  Once many years ago with an outside third rail 0 scale layout and then once again with an all new conventional 2 rail layout.

To my best recollection, I met him just after he opened his new layout to those of us from the Easton 0 scale meet.  He told me of when of when he received a bad cancer diagnosis.  He was concerned about the decades old layout occupying his 30' X 70' basement.

With no famiiy member sharing continued interest in his layout, and a sensitivity of the burden left for his family, he tore it down and cleaned up the basement with new wall to wall carpet and freshened the walls.

Then with much pain, apprehension and discomfort he continued on with the medical treatment.

He shared with me it was to his surprise that he received a clean bill of health and wound up second guessing his tear down.

After 6 decades on this planet he then went about building (Hand laid/spiked track) and running in a relatively short time his second magazine worthy BIG layout.  Norman was an encouragement to me in what can be built in one's twilight years.  Norman finally passed at age 90.  Google "Norman Cole o scale Easton pa obituary" to read the impressive  list of involvements of one of the most accomplished people I have meet.

"Let them eat cake"

Not my worry...........

Again, you have shared very thought provoking sentiments; and I really understand and appreciate all.

 I now realize that running the trains is one activity that I can do that requires the least physical effort, in a matter of speaking, and yet provides great enjoyment. While it is true that I derive most satisfaction from the building aspect, I do enjoy running the trains.

 Yes, I was one of those who, together with my Dad, I could watch trains at the store going around and around forever, and not get the least bit bored – and he didn’t either! Funny thing, the last time we did this was when he came to visit us over 30 years ago, at hobby shop that had just opened at the then new shopping mall at Union Station in St. Louis – I was in my 40’s and my Dad in his 70’s – talk about kids forever!

In the meantime, there are quite a few things that I still want to do, such as a remotely operated (from the edge of the layout) and dependable, fully operational MI Jack, which my guests could run without risk of dropping containers, or similar ‘accidents’.

I also want to add more proximity sensors (people detectors) that cause operating accessories to function when guests stand in from of them. I have these in a couple of places already, and they work fine.

 I really thank you for your thoughts, and for your very interesting personal stories!

 Alex

I spent nearly 18 years building my layout and 1000's of hours building all of the structures. On the holidays when my two sons, my daughter in-law and grandson come over, we run trains.  My 9 month old grandson is fascinated and seems to love seeing them run and operate.  It cannot be said that the layout will be preserved after I go to my rest. Most layouts are not.  If it is saved all the better, but if it sold off, that's not my problem. It will continue to be a source of fun for family, friends, visitors  and myself while the good Lord keeps me here.

With apologies to the author of the original 'Motto To Live By' that graced my brother-in-law's fireplace mantle....

...I choose to believe "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, beer in one hand, model trains throttle/controller in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO WOOOOOO!  What a ride!!!"  

BTW, relatives and family disinterested in your trains?  But a buddy, pal, neighbor kid, etc. LOVES them as much as you do?  Leave it all to them.  It's NOT the money....it's the enrichment of someone's quality of life that would be the better legacy. 

Or as Jimmy Durante once crooned...

KD 

And, Doug-Sr...."You'll know you're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster!"

Well....I'll chime in and say that it all depends on whether or not you are going to stay in your current home.  If not, and you don't plan to re-build the layout in the new digs, then you may want to make arrangements to sell or give away/donate the trains and layout structures.  If you don't want to mess with making those arrangements, then a good auction house perhaps is the answer.  Many will come in and dismantle, move, and then auction off everything with you having to do little...  HOWEVER, if you plan to stay in your home, then I would keep the layout for the many reasons that have been stated above.  In my case, my wife and I consider our current home as the last one we will have....we love the home and the area in which we live so we have agreed that the layout will remain until such time that I have departed the station....at least that is the current plan!  I have already talked to an auction company and made arrangements for them to take the layout down and dispose of the trains/buildings.  My wife has their phone number and they have hers and so we are at peace as to what happens to the collection and layout upon my death....  You and Judy need to enjoy the years you have left and let someone else with whom you have made pre-arrangements worry about the layout....

Alex, keep it going!!! Those trains run so smooth on that atlas track btw. I need to make a trip your way next time I am going to st. Louis area. I live in columbia mo. Just am always busy working. I would love to talk trains and see your wonderfull layout. I havent got my own house yet and I am 51. I have rented all my life. I hope to find one someday in oh say 5 years. Then I can start my dream layout. I am heavily collecting engines,accessories and structures for that day. Then when I hit retirement age I can work on my layout untill I die.

My father never had any real hobbies and he just sat in his little apartment the last few years of his life with only the tv and occasional family stopping by to occupy his time. I encouraged him to get a hobbie,but he did not grow up with many toys or hobbies as a kid. He like to putter around our house and work in the yard in his prime. When my mother passed and he sold the house all that went away. He past away last year. I just think of what my life would be when I get that age without a hobbie like model trains. Thats why I say keep your layout and trains for as long as you can. 

I also think about my trains and collection and who will get them when I die. My friends at work joke around and want me to leave them my trains so they can sell them for the money. I tell them by then they wont be worth much. My cousins probably are not interested in getting them. I am single so maybe when the time come I can will them to a good club who will know how to take care of them. But untill then I will enjoy every hour spent running them. Some times the best joy at lest for now is buying the next one. This makes all my hard work working two jobs all worth while. 

Wow! Just saw this thread. As I will be 73 in August, I was thinking  what has been discussed. I find this topic very informative. Because I had a late start, don't think I'll ever finish the layout, but will keep working at my own pace. One thing for sure as mentioned by all of you is to be prepared with info and contacts.

"You wanna hear God laugh?  Tell Him your plans."

Just turned 81 in February and just added an extension to my 8-track yard. As Charlottr Heston once said ......from my cold dead arms. Rock on!

Wally

If something brings you happiness, keep it as long as you can, whatever it is. If you're concerned about what happens to your train s after you die, leave detailed instructions in your estate plan, put it out of your mind and enjoy your life and your trains. 

John