How do you store your rolling stock and locos.

[Anonymous]

I need to find a way to safely store my rolling stock and locos. I don’t have enough shelf space to keep everything on display and putting them in and taking them out of their original boxes every time I want to run them is not an option. I saw an add in CTT for a box that had foam padding to store them in but they were asking a lot for what you really get. How do you guys all store your stuff? I was thinking of getting a few of those plastic totes and making some partitions out of cardboard or foam. Anyone try this?

[spankybird]

We built sheaves out of 1” x6”. This allows enough room to place two rolls of cars on each sheave.







tom

[cnw1995]

I'm sticking to my philosophy of not buying what I can't store it on the layout itself. We'll see how long I can hold out. So I have two (soon to be three) long sidings) where I can hold a train as well as park one on the main line. I have only four engines/trains - the Ballyhoo circus train, a 248 with 2 passenger cars, an MPC FA unit with a long misc of MPC rolling stock; 2-4-2 1684 with pre-war litho cars, and 2-4-2 8042. Following the Chief's guidance, I'm going to 'split' the longest sidings so it can take two full trains.

[daan]

Untill now I can store my trains on the layout. But there are much to many engines I would like to have to get them stored on my small trainplace, so I'll have to get shelves too. My other prewar JEP and Bing machines are show only and are "stored" in a oldfashioned cupboard in the living room. My girlfriend though has told me that she doesn't want more trains stored downstairs....[:D]

[daan]

PS: Tom, that looks really nice, do all those engines run on your 027 layout? I see a bounch of pretty big steamers on the shelves..

[spankybird]

Believe it or not, Daan, yes they all run on 027. [:)] If you check my web page, there are some links to video shots of them running.[:D]

The real key is using the K-Line low profile turnouts and making sure that your track is layed true.

tom

[Anonymous]

your trains don't derrail on O27?

I am building my first layout, I will probably be using the supersnap O31.
Will O27 will give me that much more space?

My kids might try to run the trains a little bit, I am trying to get something that won't derrail much or ever, still i only have 4x8 space (wish I could do with smaller)

[Anonymous]

I store all trains in boxes that stack easily on the bottom of my closet. The boxes are standard cardboard file boxes in which I built customized inserts. One train set goes on the bottom, sepaarted by foam or carpet, then a partition of balsa wood and another set goes on top. My layout is in my office/guest room and I can't make shelves. I only take out one set at a time an drun those on my shelf layout. Anything else goes in the box which is easy to stack and store. Original boxes for everything went in the attic.

[Anonymous]

RedCaboose,

I like that idea. What did you use for the custom inserts? Cardboard? Balsa? I think I will try to do something like this since my layout is also in the office/guest room and my wife doesn't like the ideal of shelves.

Jim

[Buckeye Riveter]

I have seen Tom shelves and I want to say that his simplicity is the key. No fancy joints. Standard lumber sizes. No reed switches. [:D] Tom, can you show the folks a close up of the shelf supports and how they attach at the vertical support?

This system should be a CTT article. Hint! Hint! It is practical and attractive. It can be built using a miter saw and dry wall screws.

If you are invited to see Tom's layout, make sure you go see it. You will learn! The circus tent should be another article for CTT.

[spankybird]

Thanks Buckeye,

The shelf units are made from 1” x 6” and 1” x 4” for the two sides (LH & RH)

I use 1 x 6 cut to 3 ½ “ long and screwed to the sides to provide a spacer for the shelf.





The shelf themselves are 1 x 6. This will allow 2 rows of O gauge cars on them.

I make mine 4 feet long, this is common shelving wood at many home improvement stores.

I make on set at 4 feet high and a second one at 2 foot high. Added together it makes a 6 foot high shelf, which clears most cellings.




be sure to click on the picks to enlarge them.
Hope this helps.

tom

[Anonymous]

Jim,

I used carboard separtors within the box and I can fit a locomotive and about 6 027 or 0 gauge cars and a caboose in one Staples cardboard file box. For the horizontal separator (To separate the top set from the bottom), I used a very thin piece of wood, that is just thicker than balsa. I then glued some dowels onto the separator to use as legs (legs go on the outsides of the bottom set) and you are ready to go. I'd love a shelf system, but I'm fortunate to have my shelf layout and do not want to turn my guest room into a train station. Now if only I had that big basement, it would be another story...

[Anonymous]

Red,

Do you use any foam or anything between the cardboard sepperators and cars or just plane old cardboard. I think I am gonna try to construct a few of these boxes tomorrow on my day off.

[dougdagrump]

In the latest copy of CTT in the "Product News" section they showed a carton for storing/transporting trains. I went to their website, unfortunately a good deal of it is still under construction, so I wasn't able to get as much info as I had hoped. It does look like something I might definitely be interested in though. Much stronger cardboard then a standard file box, I am more interested in transporting as opposed to storage. My biggest concern is the type of foam padding used, is there any chance of anything leaching from the foam onto the cars/locos. [sigh]

[Anonymous]

I did see that. I thought the price was pretty high for what you get though.

[dougdagrump]

Have to agree on that point but if I'm going to be hauling some trains around once or twice a week I think the old addage applies "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". [^]

[Anonymous]

I wonder where I can buy some foam similar to what is used in that carton showen in CTT. Anyone know?

[dougdagrump]

Something else to take into consideration, specifically related to electronics, should the foam liners be of an anti-static variety. Don't know how susseptable TMCC components are to external static electricity.[%-)]

[Anonymous]

i went to the boxstore and bought a number of 12x6x4 boxes that will hold two traincars, or a locomotive & coalcar. four of these fit nicely into one larger box.

before placeing the trains into the boxes, i wrap them in one or more layers of "bubblewrap" to restrict movement and protect delicate details. this also available at the boxstore.

one complete trainset will wait for your return or travel nicely in this manner.

-rick