Relocating. Should I chuck the used flex?

MarkInLA Aug 26, 2015

  1. MarkInLA

    MarkInLA Permanently dispatched

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    Hi. I am in process of moving out of my 20Yr. held Apt. in Los Angeles. I had to tare down my 35' long with a 90Deg. turn into front of picture window 10'x 14" interchange yard, standard gauge switch back /bridge route HO RR. My flex and switches are neatly laying on the floor. I doubt strongly that my interim residence, while waiting out low income senior housing waiting lists, will have a MRR. Of course these are all different lengths of flex; some soldered = 9', others 3', others odd lengths. There are about 20 switches mostly #6 Atlas, 1 Peco, 3 curved Shinos, some are unfortunately missing ties at their points end and so they're kind of sloppy now ( but good modelers know this is no problem as they can later be either spiked-down back to gauge and or loose plastic ties be slipped back onto them ). I will take my several locos and cars along me in my travels. But should I chuck out the flex instead of schlepping them ? I don't know of any local clubs that'd need them. Maybe Train Shack in Burbank would give me something for them as they do sell used stuff. Any thoughts on the whole scenario ?
     
  2. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    If you have the room to store it, do so. You never know if you'll be able to use it again, or how long the interim will be. Desoldering the longer pieces isn't too difficult.
     
  3. Ironhorseman

    Ironhorseman April, 2018 Staff Member In Memoriam

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    I agree. You would probably regret it if you get rid of it all at one time or another! But then ... I'm one of those guys who can't throw out a nut, bolt or screw (just in case I might need it some day!). :D
    Wow .. is the Train Shack still in business in Burbank! I used to go there when I lived in Burbank years and years ago! (Burbank is my home-town).
     
  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    If you can store it, at least temporarily, I'd hang on for a while.
     
  5. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    I still have Atlas sectional and flex in use I have had since 1967. I just would never be able to throw it away.

    Save it.

    Doug
     
  6. MarkInLA

    MarkInLA Permanently dispatched

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    Thanks for all the replies.
     
  7. MarkInLA

    MarkInLA Permanently dispatched

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    Bill, it's on Hollywood Way above Magnolia. I think it used to be on Victory where it and Cahuenga intersect at that odd S curve..[/QUOTE]
     
  8. Ironhorseman

    Ironhorseman April, 2018 Staff Member In Memoriam

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    Mark, I don't recall it on Victory ... only on Hollywood Way between Clarke & Magnolia.
    Was also another LHS on the north side of Olive Ave west of Victory, if I remember correctly. (?)
    I have not been down there for many years.
     
  9. COverton

    COverton TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have just dismantled my third layout, with my wife's grim help. We moved, took apart the layout as designed with the hope of reconstructing its modules, but there was a lot of scenery damage, and the new house only has a large non-insulated garage. In the Pacific NW, rain starts in November and continues almost unceasingly until late March or so. Finely laid tracks on wooden bench-work won't survive the swings in humidity. So, apart it came. I wet the ballast, waited, wet it again, and used an old butcher knife, laid flat, to saw off the flex I purchased new only three years ago. Much of it was damaged in the dismantling, but I think I'll manage to harvest about 75% of it, and all but one Peco Code 83 turnout. Another soapy soak for a couple of hours and some bristle brush scrubing, and I'll have much of it to use again on another form of construction, probably shelf brackets supporting extruded foam insulation board.

    I try to think long term, not two months hence. We may move again inside of four or five years. I'll only be 68, easily young enough to build another layout. I'd rather not have to spend several hundred dollars on replacements to items I harvested with two hours of work yesterday.
     
  10. montanan

    montanan TrainBoard Member

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    I wouldn't get rid of it. I started my layout handlaying code 70 track and ended up completing the layout with Shinohara turnouts and flex track. While putting down a yard and industrial spurs, I ended up using any remnants of flextrack that I had left unused. You'll be suprised how handy they are.
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2015
  11. MarkInLA

    MarkInLA Permanently dispatched

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    If it's code 100 I would; more because old Atlas C100 switches having plastic frogs, than out of scale height and ties. Code 83s have a metal, energize-able frog, able to prevent stalls on them.
     
  12. Doug Gosha

    Doug Gosha TrainBoard Member

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    I kind of forgot the OP said HO. I was talking about N scale code 80. :D Those switches have plastic frogs too but most of mine aren't worn all that much. The ones that were, I replaced the worn plastic wing rails with metal to give them new life.

    If I were completely starting over, I would use Atlas code 55. I do have some of it on my layout.

    Doug
     
  13. nscalestation

    nscalestation TrainBoard Supporter

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    I've been stripping the plastic ties and keeping the rails from torn up track that did not seem re-usable. The rails by themselves don't take up much space and I've been using them for building turnouts for the new layout. Another use would be to cut up for use as MOW loads or stacked as scenery.
     

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