I am looking for ideas for how to dispose of my late father's N gauge layout. The layout is a permanent one and is in a shed in his garden in Surrey. After he died my mother kept everything intact and we would get the trains running for the grandkids whenever they were in town. Sadly my mother passed away very recently and we are now left with a need to dispose of most of the layout (a small proportion of the rolling stock, buildings and the DCC controller will be boxed up for the grandkids). Our situation is complicated further in that I live in the US and my closest sibling is in Cornwall!

Being an enthusiast myself, I am very conscious that the monetary value of what is left will be limited, but I shiver at the thought of just taking a sledgehammer to clear everything. To be honest we would probably want to put any proceeds to charity. I have thought about contacting the local model railway clubs to see if there is any interest, but I wonder if anyone has any other suggestions.

As you can see, it is quite large and it represented a labour of love during my father's last years. Is there a need for second hand track, point motors, tools etc?

I would imagine the local Model Railway Club would be glad to help.
I'd have a go myself but I'm just as far away - South Atlantic !

.

Some very neat work there by the looks of it. It would be a pity to have to break it up.

Obviously there are plenty of MR clubs in Surrey, but it's quite a large county





.

I am very sorry for your loss, Mike, and would love to help but wouldn't have a clue as to where to start. It would certainly be a shame if the layout got broken up.

Yeah... had a look earlier today. Great layout! 

Sincere condolences on your recent loss.

Re model railway clubs:

Here's a list gleaned from another sight. It's rather long but hope you may find it helpful if there are a few local to your dad's layout.

Posted 22 April 2014 - 20:26
Beckenham and West Wickham club: http://www.bwwmrc.co.uk/

Bexhill Model Railway Club http://www.bexhillmr...g.uk/index.html

Bognor Model Railway Club http://www.brmrc.co.uk/

Brighton Model Railway Club  facebook www.facebook.com/brightonmodelrailwayclub

Burgess Hill Model Railway Club  http://www.burgesshillmrc.org.uk/

Canterbury Model Railway Club - http://www.ccmrs.ic24.net/Page_1x.html

Carshalton & Sutton Model Railway Club - http://www.csmrc.co.uk/

Chatham and District Model Railway Society: http://www.chatham-mrc.com/

Crawley Model Railway Society http://www.crawleymrs.org.uk/

East Grinstead Model Railway Club http://www.egmrc.org.uk

East Kent O Gauge Group (meets in Faversham) - www.ekogg.org.uk

East Surrey Area Group of The Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers (meets at Merstham near Redhill) http://www.eastsurrey16mm.org.uk/

East Surrey N Gauge group (meets at Earlswood between Redhill and Horley) http://www.esng.co.uk/

Epsom & Ewell Model Railway Club http://www.eemrc.org.uk

Erith Model Railway Society: http://www.ukmodelsh...co.uk/erithmrs/

Folkestone Model Railway club - http://www.folkestone-mrc.com/

Guildford O Gauge Group - www.guildford0gaugegroup.org.uk

Hampton Court Model Railway Society - http://www.hamptoncourtmrs.com/

Horsham Model Railway Club http://www.horshammrc.org.uk/

Liphook and District Model Railway Club http://www.millandva...ntacts-details/ (meets at Milland)

Newhaven & District MRC http://www.newhavendmrc.com/

Orpington and District Model Railway Society: http://www.orpingtonmodelrail.org.uk/

Pevensey Bay Model Railway Club: www.pevenseybaymrc.co.uk

Rusper Model Railway Club (Bromley) www.ruspermrc.co.uk

Seaboard Southern. http://www.seaboard-southern.org.uk/ (North American modellers)

Sompting & District Model Club (Worthing)  http://www.somptingdistrictmrc.co.uk/

South Coast O Gauge Group http://www.southcoas...th-coast-o.html

South East Gauge O Group - meets in Bromley, please contact bbishop on RMWeb for more information.

Southwark Model Railway Club http://southwarkmrc.wordpress.com/

Surrey Area Group of the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association http://surrey.7mmnga.org.uk/

Surrey Narrow Gaugers  http://www.narrowminded.org.uk/

Thanet O Gauge Group - meets in Birchington (no contact details known)

Tonbridge Model Railway Club: http://tonbridgemrc.com/

Uckfield Model Railway Club http://www.uckfieldmrc.co.uk/

West Sussex Area Group of the N Gauge Society (Sompting) http://www.wsng.co.uk/

Welling and District Model Engineering Society. http://www.wdmes.co.uk/

Worthing Model Railway Club http://www.worthingmrc.co.uk/mrc/

Dave G

Looks like about one of those is a general interest group based in Surrey!

I'm not a million miles away (potentially) - where is it?

The issue with permanent layouts is that they can be impossible to move without damaging. Clubs may be interested in a smaller portable model, but these bigger models (the pictures indicate 12-16' in a fixed L shape) are awkward to move and difficult to store; most clubs in that area have limited storage facilities.

Whereabouts in Surrey did your parents live? The list above includes clubs from the Sussex coast and Kent, so a little more geographical specificity may help. I hope you do find someone interested, but suspect you may need to dismantle it.

Have you tried some dealers? There are a few knocking around that may be interested, although without stock, buildings and electrics this too could be a challenge.

Huge thanks to all for their suggestions. The layout is in Cheam, Surrey so the Epsom, Sutton and Redhill clubs are worth talking to. Unfortunately, as Claude says, there is no way the layout can be moved; but I would love to find a home for some of the rolling stock, electrics, track, buildings, tools, materials etc maybe in return for some assistance in dismantling what can't be used.

Many thanks to all for their suggestions, I thought you might appreciate an update.

I took a few items back to the US with me and made a selection of rolling stock plus a DCC controller for my nephews to use (I will be getting them a couple of ovals of Kato Unitrack for Christmas so they can set something up on the kitchen table at home!).

Sadly none of the local model railway clubs showed any interest, many not even getting back to us So it was looking very difficult until a friend of a friend tracked down someone who had helped my dad with the electrics when the layout was built. He is going to take everything and recreate 'Gibbsville' at his home. To say I am pleased is a huge understatement!

I am pleased for you. That is a good result. 

Glad to hear that you got that sorted out and it sounds an ideal outcome......I'm very sorry to hear of your loss....it looks as though it is a lovely layout.

Good result, Mike. 

George

Great result, Mike. If the chap sends you any pics of the layout let us see them please.