As many of you know, I'm moving, to Cheyenne, WY. New USAF assignment, F.E. Warren AFB. I finally bit the bullet, and took the Dremel to the tracks.... I slot the tracks right over the gaps between the modules. I unbolted them,and sliced the overhanging foam with a hacksaw blade. Actually worked quite well, almost like I designed it. I was surprised to see how easy the layout came apart. It was hard to make that first cut, but the rest went quick, disassembling the major parts on the layout in about an hour. Many of the joints I cut were close to another joint, so I removed a section of track from it, and when I reassemble it, I'll just re-lay a new piece of track in its place, to minimize all the joints in the track. It also surprised me how little space 250 freight cars take up. I packed each and everyone of them in an egg crate, one of those 30-dozen-size boxes. As for the plywood ends and sides to build the cubes, I saved some cash buying 1/2" OSB, rather than actual plywood. It still strong, but only 6 bucks a sheet! The reg. ply was $13 a sheet. I'll recycle some of it, making it a backdrop of sorts, something to anchor the hardboard to! Thanks for all the compliments, and advice and when I can have a place to reassemble it, ya'll be the first to know!! As for the SD70MACs, I hope they don't get released for a few months in BN yet... That way I can concentrate funds on track, scenery, supplies and stuff like DCC rather than more locos that I can't even make use of yet... I like that quote someone on the Atlas list has in their signature: something to the effect of, 'A model railroader has an obligation to acquire more locos and rolling stock than their layout can handle'. It fits me, and many others here, so well!
I know your feelings here. A year ago I had to hang my two 4X8 layouts off of the garage ceiling to make room so I could finish our basement. Still don't have the basement finished, still have the layouts hanging on the ceiling. Had to get the train boxes down to set up the loop around the christmas tree. Hopefully by this time next year I'll have the basement finished and will be well on my way to building my around-the-room layout in a newly finished basement bedroom. Mark in Utah
When I started my layout 7 years ago I was in an small apartment and knew I would be moving a lot. I made mine modular so I could re-arrange them for the space I had. I have moved 3 times and the layout been setup different each time, once in a living room, once in a bedroom, and now in a small garage. I plan to move it in a small bedroom in a couple years when my daughter moves out.
It may have been hard to tear it down. But you had the foresight to build it in modules. So your empire can again be up and running in little time once you are resettled. Hope you have been able to find someone to share N scaling with in the area. There's nobody where I'm living.... Boxcab E50
