Comments on: Dismantling, Moving, and Reassembling Layout

By: Neil Hamilton

Neil Hamilton — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 00:56:02 +0000

Lots of places have skids and will give them to you for the asking they could be knocked apart and boxes could be made once you have decided how big the sections are going to be

By: Alfred Ferraro

Alfred Ferraro — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 10:57:44 +0000

I move mine, an Arnold Rapido based N gauge set built in a 4 x 8 square configuration in a move from New Jersey to Florida. The set was suspended from the ceiling in our finished, basement and by a system of pulleys I could pull it up and out of the way when we had a party, it was quite heavy since all my scenery was made of plaster laid on to metal screening, with a mountain that was about 2 feet high.

First I made sure all the buildings, trees, etc. were properly glued down. Since the base that held the plywood was made of 2 x 1s I was able to build a box that covered the whole thing built of 2 x 1s and
4 x 8 paneling. so that it wound up being an 8L x 4W x 2.4D. I guess the whole thing weighed about 100 to 120 pounds

The movers moved it and the only thing that came loose was part of the station which I glued back down.

I rehung the set from the ceiling in the garage and it lived there until we had to move again and our children had moved out of the house, at which time I donated the whole thing to a coworker who had two sons. Eventually they donated the set to a railroad club in Ft Lauderdale….

By: Mark Malpass

Mark Malpass — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 07:26:15 +0000

Colin, A friend of mine in the British Army moved his model railway all over the world, He constructed a timber cover to fit over the whole layout. I have also seen this done when a layout has had to be stored away for a while. The cover was constructed out of a light material ie thin plywood or MDF board, make it slightly larger than the layout so you can screw it on.

By: Frank Bushnell

Frank Bushnell — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 01:59:09 +0000

For maximum ease of reassembly, I suggest:
1) Decide how big your pieces can be. (On the basis of how big your transport is.)
2) Draw a plan and figure out where you can best put straight cuts through the framework, baseboard and scenery.
3) Carefully cut the tracks at these points with a rotary saw or cutting disc(on a dremel type tool) or a fine saw (razor saw or jeweller’s saw).
4) Cut through the paper mache with big scissors (or a carving knife or junior hacksaw if needed).
5) Saw through the framework and baseboard where necessary.

When you reassemble the layout, align the sections very carefully and make sure they are level before joining. Use screws so you can do the operation more easily next time !
A tiny drop of solder should rejoin each of the cut rails.
Repair scenery as necessary.

By: Joe Harrison

Joe Harrison — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 01:34:42 +0000

Colin…I’ve never faced this problem (yet), but I’m pretty sure you can find a professional mover who could move the layout intact. Call around before you get too stressed.