When I make changes.

I use white glue almost exclusively in my layout construction, from scenery, to laying track and cork. 

When I want to make a change, I just spray with plain water. Wet it down and wait a minute for it to soak in and then use a putty knife to get under the track and cork.

If you work carefully, there is no damage to either track or cork.

As for the scenic material, when I scrap that off, I put it into a pail. when it dries, the glue is usually diluted enough that you can throw the bits and pieces into a blender and it will come out as blended fine turf or ballast again.

Metholated Spirits

Dear Pack,

Metholated Spirits will (slowly/controllably) soften PVA ballast so that it can be sliced thru with a thin blade like a paint scraper... slide under the tie strips and lift with due patience and care, and complete-lift should be possible...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

Future

I used DAP Latex caulk. For both roadbed and track/PECO. Easy to pry up with a putty knife. So I'd suggest that when you get this track/roadbed taken up. Don't use glue again. And yes, soaking the heck out of it will loosen Elmers.

might try dap.  i had no

might try dap.  i had no plans on moving it in the first place. but no scenery just wood, cork, track.

when i tried a bit on another area, just the slightest lifting caused the track to pull free of the plastic ties. and that was using a thin tool.

but no matter as i will be gone for some days/nights. taking care of my mom, as she is having a implant to her hart on thursday.

The best laid plans...

of mice and men! That's why when I planned my layout, I figured better to be safe than sorry. The caulk made it so easy. And although the DAP Alex is not permanent, it has held for over a year and the track hasn't moved. A more permanent caulk might not be so easy to pry up. When I had to, the putty knife made it easy. No mess, no fuss. Some slight dried caulk was there. If I thought it was too thick, it wiped off easily with my finger. Mostly though, whatever caulk remained was thin and simply re-caulking the roadbed/track was enough after re-locating. Your main question was about using water to un-glue Elmers. And yes, that works. But to me, that's where the mess occurs. Cork crumbles and that can be messy. And I will be praying for your mom. That's a serious operation.

Update ... and comments

UPDATE for those following my family situation: Going in via her leg, putting in this little gizmo to help stop blood clots. and thank you for your thoughts.

and with all the work i will be doing on my layout, will try the caulk. but for now thinking of a way to do a twin tower lift bridge to minimize the duck under. lower level (needs to be a double track bridge) about 42 inches above the floor, upper level a good ten inches higher. (single track).

white glue heated

For many yrs. friends and I have used a good edged putty knife dipped in plain HOT water to keep from doing too much damage besides the glued area.

No nails, screws or tacks make it a lot faster on friends 150ft.  layout yrs. ago.

"Just a suggestion to your question,  hope it helps."

Boudreaux,  B.C.E.  R.R. 

"Knowledge is Power"

hot air gun or iron

a trick for gluing wood around airplane wings is to put wood glue on both contact surfaces and let it dry.

then heat the wood and let it cool while holding in place.   it cools and sets quickly

..... and yes, heating can un-glue things

Taking up track

I must advise - I didn't use cork. But I did use posterboard/foam center/paper on top & bottom. Cut two layers for under track. The DAP worked fine for prying up for moving track. But, I don't know how good or bad this is with cork. Those of you with cork should advise on how to get it up without making a mess. I've seen where they "tried prying up with a putty knife" and the cork disintegrated. Boudreaux's suggestion of using hot water might work. Worth a try. Hope your mom got through this operation/s without trouble or problems. Take good care of her - she's a first priority.

Double spray

I use a double spray sessions to unglue piece of track.

I glue everything with white glue, from track to ballast.

For ungluing I first spray heavily the area with cold water; I let it soak everything during a good ten  minutes

I come back with a second spray of very hot water; water which heat your fingers and in a second everything is unglued and lose

Since most of the ties in RTR track is Delrin or assimilated polymer, this kind of plastic normally didn't glue with any kind of  DAP glue; the Dap kind of glue hold everything in place but didn't glue the ties, it's just suck in place

With a flat knife is very easy to put of the track glued with Dap glue, but if the track is ballasted is better to disolve the ballast glue with water before to pull out the track

Thank you. My mom is home

Thank you. My mom is home now, all went good. The “watchman” device is were it should be. 
watchman device is labeled on paper as.  WATCHMAN FLXtm. Left atrial appendage device.
It even has its own ser number. Sorry no link to post here.

with luck I can get in some time in a couple days to start ripping out track work. going to be very hot here for the next week, so great time to work inside.