I’m considering getting back into model railroading - I’m certainly not getting into this thinking there will be much recoverable $ if it is sold off - it’s a hobby. I’m just wondering what would be best for getting the most money possible out of it, if the layout is eventually dismantled and sold.
So, assuming that the layout many years down the road will be dismantled and sold off piece by piece (like when I die LOL and no one wants the layout or if cash is needed), I am assuming, solely from a resale standpoint, that it would be better to build a layout using atlas type track sections, than with hand laid track (which would probably be ripped up and scrapped and of no value?!?). And only rolling stock and structures would be worth any amount of money separately like on ebay or at a train show. I would enjoy doing hand laid track more than atlas, just considering all the pros and cons before I jump in, especially since doing hand laid is prob. more expensive to do than atlas type, and of lesser resale value than atlas track if sold off?..
So, does anyone agree or dis agree with me on this point? Any thoughts?
Is there a good market for hand laid track or is it basically scrap? Can it be salvaged and recycled if done correctly?
I have a mix of handlaid (on wood ties) and Micro Engineering flex track. When I die and the kids have to scrap/sell/demolish the layout, I would not expect to get anymore for the ME track, as it will be pretty much abused and torn up in the removal process. The rails will be salvageable from the handlaid, the ties and spikes will be trash. So I would call it a wash. The value for the heirs will be from the equipment and maybe the command equipment. I didlnt’ worry about it when I started the layout in 1983/84 and I don’t worry about it today. Too many other real concerns out there.
PlymGuy - To be totally honest, layouts in general simply have no re-sale value. Very few individuals wish to incorporate a section/part of someone else’s model railroad into their own layout. Likwise, unless the layout is of extraordinary quality, few have any interest in purchasing someone else’s completed, sectional layout. From time to time, you’ll see even really quite well done layouts go without a single bid on eBay. The biggest drawback is obviously the transportation factor, as this often can prove a Herculean job and worth neither the time nor expense, turning away just about all but the most local potential buyer.
In reality, any resale value a layout may have is pretty much in its locomotives, rollingstock and control station. Virtually everything else can be considered as having a value of about $.10 on the dollar of whatever they cost the hobbyist originally. Even re-cycled track doesn’t command much of a return.
So…my advice would be to build your layout with whatever type of track, or other materials, you wish without giving any consideration of possible future re-sale value and simply have fun.
By the time the commercial track is yanked out of the ballast glue it will have suffered some distress, and for resale will be priced accordingly (real cheap). Hand laid rails can be salvaged more easily, if spiked rather than glued. But I don’t foresee much value arising from either, so go with what you prefer today.
This is a creative hobby where most of us like to place our ‘stamp’ on it. So we tend to be somewhat original in at least one or two ways when we compile something recognized as a layout. In that respect, I could see it having very little appeal to another modeller, but it may be highly desirable to someone who can’t/won’t build their own and see this as an easy way into the hobby. As stated earlier, exceptional layouts that can be moved with minimal damage might do quite well.
I think most layouts do not move well…if at all. So, they are more an irritant/obligation if left in place, except it they have strong sentimental value to those left to deal with them…and still work well…and are understood in terms of operations and electrical. So three provisos have to be in place.
Practically, you should assume that the only real value will come from excellent, unique, and hand-crafted structures, or valuable commercial kits exceptionally well rendered, or that rare and desirable engines, structures, and rolling stock are in some demand in the hobby. Even so, expect to get much less than the purchase price of them, or their inherent value to those who have left them behind.
From what I’ve seen on bay-e and such, a good locomotive would be the easiest to sell, as long as it’s not decorated for a free-lance railroad. A throttlepack or DCC system should be saleable too. Scale autos and trucks should sell pretty well too.
Next best seller would probably be freight and passenger cars, particularly if the roadname or maker is out of stock / out of production.
Structures might be sellable, but you’d probably have better luck selling the kits than the completed buildings.
Scenery, track, etc. generally isn’t going to sell at all. I suppose if you used Kato Unitrack (track with ballast attached) and kept it in pristine condition, you or someone else may later be able to remove it and sell it. However track is relatively cheap and unless you were selling it for much less than new, most people would just buy new. (As someone noted, you might be able to remove the rail from handlaid track and sell that, but really not that many folks handlay track so I don’t think the market would be that great.)
Your question is right up there with: “should I purchase sod with bluegrass or sod with rye grass, so that when I die, my hiers can pull up the sod and sell it seperately from the house - which would they get more money for…”
Over the years I have been made aware of layouts that were up for sale by a person handling estates. Most went to the dump and the ones that went to a new owner went for free, as the cost of moving the thing was all that it was worth to the new owner as it needed a truck rental. I would never plan on getting a dime for a layout and go forward from there. Locomotives and rolling stock go on consignment or to the auction house. [sigh]
Well, you should be concerned with the roots in this case, because that’s the side you’ll be viewing it from.
I’ve recently been adding a new section to my layout. Part of this effort has involved adding a couple of turnouts to my existing layout. I tried just snipping the rails and dropping in turnouts, but with flex track involved, I got poor, kinky joints. So, I ended up ripping up several feet of track, ballast and all.
This track was put down about 3 years ago, and it was in fine shape on the layout. But, it was glued to the roadbed, and the roadbed was glued to the layout, and the ballast was glued all around the ties.
There is no salvage value. I have some Atlas sectional track that’s been through a similar cycle of installation and removal, and it’s not worth anything either. (I keep it around as a section of test track.) There’s glue all over the bottom, ballast all over the sides, and the flex track won’t flex well because there’s glue between the ties, too. Sadly, my Scottish fingers consigned the used track to a trash bag.
So, I wouldn’t worry about resale value of anything except perhaps turnouts, and even those aren’t going to be worth much.
My handlaid turnouts and special trackwork (installed by me but made by the late Russ Simpson and BK Enterprises) were successfully re-used (removed and relaid) once or twice and look like they could continue to be re-used.
I’m presently constructing my benchwork for my so long forseen layout.But I had a few considerations to take into account while designing,some positive parameters but a few negative also.
The positive parameters were:
First of all,a very kind and understanding “Queen of the house”,without this vital element the project was in serious jeopardy.
Then,I have most of the desirable tooling for the job and a relatively well organized shop in the basement.Although not a large shop by any standard (10X12),it is quite more than many modelers have available.
And finally,and most important,you need the skills and the determination to design and build the layout.I’ve had to go through the process of drawing after drawing until I came up with one that would fit the area I’ve been graciously allocated (about a third of the living room,layout will be 8X9).
And then came the restrictions wich are:
First we don’t own the house so moving some time in the future is a probability so this layout has to be movable to start with.On top of this,it can’t be tied to the house structure in any way so the solution was a free standing frame structure supporting bolted modules.A simple one piece bench with four or more legs would have been much simpler.
I have the chance of having a small shop downstairs but the access stairs are so badly designed (steep angled butted to walls and low basement ceiling,80 years old house) that it is impossible to bring a 4X8 in there,so I had to break my ply sheets in the living room (jig saw doesn’t make too much dust and yes the dusting afterwards is my duty),bring the pieces downstairs and carry them back up when they’ll be assembled in framed modules.
And having the lady’s permission means I have to do something that has a finished look benchwise so she doesn’t get to regret letting me go forward.</