Good Luck

If it was anywhere near my area, I'd be all over that. Good luck!

Certainly Worth a Look

Sad to think how many layouts end-up in the garbage due to similar situations. Can't save them all but here are my thoughts.

1. Certainly worth the time to follow-up on this offer.  Worse case, based on the pictures, you may find the travel expense, and time is not worth the trouble. However, may discover you found a "gold mine" of model railroad accessories, structures, Etc.

2. Even if you can't use the items, if you have storage space, may be a good opportunity to resale the items.  

3. Before dismantling, be sure to get or encourage the Widow to get images and video of the layout.  There might not be an interest now, but once it's gone, "it's gone."   I still enjoy looking at pictures of my past layouts.

4. If you don't have an interest, and you want to take the time, check to see if there is a local Hobby Shop, railroad club, Etc.  in the area that might have an interest in the layout.  My local Hobby Shop will work with local estate liquidations and sale on consignment.  (Many times the family does not realize some model railroad items can be valuable and collectable) 

Joe

Proceed with caution

This is a fantastic opportunity for you. I have been in a similar situation once, and will be again when a good friend passes (he is in his 80s). In both instances I was approached by the layout owner before they were any where near passing but they wanted to be sure things would be taken care of when they are gone.

In the first instance, it was a difficult time for me because he was a beloved friend but it was also very hard on his widow. She had to witness the work of her husband be destroyed and removed from the home. This puts a stress on the person who is doing the work. You have to be aware of the emotions that could be tied to the layout. Despite the knowledge that it has to be done you are dealing with someone who is grieving and that can have unexpected circumstances.

Also note that it is a difficult, time consuming, labour intensive job. Be sure you can handle it alone, or get some help. The allure of free stuff must be tempered with the reality of the work.

I'd do it

I've seen some really large layouts in my time, but nothing that I couldn't completely dismantle and dump in one day. They mention "lots of rolling stock and engines". How many days would you have to work to earn the money to purchase those? Sounds like a great deal to me. Now, if the stuff is all really old Tyco junk or similar, then it won't be worth the effort. But, that isn't very likely. 

Randy

Yeah,I do wonder if it is dcc

Yeah,I do wonder if it is dcc or dc to. Will give the person a call later.

caution

Also be aware that the expense of a dumpster or other means of disposal may be your responsibility. Be sensitive to who will pay for any damage that may happen to the home as you work on it and are removing items from the house. These things could cost you more than you can gain from the project. It wouldn't hurt to get something in writing prior to starting so there is no question later of who is responsible for what. Be professional and compassionate when dealing with the widow.  

I will of course, it

I will of course, it definitely would be a good idea to check that out.

Dumpster alternative

I would find out where the local dump is first. It was hard to tel from the email if the offer was just for you or also included your club. If it is not just you, can enough trucks and or trailers be rounded up to do the disposal job. If a trip or several trips to the dump can be made that can be a whole lot cheaper than a dumpster.

Jack

 If your member of your local

If your member of your local NMRA division ask   Them as well for help.

Yes. Get it

If the layout is less than 30 years old it should have nickel silver track, good quality structures, and locomotives and rolling stock. The work should definitely be worth it. The only stuff that should end up in the dumpster, is lumber and scenery. Our club has been involved in some salvage operations and saved everything we could, club members were given first choice of models, track and switches were re-used on the club modules, and any excess was sold at train shows. So again I say go for it. 

How big is the layout? My

How big is the layout?

My Friday round robin group has been taking down a layout that belong to a member that recently passed away and selling off what we could.  And it has taken a lot longer the I would have expected but this is a large layout.

We pulled up most of the track and the DCC system and phones, and cameras and such and gathered all the cars, and engines and sold or gave away most of the buildings and such but we still have to take down the benchwork and scenery.  And we are multiple days into this with a crew of four or five.

The other big challenge will be taking all of this up the stairs.  But in our case our group will not be handling that aspect.  But really there are hundreds of trips up and down the stairs.

Our group is doing this out of respect and in memory of our lost member with all the money going to his widow, but I am not sure that I would do it for someone I don't know even if I could keep everything.

You will want to determine how much time you have, how clean you need to leave it.  What you can get out of it.  The expected condition of the basement afterwards.  Who covers expanses such as patching or repairs to anything damaged, the cost of the dumpster, cleaning up the dirt tracked upstairs as everything is carried up.   And how big the layout is.

A good way to consider this is guess about much area the layout takes up in square feet and guess that you will need about one trip up stairs for every foot or two of layout.  By the time you account for carrying the buildings the cars the track and the electronics and of course the scraped layout benchwork and scenery.  You may be able to carry more at a time but that will be harder on you, the house and what you are dragging up the stairs.

All this has to be balanced against the value of what you get.  And of course the time you have available to do this.  If you give up all your free time for a couple months your family may not be happy.

Personally I would not be doing this for someone I don't know as even a nice layout with nice stuff on it is not that financially valuable.  When you compare it to the time needed to remove it from the basement.  Unless I planned on using almost all of it.  Even then I better have months to do this in.

-Doug M

What town

What town is this layout? I believe you are in MA correct?

If it is relatively near western MA, the Amherst Railway Society have been taking down layout for years now and we give the owner of the layout the market value for the layout in paper work for tax deduction if they donate it to the society. Then we have our annual silent and some time live auction to raise money for our grant program.

It is in the northwestern

It is in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago, i am waiting on the photos as they are coming snail mail and that is part kf how i will decide. I will also check with a local Model railroad club in the area so that is how we will see if i can get help and if it is worth it.

"I am waiting on the photos

     In your case the most important thing will be how your parents or grandparents feel about this project, be sure to give them all the information you come up with so they can make an informed decision......DaveB

Maybe

I helped a friend dismantle his HO layout after he turned 80 and decided that it would be burden to his family. He kept the engines and cars along with the DCC system to sell but I took everything out in sections cut with my sawzall.

Since my interest was On30 the rail and switches were salvaged but the glue he used make it impossible to save anything intact. In the end everything that was carefully loaded in the bed of my pickup and 16' horse trailer was tossed except those pieces noted above. It was sad but I got to help and could use the rail. There were also about 30 Tortouis switch machines that I have stored and not sure if I will use them or sell them. 

The amount of work was far more than the value of the parts.  Like others have said I would not do this for someone I didn't know. 

Neil

...

I took down 800 square feet and ended up with a ton of materials that will go towards building the next great layout. 250 pounds of rock castings is no joke a lot of plaster!!