Pics of current state Phil

Pics of current state

Phil

What will the base criteria be for your new layout

Never had the audace to dismantle my layout

Good luck and I admire your audace to reboot again.

I begun my layout 45 years ago andit had follow me everywhere.

Chance was dad,  because I still lived with my parents at this time, oblige me to build the layout in modules or now named TOMA .

The layout as evolded during time, many track was replaced like structures and scenery.

But it was a life project and now because I go to live in Canada I'm so happy to bring it with me.

Sure the first module port has some mistake for operation but I lived with it, and the next modules I have build are more prototypical, but I like it.

Anyway I wish you the best "reboot" I can.

Now waiting in a container.....,

I guess that's your

I guess that's your decision.  Don't know what caused you to loose it for your current start, but, whatever, do what you need to do.

At least with a start over, maybe you can finish the walls, etc.  I'm guessing this is a basement?  Maybe you could even get rid of the section of wall, along with the concrete wall that it sits on, and open the area up more.

It appears an addition was added on at one time, and you opened up the wall to get that walk-through area.  A little structural redesigning, and maybe you can even get rid of that wood post.

I mean, if your going to do it, why not finish the room completely?

Good luck,

Mike.

@Mike,

Looks to me like the right hand side would eventually have had an upper deck, like the left?

Blair

Just curious why?

As someone who has had perhaps too much experience tearing down layouts (due to moves - this new one is sectional to facilitate if and when), I'm just curious why this layout is coming down?  Will you be able to salvage any of it for the next time?

This looks like it was a big layout, was it a sense of being overwhelming?  If so, I can heartily recommend the TOMA approach next time!

Geof

Phil, sorry to see your

Phil, sorry to see your layout being taken down. Hopefully you will post your next one so we can follow along. It might be interesting to hear what aspects of this layout were unappealing to you. I commend you for taking this step when you became dissatisfied with the project and wonder what changes you might be looking at for your next layout.

Been There...

Been there, done that... Sorta...

Tearing down a layout is never easy but the excitement that comes with the possibilities of what you can build having gained valuable knowledge from the previous layout is just so exciting!  Honestly, half of model railroading (it seems) is learning what you don't like!

I'll be looking forward to your future progress!

You don't give us much

You don't give us much information on your motives for a tear-down, but I'll make a suggestion anyway.  Clear off the materials and structures that are cluttering up the railroad.  Then, place half of the structures -- the ones you really like -- in various locations and see if the spread-out appearance motivates you. So many layouts are so filled up with stuff they get tiring to look at.  Instead, go for three or four points of focus that you can develop.

You don't give us much

One of the reason of the reset is Im not enjoying the era/scale Im modeling at the moment. Looking to try something different. Ideas I have is either steam era or a OO British layout or an ON30 layout.

Yes never easy. But once you get past that point  then fresh ideas motivation fill your mindset and you look forward to new challenges.

Phil, sorry to see your layout being taken down. Hopefully you will post your next one so we can follow along. It might be interesting to hear what aspects of this layout were unappealing to you. I commend you for taking this step when you became dissatisfied with the project and wonder what changes you might be looking at for your next layout.

Hi Rob thank you for your kind words. Aspect of the layout. One of them was the deck heights  The upper deck was at my armpit level (me being 6'3) I felt it was a little bit too high. Also the flow of the layout looked good on paper but once laid out. I felt it wasn't quite what i was looking for.

I will be able to keep the 30" helix that is in the back corner. and all the track can/could be reused.

Its in a garage. with a room on the back of the garage. No can do getting rid of the section of wall  which is sitting ontop of the concrete. Due to it being structural. Yes there were parts that needed to be finished. So I can do that this time around.

Space is 20x13ft. Main interests will always be running scenery and switching in that order. If I can recycle structures/bridges I will. If not then I have the fun of building new ones.

Phil

Will start with a small

Will start with a small section. 7ft x 3 shelf to play with ideas. Laying some track and get a feel for the new layout. if I don't like  it's only a module.

Phil

Can relate

I really liked the progress on the first layout you were posting and this latest certainly was more home improvement than railroading but the double deck idea stuck with me. The idea of an On30 layout still has my attention so don't give up no that idea! 

If I remember correctly you are somewhere down under. My daughter is at JCU right now doing an internship. Hope to get out your way if the job pans out for her.

I really liked the progress

Hi Neil

Yes Im down under. New Zealand Auckland.

This module will infact be On30/ New Zealand feel to it. Been brainstorming ideas for the last few months.  And decided to do something larger than HO. I looked at S scale but everything needed for NZR railroad is kit building including engines. And frankly I dont have the skill set for that not to mention the prices of them.

This is the local railway station where I live as of today. Below is dated around 1930-1940

So the overall feel I think i will go for  steam era. 

Scenery like this

So its still a very much work in progress gathering details data etc.

Phil

....

Steam....yes!

Yea,...for STEAM

But is there that much offered in variety of steam engines in On30??
 

You do such excellent work in layout planning and scenic work, I'm sure you will arrive at a good final answer.

BTW I do recommend cardboard mock-ups of just the basic benchwork,...and perhaps just paper templates of the structures and their placement. I did these paper mock-ups of my trackplans on brown paper on my outdoor plywood work bench, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/full-size-paper-templates-of-trackplan-12211674
Oops, almost forgot, you can do all this track planning with your computer.

Good luck with your new plans.

Location, location, location

Phil;

As I progress on my own On30 layout the idea of modeling a place that I can visit, and have some familiarity with, has grown to be very appealing. Anywhere that had railroads 100-120 years ago has likely changed a great deal but we can squint and almost see the past. Those photographs are awesome. Combined with some images of the trains that ran and my juices start flowing. 

On30 may not have a great variety of steam engines but enough. New Zealand must have run Alcos or Baldwins “with a twist” so some opportunity for kit-bashing may be fun at some point. The “big” outside frame 2-8-2’s that ran on Oahu were really pretty small (compared to mainland steam) when I got up and personal. MMI and Broadway Limited have models but I’ll stick with the Bachmann for now until I have to confidence and courage to cut off the domes to rearrange and add the second sand dome that was so common here. 

Hope to see more of your thoughts as things progress. I enjoy the journey as much as the destination. 

...

Yes.

As I progress on my own On30

As I progress on my own On30 layout the idea of modeling a place that I can visit, and have some familiarity with, has grown to be very appealing. Anywhere that had railroads 100-120 years ago has likely changed a great deal but we can squint and almost see the past. Those photographs are awesome. Combined with some images of the trains that ran and my juices start flowing. 

That's one of the draw cards of modelling something closer to home. There could be some opportunity to kit bash. The layout won't be that prototype . More of a flavour of the area. But the main thing for me is having fun, relaxing. I have too much sticking to the letter non fun, writing specifications at work. So this would be my place to escape.

Yes there are a few options. And roster will only be about 4-5 engines in total

Couple of these would be a start.

Will slight kitbashing to reflect a more NZ flavour. Wont be an exact replica

Phil

Also thinking of track work.

Also thinking of track work. Will have to hand lay most of the track maybe even turnouts.

This is how the track looks as of today 1:1

Old worn sleepers. can achieve that with real wooden sleeper roughed up a with scribe and sandpaper. Tie spacing looks rather far apart as well. And in some photo's no ties are showing.

Phil

Sleepers and tie plates

It is interesting that the upper photo has tie plates but the lower does not. Is that a derail on the cross over track? Great pics. 

I have been downloading the FastTracks templates but there are no curved ones in On30 so will just lay them in place I guess. It is one part of the hobby that I get the most bang for the buck. The Proto87 Store has some really great spikes that make it a pleasure to build turnouts.

Looking forward following this build

Hi Phil,

Welcome back! 

I'm looking forward to following this build as I've already learnt a lot from you from your previous layouts and in particular your ground cover and scenery work. Also your work with concrete track has been very helpful.

By the way I'll be down under for several months next year as I'm riding the Tour Aotearoa, next March.  http://www.touraotearoa.nz/p/home.html

Did you ever see Merv Smith's NZR layout? I can't remember the scale but it was a beauty.

Cheers

John

I'm looking forward to

Hi John

Good to hear from you and your kind words. never did see merv's layout. I believe it was S scale NZR cape gauge.

Will be trying new scenery ideas on this layout plus hand laying most of the track. See how it  goes. Could work out or could end up a big old mess. Part of the fun.

Phil

Starting taking off old track

Starting taking off old track etc on the section I will rebuild on. Though about reskinning with new plywood, but wasn't  necessary. As will be laying sheet cork down as a base.

Ordered tracking building supplies from Fast Track.

Trainworld are having a special on On30 engines

$79 DCC Not a bad deal so I ordered one.

If it looks ok I might order a few more

Above is an old pic of a few NZR engines. 

So with a bit of kitbashing. I can sort of get the same feel. Won't be a dead ringer. But Im happy with that.

Phil

....

Those 4-6-0s are handsome and they're a great bargain now...and if On30 past predicts the future, they may be a great investment in time.  Who can tell though!!

I'm very happy to see the benchwork is being reused.  Even if you remove the second deck or revise the width where necessary, it's a ton of recycled energy best focused elsewhere...trains!!