As some of you may know I live overseas in a country were there are no hobbyshops or any other ways of getting model trains. As a result I must obtain all my train stuff in the US when I visit and bring it back in my luggage on an airplane. Those who have watched airport workers handle luggage will know bags are not always handled with extreme care as one may wish their trains to receive.
As a result I need a few recomendations on how to pack my trains.
The items I am most concened about are a few peices of flextrack (it's Atlas N scale code 55). I need a way to pack it so it will not be kinked or bent in a way I cannot reverse, or otherwise damaged.
Of even more concern to me is a few cars I have that lack boxes and are lose. They are all older MicroTrains N scale cars. I am pirticularly concerned about the stirups on the cars and a brake wheel on a flat car.
If anyone has any ideas or experience hauling trains in airplane luggage, please post below. I look forward to reading your responses!
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
If you still have the original boxes of your locos and cars, it is best to use them, wrap a layer of bubble wrap around them before storing them in a box for shipping. Make sure nothing can move around!
As for the flex track, get sturdy cardboard tubes. They are sold in various diameter and lengths. Put as much track as you can without bending the track. Seal the ends with bubble wrap.
https://www.mailing-tube.com/heavyduty.php
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Unless it's tools or paint you can carry-on most if not all Model railroad stuff. I carried a box of flex track back from a business trip as my personal item and put it in the overhead bin. The LHS near where I was working had it for a steal of a price so I bought the whole box.
I just got back from another business trip and had a bunch of phosphor bronze wire, two pack of caboose trucks and a bunch of other random parts and TSA didn't seem to care. I have carried on locomotives in my backpack.
My suggestion is to wrap the loose cars in a papertowel and the bubblewrap. I would then pack them in a cardboard box to protect them. Its your choice if you put it in carry-on or checked luggage.
As I said as long as its not paint or tools they are really quick flexible about.
Colorado Front Range Railroad: http://www.coloradofrontrangerr.com/
As for the flex track, get sturdy cardboard tubes.
^ This.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Well I found a solution for the flextrack. We are carrying on a fishing pole in a hard case which happens to be the same lenght as my N scale flex track. It is well padded and will keep straight.
I'm still worried about a few cars I have that lack their original boxes. I have some smaller boxes that I think I will put them in. I think I may try Renegade's paper towel/bubble wrap idea...
Frankly I have little concern about TSA having an issue with the trains. I have previously brought a locomotive, cars, a powerpack, and track without incident.
Keep the great answers coming!
For HO train cars get corrugated cardboard boxes intended to store baseball cards. Wrap the car in white plain paper towels.
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-Kevin
Living the dream.
If you have hard sided luggage, you could curve the flex track to fit and tape it to the top or bottom.
I would hand carry rolling stock and locos packed as suggested above, with the proviso that TSA could tell what they are without ripping apart the packaging.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
SPSOT fanWell I found a solution for the flextrack.
I think it would be less troublesome to mail the flextrack to yourself in a rigid tube.
I have traveled with by air with (HO) model trains numerous times and never had a problem. I use original packaging or bubble wrap (and in some cases plastic bags wrapped round and round a loose freight car).
I don't believe I've ever checked bags with trains -- I always carry them on. I'd suggest a small overhead-bin-sized case just for trains. I wouldn't trust them to the baggage handlers. You can always pack a smaller suitcase inside your bigger one, just fill it with clothes for the outbound trip.
That said, just last week my friends and I took a shopping trip to Chicago and returned with trains in backpacks and reusable shopping bags. We boarded early (frequent flyer perk) and were able to "claim" an overhead bin, protecting our purchases with our other backpacks.
I think I've had my bags checked once by TSA, and once they saw I had a suitcase full of model trains, they let me go. On last week's trip, four bags with model trains went through the X-Ray without raising an eyebrow.
Good luck!
Aaron
While I don't fly, (I use buses for my train trips) the idea is the same. A few years ago I bought a set of the Proto Power West/A-line train carriers. I have used it for at least 3 trips without major problems. (Had a smokestack break on one caboose but it is a very tall car. Carried model cement and CA just in case.) Given that I only use one or two of the trays, I also pack clothes in the rest of the bag. (Less luggage to carry.)
If you fly a lot with trains, you should visit battlefoam.com
Romeo and his crew can custom cut foam trays to fit ANYTHING, and their various "PACK" cases meet FAA requirements for carry on luggage. Larger PACK cases are good for checked luggage.
They are a top-notch company for customer service. I have never had bad dealings with them. The stuff is pricey, but if your models deserve the best, there it is.
I flew from NJ to FL. I had my carry on with the following goodies: Box of 500' 24GA wire, couple dozen miniature pushbuttons, wire cutters, LED's, a few HO track switches, spade connectors, 2 MRC power packs and a few other things. Bag was flagged. The guy checking it out looked inside, swabbed the outside and I was on my way. When they pulled me aside with the bag, I told the guy these are parts for model trains, another TSA agent standing there started a conversation with me about his trains around the Christmas tree. Inspecting the bag - 2 minutes. TSA guy chewing my ear off about his tree - 5 minutes. If I checked the bag and waited for it when I landed? Who knows...
I've packed trains in large duffle bags in either bubble wrap or towels when I brought them to my place in FL. No damage whatsoever. The way I pack my stuff, I take pics of how everything is inside as well as an inventory of what I brought down-just in case they have sticky fingers or one of them is a model railroader wanting something I have that he doesn't. It could happen, but in all of my years flying I've never had anything taken out of my bag or boxes...
Neal
nealknowswire cutters
Amazed they let these go. I thought tools were a no-go -- I remember 30+ years ago (as a kid! as a kid!) not being able to take screwdrivers in my carry-on (nothing that could be used to disassemble the airplane)... that's when I used to race 1/24 slot cars, and used to travel with a controller that looked like this.
How I got onto the airplane, I'll never know.