Reusing , moving or changing a layout to a mobile one.

[Janbouli]

Hi everyone ,  2 years from now I hope to move to France when I am retired , so I have 2 years to make my layout either movable or mobile or build modules out of what I have or tear it down and rebuild there ( the latter being the last thing that I would like to do ) . Has anyone of you done the same thing , move your layout to another place and how did you do it . All information is welcome , and even greater if you have images or video's of what and how you did it.

Thanks everyone.

[PRR Modeler]

I haven't done that, but I have tore down one layout because of house water damage and rebuilt in the same place. It was a bear to do.

I wish you luck with your endeavor Jan.

[deemery]

Could you buy a trailer/camper and move your layout into that?  Then you just drive the trailer to the new home.  (Harry Brunk did that for his famous Union Central & Northern layout:  https://www.cheyennedepotmuseum.org/model-railroad

dave

[Rollin]

Jan,
My layout in Florida was a small shelf system on one wall of the garage. It was built in modules, most of which were 4' long. When we moved to Ohio three years ago (reverse snowbird maneuver) the modules got mounted on the basement wall. Some alterations were made, to allow for a corner module, for example. Also, having more space allowed me to add a peninsula with a return loop.

[Janbouli]

Thanks for the answers so far. Dave when I move I will be using a truck or moving van and could move the layout with me , the point is however do I break up the layout in pieces or do I build modules now with the track and structures on them to easily set up a new layout. At the moment I'm leaning towards bit by bit relaying track and scenery to modules because I have more possibilities to make the layout fit in the new train room , and besides that I think there will be less damage if I do it that way. On the other hand if I just break the existing layout in to movable sized pieces I won't have to do as much new scenery and track .

Rollin , if I do decide to make new modules it would be ones that I could easily build on shelves or feet against the walls of the new train room and then adding corners and such where I can or have to.

[PRR Modeler]

Jan you would need some kind of cover for the modules or it would be very easy to strip rails from the ties.

[jbvb]

The beginning of my HO attic layout was two 2 foot deep by 4 foot wide NMRA-size modules.  They were joined by an 11 foot long segment of the old MIT club layout.  Construction since then has been in segments of independent benchwork between 6 and 12 feet long, each on its own supports.  They're designed to be removed individually if anyone wants all or part of my layout after I'm gone.  A couple might have to go out one of my attic windows, the others fit down the stairs.

In your case, first I'd look at how the layout could be divided into transportable pieces. How big they can be varies: If you and friends are loading and unloading without a deadline, that would be different from hired movers working to a schedule.  Does your existing framing allow the layout to be taken apart into independent pieces?

If you or a friend have a vehicle that can tow a trailer, it might be possible to rent one for a month and build a frame inside to stack layout pieces to best fill the space.  This is how the HUB division transports much of its modular layout. Because we move it for every show, we assembled "Metro" racks on wheels and fasten the modules to them. Then we strap the modules into the body of the trailer.  Again, big pickup trucks are required to haul dual-axle trailers.

Another approach is how the HUB layout went to Dortmund for the 2005 train show: We obtained a 20 foot cargo container. We spent several days putting everything we needed inside, fastened so it would stand an ocean trip.  Then we called the truck, which took it to the ship. I never knew which port the container was landed in, but the firm handling the European end of that trip unloaded it and delivered the contents to the fairgrounds.

[cuse]

Hey Jan,

I encountered exactly the same situation...twice. Messed it up the first time & trying to get it right this time.

I knew I would be moving to the coast about 7 years ago, so I tore down a very nice layout knowing that, regardless of its level of completion or my satisfaction with it - it wouldn't be able to come with me. So, I built a couple of modules (shadowbox style) and a simple (temporary) hidden runaround on a narrow shelf behind the module backdrops on barebones shelf brackets - because I really value being able to just let them run around and around. I was really happy with the focus and energy I could devote to just two little 4' one-sided modules and they came out really well (the waterfront scene on my old layout)....when I moved, I installed the modules on a much larger base of L-girder benchwork and got to work...
1) I realized that some of the "framing" of the shadowbox modules was just too intrusive & distracting from the scenery, so I bit the bullet and hacked away at a fully-scenicked module. It worked out, but was very avoidable and potentially disastrous. It also, effectively, eliminated any ability to remove the modules independently from the rest of the layout.

2) I got lazy and rationalized that I would never move again and just built the rest of the layout directly on the L-girder benchwork, so it could never be moved out the door of the room. 5 years later, we moved back to Lake Mary, FL and now I've been here about 2 years and I'm back on the benchwork stage.

*My present layout is being built via an unusual module design. They are 2' deep by 4' long or (less) and also have a height of 4' with a built in valance for LED lighting. You can see a couple of pics in my layout thread. I spent MUCH more time pondering every step and this layout will not be something you'd take to a show or rearrange...but, when and if the time comes, it  could be disassembled and relocated with some effort and restoration. Basically, the benchwork is modular, but I'll lay track right across joints and would need to cut some rails and wires and undo a few wing nuts here and there - but it won't mean destruction...I almost compromised again and built a longer module, but I stopped myself by imagining the difficulty of moving a fully-completed version of that size out the door, down the stairs, etc    It was a good save. I got the modular design online, but customized it to my needs...they seem fairly lightweight but sturdy, I drilled big holes for 1)handles to carry them 2)future wiring pass-throughs, and 3)generally lighter weight...none of these holes will be visible. I also made them so unusually tall because I intend to build some very tall mountain scenery above two separate loops of track at different heights.

I'm counting on the "Umbrella Principle" here as well...if you bring an umbrella, it probably won't rain

I can try to draw and summarize the specs if you like.

good luck, John

[Janbouli]

Curt , James , John , thank you so much . The frame in the trailer thing , the container , keeping the modules small and easy to handle , all those tips really helped . I am going to have a look at your layout threads again to get more ideas . Thanks a lot guys.

[jbvb]

You're welcome.  I forgot to say: When the HUB layout returned from Dortmund, we took down the layout and packed everything in the show hall. The transport firm trucked everything to their warehouse and reloaded it in the container.  There was less to pack because we'd given away a lot of Kalmbach-donated publications at the show.  The container came back to the dock where we'd originally loaded it and everything inside was fine.I was pleasantly surprised by the care and professionalism of the firm handling customs, unpack/pack and local transport at the Dortmund show.

When we went to Den Bosch in the Netherlands in 2000, we shipped a much smaller layout by air. All the modules were screwed down in boxes we assembled around them.  We plastic-wrapped the module boxes, legs etc. to pallets and had them picked up for transport.  No damage either going or returning.

Another thing I didn't say, but it underpins all my comments: I've read/heard some bad stories about US commercial movers and layouts.  I didn't witness any personally; I can't say how much effort the layout owner put into taking the layout apart so it could be shipped and reassembled, or making the pieces easy to load into a truck without damage.

[deemery]

I moved most of my train stuff (including some layout segments) in a big U-Haul trailer when we moved here.  That way I could see how things were loaded and unloaded, etc. 

When I was picking up the trailer, the U-Haul guy said, "Have you towed a trailer before?"  "Yes, but that was 30 years ago, and I had sergeants who knew what they were doing."  He laughed.  When I got here, I realized when I went to unhook that trailer that U-Haul trailers do NOT have a built-in jack.  Fortunately my neighbor saw my dilemma and lent me the jack he had for his boat trailer.  Boy, did I feel dumb!

dave

[Janbouli]

So James , you were in Den Bosch when I still had my Bar/Restaurant in Heerlen and didn't have a layout yet . I looked up a 20 foot container , to move all my furniture and the layout to France in 2027. Including renting the container for about a month and transport ( about a 1000km's ) the price beats a moving company big time at about 1/3 of the price.  A trailer would be even less , but I would have to make multiple trips and bring back the trailer .