I will be closing on a house on Thursday. (My Mom will be coming to live with me and she has let me have the garage as a shop for my railroad.) I have all of my boxed equipment in two packing boxes. Where I am having the question is with my loose cars. Would anyone think there would be a problem with using some empty berry boxes to hold the cars for a trip of maybe a mile? (I work in a Produce department and can get the boxes for free.) This would just be over a couple of surface streets going no more that 35 MPH. There are about 30-35 loose cars. As usual any suggestions would be most welcomed.
FRRYKid...Would anyone think there would be a problem with using some empty berry boxes to hold the cars for a trip of maybe a mile? (I work in a Produce department and can get the boxes for free.)...
I'd think that such boxes would work, but the main thing is to prevent the items from moving around within the boxes.I use the large produce boxes with removeable tops, like these...
...as the lid imparts strength to keep the box rigid. I then use corrugated cardboard to create stackable trays, with compartments suited to the rolling stock I want to carry. In this example, it's for locomotives...
...and the foam sheet material protects the items from abrasion, and also makes them easier to lift out...
This tray is for paired items...
...with each individual compartment removeable...
...making it easy to add or remove the items without damaging them...
Passenger cars get a similar treatment, but each tray's compartments are an integral part of the tray...
If the method described above is too much work for the short move you're planning, place whatever will fit into each of the berry boxes with some form of padding between the items - loosely-wadded paper towels work well.
I use the boxes described mostly for under-the-layout storage of items for which there are no individual boxes - stuff bought used or at train shows. However, I also have one which I use to carry cars while travelling - perhaps items to deliver, done for others or something I want to take along to show. If you make such a box, those loose cars will have not only a good, safe method of being transported, but also a good place to be stored when they're not on the layout.Another option is to buy individual boxes for each piece, and Accurail offers both standard and long boxes - scroll to the bottom of the page in the link to see the listing.
Wayne
Not that kind of produce box. The kind I have is the one that berries (strawberry, blueberry, etc.) come in. However, seeing this reminds me that I probably should get some foam sheet like is used for plates. The other option would be to go down to the local newspaper and see if they have any endrolls for packing.
FRRYKidNot that kind of produce box. The kind I have is the one that berries (strawberry, blueberry, etc.) come in....
I was aware that you weren't referring to the type of boxes shown in my post, as this area of southern Ontario is known for fruit growing of many types, including berries. The boxes shown (not from this area) are for pears, but tomato boxes are also good for the methods illustrated.
Get some rolls of paper towels and wrap each car a couple of times in paper towel. That way you can fit all of the cars in one or two produce boxes without the risk of rubbing against each other.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrainGet some rolls of paper towels and wrap each car a couple of times in paper towel.
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I second this entirely.
For your short move, wrapping the car in paper towels in plenty.
I move freight cars in between my "dorm room" workshop in Tampa and my house in Cape Coral (123 miles) all the time with no damage. I have a 5 gallon plastic tote with loose fill packers. I wrap the cars in paper towels and just dump the packers in to take up the space.
I have been doing this for a year without any damage so far.
Take special care of one of those cars!
-Kevin
Living the dream.
richhotrain Get some rolls of paper towels and wrap each car a couple of times in paper towel. That way you can fit all of the cars in one or two produce boxes without the risk of rubbing against each other. Rich
Are you just moving the cars cross town, or wanting to store them? If just moving them, all the fancy boxes are overkill. I'd do as Rich suggests, except maybe using bubble wrap.
maxman Are you just moving the cars cross town, or wanting to store them? If just moving them, all the fancy boxes are overkill. I'd do as Rich suggests, except maybe using bubble wrap.
They probably will sit for a couple weeks but they will end up back on shelves like they are currently. (Once everything gets put back together.)
I've had people ship me freight cars which no longer have the original box and roll it up in bubble wrap and put it in a box. It seemed to work well.
So gently roll freight cars in a couple layers/circles of bubble wrap and stack them in a box such as an empty copy paper box with a lid.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Big rolls of bubble wrap are super cheap at Wally World.
Low-detail cars will probably be fine in paper towel (that keeps paint from scratching) but if they have seperate grab irons, delicate brake work, etc., I'd go with bubble wrap. I like that even better than A-Line or similar boxes, as I sometimes loose paint or poorly-secured detail parts in them.
Autonerd but if they have seperate grab irons, delicate brake work, etc.,
but if they have seperate grab irons, delicate brake work, etc.,
The few cars that have that major problem are actually set on top of a box with other wrapped cars.