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1) Are you still dreaming of that certain perfect layout you’ve been planning for years??
2) Are you tired of procrastinating about getting a layout, so you can actual run some of those fabulous model trains in your ever-increasing collection??
What you need is an interim plan, at least. And you never can tell, your ‘interim plan’ may turn out to be more of a permanent plan than you first anticipated…..that’s what happened to me. So I’m here to offer you the chance to take over my ‘interim plan layout’, and make additions to it as you desire, or simply run your trains for a while and then sell it onward to another ‘layout-less’ train person.
I bought this layout as just a bench work frame with sectional brass track. My ‘interim plan’ was to just clean up the brass track, smooth out its form, solder all the joints of the sectional track together to obtain some good electrical contact, and then run some trains. I would then sell it off to another rr-fan and build my dream layout. Alas, I drew more fond of its big versatility in a relatively small space, and developed a whole theme to pursue. Concurrently I realized that I would likely not have the time to start a new dream layout from scratch that would offer the enjoyment I was getting from tweaking this one, and running new trains I was still buying.
A) Here’s the original Atlas track plan for the “Central Midland”:
http://www.atlasrr.com/Code100web/pages/10029.htm
B) And here, some praise as one of John Armstrong’s best:
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=120369&postcount=24
C) You can read about my modification theme here:
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=93274
Fortunately the gentleman who built the ‘open grid’ base structure made the decision to provide for the layout to be broken down into 3 sections for removal or installation into a new home location. I’ve maintained that same capability with my additions, both mechanically and electrically.
Some thoughts on my pricing.
I believe Atlas currently list the price of this layout plan with its most basics; track & turnouts (no power packs, bldgs, turntable, etc) at $1995. I’ve easily added this amount to the layout myself. I venture to guess that should you employ one of the professional layout building services to build such a layout, you would probably be talking $11-15K plus, plus.
At those prices you would likely not recoup your investment upon selling it second hand. At my $4,600 price I dare say you should recoup most all of your money even without more investment into the layout on your part…..just have fun running multiple trains.
Lets say you get in a hurry to sell, and you let it go for $2000. It only cost you $2600 to run your trains on this marvelous little layout for 1, 2,…6 years. Not bad, pure enjoyment for this price !!
Why am I selling this layout ??
Only because I’m moving overseas, and can’t justify shipping it there. I will have to build a new one over there, and maybe in my own coffee shop.
Moving it, and resetting-up.
This problem presents itself as one of the biggest obstacles to reselling a train layout. My solutions to those problems:
[Problem #1 ] solved. My layout, as built, breaks down into 3 separate sections to fit thru doorways, down stairs, and into a van
[Problem #2 ] I have a diesel box van truck that the layout can be transported in…distance & fuel may need to be considered.
(it also represents a free storage unit if there should be some need for delaying shipment for a short period of time)
[Problem #3 ] As I am retiring, I may be able to offer myself as a cheap labor source to set up the layout at your location.
Questions? [email protected]
PS: I have a few real nice BRASS locos for sale, which I don’t wish to take to a hot humid environment. Photos here:
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11806
2) Are you tired of procrastinating about getting a layout, so you can actual run some of those fabulous model trains in your ever-increasing collection??
What you need is an interim plan, at least. And you never can tell, your ‘interim plan’ may turn out to be more of a permanent plan than you first anticipated…..that’s what happened to me. So I’m here to offer you the chance to take over my ‘interim plan layout’, and make additions to it as you desire, or simply run your trains for a while and then sell it onward to another ‘layout-less’ train person.
I bought this layout as just a bench work frame with sectional brass track. My ‘interim plan’ was to just clean up the brass track, smooth out its form, solder all the joints of the sectional track together to obtain some good electrical contact, and then run some trains. I would then sell it off to another rr-fan and build my dream layout. Alas, I drew more fond of its big versatility in a relatively small space, and developed a whole theme to pursue. Concurrently I realized that I would likely not have the time to start a new dream layout from scratch that would offer the enjoyment I was getting from tweaking this one, and running new trains I was still buying.
A) Here’s the original Atlas track plan for the “Central Midland”:
http://www.atlasrr.com/Code100web/pages/10029.htm
B) And here, some praise as one of John Armstrong’s best:
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=120369&postcount=24
C) You can read about my modification theme here:
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=93274
Fortunately the gentleman who built the ‘open grid’ base structure made the decision to provide for the layout to be broken down into 3 sections for removal or installation into a new home location. I’ve maintained that same capability with my additions, both mechanically and electrically.
Some thoughts on my pricing.
I believe Atlas currently list the price of this layout plan with its most basics; track & turnouts (no power packs, bldgs, turntable, etc) at $1995. I’ve easily added this amount to the layout myself. I venture to guess that should you employ one of the professional layout building services to build such a layout, you would probably be talking $11-15K plus, plus.
At those prices you would likely not recoup your investment upon selling it second hand. At my $4,600 price I dare say you should recoup most all of your money even without more investment into the layout on your part…..just have fun running multiple trains.
Lets say you get in a hurry to sell, and you let it go for $2000. It only cost you $2600 to run your trains on this marvelous little layout for 1, 2,…6 years. Not bad, pure enjoyment for this price !!
Why am I selling this layout ??
Only because I’m moving overseas, and can’t justify shipping it there. I will have to build a new one over there, and maybe in my own coffee shop.
Moving it, and resetting-up.
This problem presents itself as one of the biggest obstacles to reselling a train layout. My solutions to those problems:
[Problem #1 ] solved. My layout, as built, breaks down into 3 separate sections to fit thru doorways, down stairs, and into a van
[Problem #2 ] I have a diesel box van truck that the layout can be transported in…distance & fuel may need to be considered.
(it also represents a free storage unit if there should be some need for delaying shipment for a short period of time)
[Problem #3 ] As I am retiring, I may be able to offer myself as a cheap labor source to set up the layout at your location.
Questions? [email protected]
PS: I have a few real nice BRASS locos for sale, which I don’t wish to take to a hot humid environment. Photos here:
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11806
