Dave,
Congratulations! I know it wasn't luck, because I would put my money on if you built such a crate, you took every precaution, and considered every alternative or potential danger. So, instead of good luck for you, it is way to go!!
When i changed layouts, a few years back, I had a 14x7 dogbone with lots of trackage, and when we oriignally did the benchwork we decided to make it into three pieces cut the track and move the smaller pieces. Instead, I attached 3 1x4 breams under my benchwork at the joints and we decided to keep them together, since the buyer's truck was 16' long, and that was all he was carrying. We left the wiring intact, and the control panel was attached, so all that needed to be done at the new location, was to prop it up on legs, attach 3 power packs and go!!!!
My layout was hard-wired into the house, so when my friend disconnected it, we heard a big buzz, then saw a shower or sparks come from under the layout where he was. Thank God he had a rubber handled screwdriver, and he came out laughing.
The move went smoothly with the exception of the buyer's wife and bratty kid trying to finagle extra locomotives and she decided to take the scenic route to West Palm from Boca, and we had to wait in the heat for about 45 minutes. He had the legs ready, and had trains running in about an hour... his trains.
I check regularly because a lot of my sweat and soul in in that layout, and is electronically and scenery intact, but he changed out the structures re-routed a couple of roads, and turned it into a Santa Fe layout. He is the photo editor of Palm Beacher magazine, and featured his/my layout in the recreation section.
It is worth the effort. I am fortunate now that my present layout is a little extra stong and firm on the benchwork. All structures are closely fixed to the surface, but not glued, as there is perhaps another move planned in the near future, and I want this to be in the truck. Thanks to your validation, it can be done.
Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
