I suppose no model railroader thinks about a layout’s end date as we jump into the excitement of planning and then start building, but inevitably that day comes for one reason or another. It is always heartening to hear the stories of layouts which do have new life beyond the original setting. I have participated in dismantling several layouts; some did not survive at all but several have gone on to new life in part or in whole in new layout construction. Here’s a story about some with extended life in a “new” layout.

Fairly recent Seacoast member Butch Taggart is doing a wonderful job of blending two old layouts and some new construction into a really nice operations-oriented HO layout in Gilford, NH. Butch had been an O-scale modeler and was preparing his basement for an O-scale layout when he joined the NMRA and hooked up with the Meredith Area Ops Group. Seeing HO and the possibilities in operations he changed his focus.

At about the same time, two layouts in Meredith were dismantled due to the passing of the builders. Many Seacoast members had operated on or toured Bruce Reynolds’ Zealand Valley layout, but another in Meredith, built by Dick Lasky, was relatively unknown. Bruce’s wife asked the Meredith Ops Group for help in removing Bruce’s layout and members of the North Conway Model Railroad Club removed Dick’s. I participated in both; always a melancholy task.

But these layouts were soon to breathe new life as we carried the sections into Butch’s lovely, finished basement. Here are the pictures and story so far:

Somewhat of an overview of Butch’s layout space with the familiar Lakeport section of Bruce’s layout in the foreground. The photo shows the track leading to the Bridgewater section from Bruce’s layout which is also retained in its entirety.

Another iconic spot on Bruce’s layout, Bridgewater, is in place with a new hill being developed in the background. Since Bridgewater is now located adjacent to Lakeport, the Lakeport Switcher job will be much busier that it was in the past. To add to the work, there is also a new small industrial area planned at Lakeport.

Dick Lasky’s layout was an 8’ X 12’ rectangle with track going full circle around the circumference and incorporating a double-ended yard and engine service area. While the structure of the benchwork was retained, the track plan has been modified so that trains enter counter-clockwise from the right center, pass the station (The station itself is actually from another dismantled layout by Harry Decker; yes, Harry is still with us!), and enter the now single-ended yard. The hostler then moves the engines around to the engine facilities where the line now dead ends. This section represents Concord, NH and requires two operators to keep things going. Also note the lower staging level in the left center of the picture. This was originally Bruce’s Woodsville staging. As you can see, Butch is doing a great job with the background and display shelves.

Plymouth is another area from Bruce’s layout that was retained. It was modified, however, so that now the Plymouth freight yard is behind the station. A new town center will be built to the right of this scene and will include several sidings serving small industries.

Probably my favorite scene from Bruce’s layout was the station and farm area at Winona. This we were able to save as well and although in a new location relative to other towns, it still has a prominent setting on Butch’s layout. It will be added to the work of the Plymouth switcher. No pay increase by the way! More to come:

It really is comforting in a certain way to keep another modeler’s work alive and well. Good memories are stirred and added to. There are other layouts in the Seacoast Division being built and in some cases, they include portions of previous layouts. In future issues of the Switch Tower it is hoped more stories can be told.