packing up the trains

[Anonymous]

I have 4 sets of old trains...three american flyer and 1 lionel sets. They are both in mint condition and I mean honestly mint condition. I am looking into packing them up (so that sun and such doesnt spoil their paint and moisture doesnt ruin them: until I graduate and move out on my own). I am wondering what you guys think would be a good thing to wrap them in. I was thinking newspaper, any suggestions? I live in FL btw if that matters about the packaging

[Anonymous]

I have 4 sets of old trains...three american flyer and 1 lionel sets. They are both in mint condition and I mean honestly mint condition. I am looking into packing them up (so that sun and such doesnt spoil their paint and moisture doesnt ruin them: until I graduate and move out on my own). I am wondering what you guys think would be a good thing to wrap them in. I was thinking newspaper, any suggestions? I live in FL btw if that matters about the packaging

[Roger Bielen]

I think I would avoid the newspaper ssince there's the possibility of the ink getting on the trains and I'm not sure about the acid content of the paper. The best bet would probably be wrapping paper or the thin foam wrapping medium ( 1/4"??) that I've gotten some things in. As to where, try to find someplace with a fairly stable humidity, I feel this is more critical than temp.

Good luck with school, many of us older folks have gone down the same path, took me 20 years to get back into the hobby in a major way, other than Christmas tree layouts.

[Roger Bielen]

I think I would avoid the newspaper ssince there's the possibility of the ink getting on the trains and I'm not sure about the acid content of the paper. The best bet would probably be wrapping paper or the thin foam wrapping medium ( 1/4"??) that I've gotten some things in. As to where, try to find someplace with a fairly stable humidity, I feel this is more critical than temp.

Good luck with school, many of us older folks have gone down the same path, took me 20 years to get back into the hobby in a major way, other than Christmas tree layouts.

[Algonquin]

Hi Elliot,

The following is the URL for a similar forum topic discussion from some time ago that may help:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4352

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Algonquin]

Hi Elliot,

The following is the URL for a similar forum topic discussion from some time ago that may help:

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4352

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[lionelsoni]

I have used paper towels.

[lionelsoni]

I have used paper towels.

[Anonymous]

so no to newspaper...someone said something about zip lock and such, but wouldnt that stick the the paint and such? what about towels, or paper towls?

[Anonymous]

so no to newspaper...someone said something about zip lock and such, but wouldnt that stick the the paint and such? what about towels, or paper towls?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Roger Bielen

As to where, try to find someplace with a fairly stable humidity, I feel this is more critical than temp.

Good luck with school, many of us older folks have gone down the same path, took me 20 years to get back into the hobby in a major way, other than Christmas tree layouts.

I was curious about adding silica gel packets to the boxes. You know the ones that come in new shoes and a variety of new products. They absorb moisture. Would this be helpful in any way?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Roger Bielen

As to where, try to find someplace with a fairly stable humidity, I feel this is more critical than temp.

Good luck with school, many of us older folks have gone down the same path, took me 20 years to get back into the hobby in a major way, other than Christmas tree layouts.

I was curious about adding silica gel packets to the boxes. You know the ones that come in new shoes and a variety of new products. They absorb moisture. Would this be helpful in any way?

[Algonquin]

Hi Jim,

Silica gel packages mightl work. However, they do have a limited capacity. As long as no new moisture can get in, I would guess they would work. If you seal a train up in a plastic bag, the silica gel would absorb the moisture. If the bag was left open, additional moisture would continually get to the piece and the silica gel bag would eventually become in-effective requiring the bag to be replaced periodically.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Algonquin]

Hi Jim,

Silica gel packages mightl work. However, they do have a limited capacity. As long as no new moisture can get in, I would guess they would work. If you seal a train up in a plastic bag, the silica gel would absorb the moisture. If the bag was left open, additional moisture would continually get to the piece and the silica gel bag would eventually become in-effective requiring the bag to be replaced periodically.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Anonymous]

I just need to know what type of material to pack these trains into...please help

[Anonymous]

I just need to know what type of material to pack these trains into...please help

[Algonquin]

I put each car in a plain plastic bag with the end left open to allow the bag to breath. This also protects the surface sliding the car into and out of the box. Then I store them in their original or Repro box. I keep all the trains in a climate controlled basement.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[Algonquin]

I put each car in a plain plastic bag with the end left open to allow the bag to breath. This also protects the surface sliding the car into and out of the box. Then I store them in their original or Repro box. I keep all the trains in a climate controlled basement.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

[lionelsoni]

I bought corrugated cardboard boxes (from a place that specializes in that kind of thing) that are about 14x20x5 inches. Twenty-five were enough to hold all my stuff. Except for gondolas, everything is packed 1 deep, which makes it easy to get out the piece you want. The uniformity of the boxes makes them easy to stack compactly.

[lionelsoni]

I bought corrugated cardboard boxes (from a place that specializes in that kind of thing) that are about 14x20x5 inches. Twenty-five were enough to hold all my stuff. Except for gondolas, everything is packed 1 deep, which makes it easy to get out the piece you want. The uniformity of the boxes makes them easy to stack compactly.

[clinchfieldfan]

If you have a local newspaper in town go there and see if they will give you a roll of the left over paper stock. The presses they use leave quite a bit of clean paper on a heavy cardboard roll. The paper in my hometown throws it out! I have seen the larger papers advertise this for sale, people use it to wrap glass ware for moving. I store extra rolling stock in the large plastic tubs you can buy at the discount stores. After wrapping the cars in the clean newspaper store them in the tubs.

[clinchfieldfan]

If you have a local newspaper in town go there and see if they will give you a roll of the left over paper stock. The presses they use leave quite a bit of clean paper on a heavy cardboard roll. The paper in my hometown throws it out! I have seen the larger papers advertise this for sale, people use it to wrap glass ware for moving. I store extra rolling stock in the large plastic tubs you can buy at the discount stores. After wrapping the cars in the clean newspaper store them in the tubs.