My neighbor sent me a link off of FB marketplace. A guy in NH had bought a house and was getting rid of an HO model train layout that was in the basement. It is 15 ft by 7 ft. It unbolts into 4 pieces. I bought it. I am going to try and set it up in my basement- I need to move some things around first. Here are the pieces as stowed in my barn for now. 20200411_120152 by NoSurf posted May 1, 2020 at 1:51 PM 20200411_120212 by NoSurf posted Apr 22, 2020 at 8:50 AM And a couple detail shots: 20200411_120231 by NoSurf posted Apr 22, 2020 at 8:50 AM 20200411_120248 by NoSurf posted Apr 22, 2020 at 8:50 AM All I have is the track. No locomotives or rolling stock. No transformers etc. I think it was started in the late 1960s, and I don't think the guy who built it ever finished it.
Yes very cool. I used to have trains long ago. Something soothing about sitting in the middle a d watching them go by. I had one that made smoke. Sent from my SM-A102U using Tapatalk
I can see you in your overalls and engineer's cap now! Angie will never get you out of the barn if you get that going!! This thing is amazing!!!
Cool as can be! One of my cousins was big into HO trains, he had a 4x8 plywood setup on cables hanging from the ceiling, he could raise it to the ceiling out of the way or drop it down to table height. His was detailed, but nothing like that one! I tried to set up one for my boys with some stuff my cousin gave me and some stuff we bought. Never did get far with it, finally took it all apart and put it in boxes. I need to drag it out for the Grandson, he’ll get a kick out of it.
It looks as if it has hand laid track. Does it? If so that is a lot of work but the best overall appearance and reliability when done right.
Man thats cool, I'd like to build a setup like that for my son one day. Sent from my LM-Q720 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Thanks guys. It is pretty cool. I did find a name and address on it, so I might be able to find out about the guy that built it. It is remarkable the whole world of model trains and HO in particular. Yes- I believe all the track is hand-laid. My youngest daughter said I am a hoarder....
Tell her the proper term is,"Indiscriminate Accumulator of All Things" lol Great train set up by the way.
Looks like hand laid track and the trestles look hand built.When you set it up I will send you this..
Besides the handlaid track, another sign of quality is that it isn't simply laid down on a piece of plywood, the roadbed is separately constructed and supported.
Update: I was able to get it roughly set up in basement. I had to trim the scrap wood bin that was under the stairs (by 1") and I had to move a floor joist support. 20200418_172157 by NoSurf posted May 1, 2020 at 1:59 PM 20200418_172134 by NoSurf posted May 1, 2020 at 1:59 PM 20200418_172130 by NoSurf posted May 1, 2020 at 1:59 PM 20200418_172106 by NoSurf posted May 1, 2020 at 1:59 PM I still need to level it up and start figuring out how to power it up.
Cool. Hate to say it, but this is also time to hang new lights, add power outlets, paint the walls and floor, add a dropped ceiling, etc.. Once you start doing the modeling / scenery you will wish you had done all that first as it is a lot harder to do later. Good luck.
Years ago as a member of the National Woodie Club we were invited to view a model train set up in Denver, his collection could only be described as massive. I asked if he had ever considered painting graffiti on his train sets to add modern realism, he gave me a horrified look and a stern NO!!!!
I'm amazed how you have a basement that's more or less empty to set up the layout! Or "Pike" as they used to say. I pretty much filled up my basement with crap as I moved in.
That's Damn COOL! The 4x6 layout my dad and I started when I was 10 is still in his basement like we left it. Never did get it done. I like how you moved the joist supports.
Wow....a setup that was removable without destroying it. Try to keep it modular as you build it up. And power it up before going any further to check out the trackwork.... You wouldn't believe how many beautiful layouts get destroyed as houses get sold, folks pass on, divorces happen, etc. Thousands get spent on the hobby, but the widows end up paying to remove the white elephant in the basement. All because nobody planned on it going back out of the basement. Beautiful layout so far! Have fun with it!
Thanks guys. The weather has been better for outdoor and workshop activities, but I have managed to get some temp power to one part of the track. I had to clean/buff the tracks to get good contact. I scrounged around and found a box of HO stuff I had bought several years ago and now I have 4 power packs to try and get each section powered up. I have alot of repairs to do where each track section meets up, as some damage has occurred in those areas. It looks like there are a bunch of remote solenoids underneath for the switches that are gummed up that all need to be cleaned also.
Memories... Mt dad was big into HO trains when I was a kid. We had a bedroom dedicated to his layout and a whole wall with narrow shelves that stored his engines and cars. He and his dad both worked for Frisco Lines so he had an attachment to the RR. I got into N scale for a bit, bit the car bug just would not let go. Yours looks like a very well thought out setup!
I like the setup, seems a great foundation. Lots of trains can run at the same time on it. Great is my opinion the way the track feeds into the yard, plus some extra passing possibilities on the other side. This entry coming from a tunnel would be a great view. The radius turns look to handle longer engines and cars, but I'd think this size would be more of smaller car type, freight trains! Stand alone in the middle ....Yep, I like it. Good luck with it, you did good.
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