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Recycling 20+ year old train table Journals/Blogs
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New member 14 posts mattropolis New member 14 posts
mattropolis

When I was in high school I built a train table using the design in the "HO Railroad that grows" by Linn Westcott. When I expanded the layout i built a second table. Seven or eight years later I dismantled the layout, and threw most of the scenery and track away, but the train tables became storage tables.

Fast forward 20 years and one the tables was still in the basement of my Mom's house. I took the junk off it, disassembled the table and re-assembled it at my place. This time instead of an approximately 4' by 8' table I adjusted it to fit my along the wall 2' by 8'. I added new longer legs with adjustable leveling screws, and was able to re-use the girders, braces, and joists. The top is 1/2" birch plywood. I bought two 2' by 4' sheets and screwed them in from underneath.

P1070607.JPG 

The table is about 50" off the ground. The main reason to re-use this table was I didn't want to attach anything to the walls and the table I already had worked perfectly. The room is 10' wide so I may extend the table with an extension from wall to wall. That will make the table even more secure.

For now I will just stick building my layout along this one wall of the room, but will allow for expansion along the next wall. I'll talk more about my trackplan in my next post.

Matthew Buchanan, Coquitlam BC
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hillbillyhogger New member 2 posts
hillbillyhogger

Good Job!!!

I love the challenges of recycling... one of our large scale clubs threw out old corners and a few straight sections of the modules that were from the 70's and I asked if I could have it for recycling. that old module was reconditioned, new stuff added, broken things repaired ,wiring updated, shortened the legs, etc. the corners an 2 straight sections became the Christmas lobby display for the Hotel I worked at. the owners loved the display so much they gave our club a small donation for our  trash!!! I have also taken LGB turnouts that have very little plastic ties left and recycled them for my own personal layout.

Chris 

Poverty Creek & Hassle Gap Rwy
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rickwade Prolific poster (deceased) 6,447 posts
rickwade

Nice recycling!

I'm a believer in recycling (especially model railroad stuff.  You setup looks great!  Here's my "Buck and Loretta" diorama that I built for my previous layout sitting on my front porch awaiting installation on my current layout.  I built it off the layout originally which made it very easy to recycle.

 

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What a wife!  That's the scene sitting on top of our kitchen cabinets where it sat for MONTHS awaiting it's new home!

Cabinets.JPG 

I couldn't find a recent picture, but the module is installed on my current layout.

Rick

img_4768.jpg 

The Richlawn Railroad Website - Featuring the L&N in HO  / MRH Blog  / MRM #123

Mt. 22: 37- 40
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Patrick Stanley Frequent poster 588 posts
Patrick Stanley

Just Wondering

Rick, I just finished a 5 month kitchen remodel. What were the magic words you used ? Maybe I can get some layout on top of my new cabinets. Plenty of space up there without the soffit.  HA!

Yes, I have recycled MR benchwork into my current layout. I have a scene that I have yet to install that I bought from Allen McClelland's original V&O that still sits under my layout. Now that the kitchen is done, I theoretically should have more time for RRing.

Espee over Donner
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rickwade Prolific poster (deceased) 6,447 posts
rickwade

"Pretty please with sugar on

"Pretty please with sugar on top!"  Actually, I think it was a little guilt that let me do it as it was the wife's idea to move back to Florida and thus causing the dismantling (destroying) of my previous layout.

Rick

img_4768.jpg 

The Richlawn Railroad Website - Featuring the L&N in HO  / MRH Blog  / MRM #123

Mt. 22: 37- 40
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mattropolis New member 14 posts
mattropolis

Before I disassembled the table...

This picture shows the table before I took it apart. in this configuration the table was about 4 feet wide, now it is 2 feet wide.

61124183.jpg 

Matthew Buchanan, Coquitlam BC
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