I just got into this hobby 3 years ago and I am having a little problem. It is about O gauge train boxes (packages). Since I started, I have accumulated boxes and I am running out of space to put them. Is it necessary to keep these boxes if I am an operator? I keep my trains in a display cabinet (still don't have a layout). Do you guys keep your boxes?
The one you can collapse I would collapse to save room. If I have the box I keep them but if they don't have a box mostly I don't worry about it.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
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Oh man, that's a hard decision. All of them have boxes and styrofoam still.
HMMM decisions, decisions, decisions. Thanks for the reply
You could pick a date that's meaningful for you and keep only boxes that predate that time. As a rule boxes that date from 1969 or earlier are the ones that command the most value these days. (Pre 1942 especially) However that's subject to change as post 1969 collectors get more nostalgic about the era they grew up in as did previous generations.
Personally I just bag them up and chuck em' in the attic.
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Saving them does take up space but I have found that somewhere along the way I am glad to have saved the box.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
I guess I have to save them. Thank you guys for the advice.
Glen
I would keep them. In the future if you do sell a few it makes it simple and safer to ship the cars/engines. Though you have no layout we use the large plastic totes for christmas trees and they roll under the layout with ease. We have three of them and you will be amazed how much one will hold.
I use the plastic totes too, but mine are clear so I can easily see what is inside.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
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Between my trains and my toy cars, I have got boxes and boxes filled with empty boxes. It really is a terrible affliction, but I just can't bring myself to throw them away. I did actually put everything back in those boxes when we moved a few years ago, and when my wife saw just how much stuff I had she very nearly moved without me.
Just to show there's all sorts of perspectives on this, I never save a box. But I rarely re-sell anything - not having the box sometimes impacts the value - and I don't want them taking up space.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
I found the boxes very handy when I moved 3 years ago.
If you don't have the room, maybe a parent or sibling could store them for you.
Good luck
Paul
Not sure what the correct answer is but we've kept every box because we do have the room under the layout for storage. I've never sold anything but if I ever do I think having the original box might help me.
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
Trash them unless its an engine box or something I think may become rare some day. I could not store all the boxes from cars. The Train Box could not hold them.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Good evening all,
My advice is to keep all boxes you can find space for. Will help with reselling and shipping if it gets to that point.
Mike C. from Indiana
I vote to keep the boxes because it makes re-selling the collection easier. Somebody says," I don't want to re-sell anything." Even if you don't re-sell, your heirs will, most likely, re-sell all or part of your collection when you're gone. I am getting up there in years, sort of, and it bothers me sometimes as to what kind of a burden my collection will be on those I leave behind if something were to happen to me. I'm the only hobbyist at my house. The trains would need to be sold and the boxes would help the sale, and, by extension, the ones I leave behind.
George
Definitely keep the boxes if possible.
Like mentioned fold the boxes down ,store them under the train table in an attic anything.
I guess I've been spoiled even since childhood (1970's-80's) to have had the luxury of having room in closets or under the layout for storage.Heck probably some of the large boxes I've stored the train boxes in are collectable by now
But I was a weird kid (at least according to my wife)because kept everything I ever had in their original boxes.Eh might one day be worth something when my kids sale it ???
Collin ,operator of the " Eastern Kentucky & Ohio R.R."
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