OK, I will take up Big Daddy’s challenge. What does happen to your layout after you die?
I lost a brother-in-law several years ago, and his layout still sits in his basement, complete with electronics, locos and rolling stock.
In my own case, I have kept all of the original boxes and written a detailed memorandum to my son of how to dispose of everything. But the question remains, what does happen to your layout after you die?
It’s not only your layout, but everything that you own, your furniture, your household goods, your tools, your indoor and outdoor appliances, whatever.
My suggestion is that if your children are not interested in selling stuff on eBay, then call in someone who will buy it all, lock, stock, and barrel, so to speak, even if it means a dime on the d
Why would one even worry about this ??? I guess if you spend a lot of time worrying about what happens to your stuff after you die, than I agree with Rich, get rid of everything now, and sit and wait to die.
I perfer to live the way I want, and have what I want, until that time comes. After that…who cares?
I wouldn’t say I am worried about, but having had to put my mom, who has Alzheimers, in assisted living, I, an only child, was saddled with another house 60 miles away. She became afraid of strangers and there was no maintenence in the 16 years since my step father died. The hot water heater was 25 years old, the water conditioner was shot, the well was contaminated, the roof leaked. Important financial papers were mixed in with coupons and recipes. Then there was all the stuff she saved, my step fathers clothes, boxes by the 100’s, ashtrays from when she smoked 50 years ago, books, jewlery tools china etc. The burden of cleaning up the mess and fixing up the house was enormous and for me it started at the worst possible time: one month after open heart surgery. Most of the baby boom generation have had the same experience as I have.
Add to all that mess, our hypothesis is there was a substantial model railroad hobby (which wasn’t the case here.) I’ve read any number of posts here where people have 50-70 engines. I see ads and people at shows who build custom layouts, so the people who have custom layouts built for them must be lurking here somewhere.
There are probably many people here who have $10,000 and more tied up in the hobby they have enjoyed for 20-40 years. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out (and I don’t think most people would or should admit to it on an internet forum) that they have six figures wrapped up in.
Even at fire sale prices there could be an interesting dollar amount engines, custom cars or structures and the electronic boosters, circuit breakers and signaling apparatus.
So I think making a list of the valuable stuff would be a good idea. Also a list of contacts of friends in the hobby that might be interested in purchasing or helping in dispose of the collection would be helpful.
My sweet wife, and my two kids know what stuff cost, as they have bought me many things, like top of the line locos, and RTR cars. My kids know all about eBay, Amazon, etc., for anything they want to sell.
Most of the other stuff, like “custom cars or structures” are only worth what someone would pay, regarless of what they are worth in your mind.
If making list, and cataloging everything makes sense to you, then by all means do what gives you peace of mind.
Who Cares, my layout was built for Me, my enjoyment. It has served it’s purpose.Once I 'm gone, ‘‘who ever’’ can take it, along with all my other stuff and do whatever.
I went to a train auction this past weekend… Lots of blue boxes, about 15 brass engines, unbuilt and built buildings, trucks, track, wheelsets, etc, etc, oh and every model railroader ever. Every thing went for a fair price. There were about 30 guys there and three resellers showed up who bought most of the stuff. After about 3 hours everything was sold.
What a morbid topic. You can easily replace train for most other prized possession after you pass away. I prefer not to worry about the stuff and focus on the enjoyment. The satisfaction factor is really, really pricelss.
I have several items on my layout that belong to various members of my operating crew. I want these returned. I don’t consider any of my buildings of museum quality, and the layout itself cannot be moved.
When I am done, my son will most likely sell rolling stock etc on Ebay, as he hasn’t done MRing in 25+ yeasrs.
I have spoken to my wife, both kids and the SIL. They know to sell it for whatever a buyer wants to give them. Anything not sold can go either to a pawn shop or the local NMRA membership. There are a few brass locomotives that they know to send to one of the big brass companies.
Its like a will, if you don’t have one it makes it tougher on your heirs to dispose of your assets. Why burden them, make a general list of things and what they should expect.
I’ve bought a couple of items on eBay that were listed as “estate sale.” I’ve tried to give these a good home on my layout. I’d like to think that my engines and rolling stock would find a good place as well.
Alas, my wife resents the time I spend with my trains, and would more likely consign them to a dumpster out of spite.
Unless a family member wants to move into it, the house will go on the market. That means the layout will be dismantled. Most of it will recycle (steel, not forest products) but not in its present configuration.
Every piece of assembled and operable rolling stock has a car card, with the item’s complete pedigree on the back. Selling on E-bay or at auction, that data will be useful to the seller - and might come as a shock when the buyer gets it. (Brass 2-8-2, original price under $20 American…)
With the exception of some unmodified MRC and similar power packs, the layout electricals would only be of interest to a recycler of such items - at about 2 percent of cost.
I discussed this with my wife has once. Her cousin Adam is a 16 year old train guy but into Lionel. So I left instructions that he could have whatever he wants from my HO layout. The rest will go out with trash I suspect.
Glad I’m not the only one Mr. B. Mine threatens to use an ice pick on the layout. I keep reminding her that unlike golf, or being at a bar, you know where I am with model trains. We should start a support group for people in our situation.
I won’t be around to care and don’t care what happens to my stuff when I croak. I plan to do a lot of frivolous spending before then. Not buying things to enjoy because of what will happen to them when you die!?[%-)] Think about what you just said, you’re dead, you won’t be around to care, enjoy yourself.
I am the excecutor to more peoples estates than any sane man should be. I make it clear to all when they ask me to do the job that I will not go through their stuff other than to see that certain people get certain items that have been spelled out in the will. The rest will go to the auction house that will pick it all up. To a person they all could care less.
The last person that died whose estate I had to look after, left all her stuff including a house to a niece and nephew. It was full of high end antique furniture. The kids didn’t want any of it and it sold for pennies on the dollar at the auction house. So it all boils down to how much effort the beneficiaries want to put in as far as selling things themselves or just taking the easy route and letting the auction house deal with it.
I know that my wife would give my RR stuff away to a club or a Dad with a young family a little short on funds, but if it ends up in the dumpster I won’t be around to care.
A friend of mine described the perfect retirement, when you are on your death bed you cut the final check to the undertaker and it bounces the next day.