Boxes

[cv_acr]

MisterBeasley

I would think that such a heap of cardboard and plastic lying around would present a fire hazard and require significant space for storage.

 

Considering the layout above it is basically a giant pile of firewood, I wouldn't be too concerned about a bunch of cardboard boxes stored on a shelf unless you decide to store an ignition source along with them.

[joe323]

Problem is for me that I have no room to store boxes. Also I reached the point where I have a lot more rolling stock then I will ever use on the layout at any given time.  I a display case and few display shelves for storage.

[BRAKIE]

Slowmodem

So the question is, what do you do? Do you have a room full of empty boxes in case you want to sell something one of these days?

With todays models I keep the boxes.. I store the boxes in large flat plastic storeage boxes which is kept in a walk in closet.

 

[SeeYou190]

Wolf359

I don't have a picture of my Stratton and Gillette refrigerater car at this time, it's one of my favorite freight cars and I try to put it in as many trains as possible. Those Kadee trucks roll so smooth too!

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That put a big smile on my face. Thank you for the share.

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-Kevin

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[Medina1128]

Track fiddler

Run the trains, keep the boxes.

 

TF

 

 

They are called Jewel Cases in N scale

 

"Grab the cannolis."

[Wolf359]

Track fiddler

PS.  Thanks Kevin...... I still treasure it!   I've shown it to lots of people I know. 

Very proudly,  I must add.

 

TF

 

 

I'll second that, TF! And while I don't have a picture of my Stratton and Gillette refrigerater car at this time, it's one of my favorite freight cars and I try to put it in as many trains as possible. Those Kadee trucks roll so smooth too! As for boxes and cases, I always try to keep mine unless they're totally damaged beyond all hope of repair. You never know when you might need one. They're useful if you need to take a locomotive or car to the local hobby shop (if you have one) for a part or repair, and if you ever move they will help keep locos and cars safe while enabling them to be packed more efficiently.

[schief]

I was a habitual box keeper.  I got it from my grandfather.  After he passed I saw the things he kept the boxes for and it was like history to me.  I am also a collector of things (read people who keep boxes for everything).  Keeping boxes takes up a lot (A LOT) of space depending on what it is.  In the past I kept a lot of boxes, but these days, unless it has some really great artwork on it, I let it go.  If you want to resell an item, then keeping the box is probably the thing to do.  My personal preferance anymore is to just let the boxes go in the trash (or recycling).  I don't really plan to ever sell what I acquire now, and if I did, I have long ago realized that the potential sale doesn't often equate to the time/resources spent keeping said items in the long run.  It just came down  to the philosophy of "the things you own someday own you" and I didn't want to deal with boxes anymore.  Your milage may vary.  I'm not sure if this was helpful, but it was my take on it.

[PRR8259]

Interesting thread.

I keep ALL boxes for every single freight car and locomotive.  I throw them into those plastic tote boxes (that my wife likes to use for storage).

However, I have less rolling stock than most people, so I do focus on high end equipment where the boxes are designed specifically for the engine or freight car.

Even brass models are worth more when in the original box.  Some collectors famously threw the boxes away or gave them to the dog to play with--that lowers the value of the brass models.  With plastic, it's much easier to sell in the original box.

 

John

[PC101]

I have never been in the habit of throwing out the boxes since the beginning of my Model Railroading career/hobby. Yes they take up lots of space, sometimes get in the way. I can't say that when my trains go to Auction, the person in charge will take the time to match the box to the rolling stock. If I sell them yes, what's listed on the box is in the box.

I was at a whole train layout sale in a house, the cars sold and then someone found the HO Kadee car boxs (24 more or less) and bought them for I think $1.00 each.

When I go to Train Shows, alot of second hand HO rolling stock is loose in box lot box's but each car sold separately. Would they command more $ if in original boxs, would the seller want to open and close all those boxs at each train show?

I'll just keep saving the boxs I guess.

When I get tired and want a change of what is on the layout in rolling stock, I put the cars in those long white storage boxs (packing goes much faster), mostly a box is full of a like type of cars. The Locos. go back in original boxs or up on the wall on those aluminum shelve's with HO wheel grooves milled in.

You can always get rid of the empty boxs at a later date if they get in the way as clutter. Once they are gone,  there gone.

I guess I can add that all my rolling stock and Loco's if empty or full, those box's are stored in which ever larger box's they fit in the best. Mostly Beer box's (Athearn short BB, Roundhouse, Bowser, etc.) and Toilet box's for the longer BB and like the 89' cars. 

[trainnut1250]

I save locomotive boxes. i don't save rolling stock boxes because most of my stuff is built from kits with fine detail. It won't go back in the box without damage (or won't fit).

I bought a couple of flat drawer units from Ikea to store my built up rolling stock that rotates off the layout. Marty McGuirk has a cool video where he shows how he set up the drawers to hold the cars upright without damage. He uses wood strips that allow the cars to sit on the truck side frame bottoms - pretty slick.

As for storage under the layout, if you've been in the hobby long enough you likely ran out of storage under the layout years ago...

 

Guy

[Slowmodem]

Thank you for the great discussion.  As per usual, there's things I've not considered.  I now haved lots of things to think about.  I don't plan on selling anything, I'm building it with my grandson for my grandson.  He may decide to sell things years from now.  So I want him to have information and the boxes he might need, as I imagine components from this era will be worth mor 50 years from now.  Thanks, again gentlemen.  :)

 

Slowmodem

I have a question I've been pondering for a while.  I've got lots of engines and cars.  Most of them came in the original box with the original packing.  I plan on displaying or operating the equipment.  But it seems if people want to resell an item, it is important to have the original box with packing.

So the question is, what do you do?  Do you have a room full of empty boxes in case you want to sell something one of these days?  Or do you just toss the boxes?  I imagine the older something is, the more important the original packaging is.

 

[Jwmutter]

I have 600+ frreght cars on my layout...if I kept all the boxes I’d need a separate building just to store them!  I have kept the boxes the locomotives came in.  

[richhotrain]

MisterBeasley

I model in HO scale.  I would think that such a heap of cardboard and plastic lying around would present a fire hazard and require significant space for storage.

I weather most everything, so I destroy any collectors' value before it even goes on the layout. 

I do not weather my locos or rolling stock, and I do keep all of the boxes which I store on shelving under my layout.

From time to time, I sell off stuff on eBay, loco boxes are crucial, rolling stock boxes are preferred, and all fetch a higher price than without the box.

Rich

[doctorwayne]

I generally save the boxes that the models came in, but since a lot of my stuff was bought "used" it usually came without a box.  I have bought boxes, but I also improvise with the ones I have, like these two modified Athearn flatcars in a Walthers box which originally contained a single GSC 52'6" flatcar (the source of the bulkhead ends on these cars)....

...or perhaps an Athearn Blue Box which originally held a passenger car, and now accommodates four Athearn 34' open hoppers...

Another Walthers box, this one for their Jordan Spreader.  It now holds four scratchbuilt hopper-bottom boxcars...

As for the boxes for expensive rolling stock, I generally toss them them, as most of mine were bought as kits, and I usually make some modifications during the build, making them unsuitable to fit into their original packaging.  That packaging is well-done, and the kits have always come to me undamaged, but they're suitable only for that particular car.

Here's two of them, from Tangent, in another Walthers box, likely originally containing one of the 50' single-sheathed automobile cars, of which I'm so fond...

...and with the two Tangent tank cars...

As for passenger cars, I make my own boxes....

...and likewise for MoW equipment...

While I do have some saved boxes for locomotives, all locos are modified, and are unlikely to fit back into their original boxes.  If I were selling them, I'd build suitable boxes for each, sturdy enough to withstand the rigours of shipping.

ATLANTIC CENTRAL

As for storing, the bigger the layout is , the more storage it has underneath.

Yup!  My layout's not all that big, but lots of storage space beneath it.  This is for freight cars....

...and passenger and express cars in the "Mountain Goat" pear boxes...

...maybe I shoulda modelled more of the Great Northern....

The MoW stuff is in a different area.

I should probably put a short note into each box, at least indicating the original maker or brand, as many are not readily identifiable as to their origin.  They are, however, all noted in my Excel inventory, for whomever gets to dispose of them.  Once I'm gone, I doubt I'll worry about it.

Wayne

[mlehman]

If you  arrange to send a loco to Blackstone for service, it must be shipped in the original packing, which is designed to protect it properly. Otherwise they'll send it back unrepaired.

[Track fiddler]

I gotcha. 

I like to keep all my Jewel Cases they go in Kevin.

Maybe just me and maybe you but I gotcha

 

TF

 

 

[Track fiddler]

 

 

[SeeYou190]

Track fiddler

Thanks Kevin...... I still treasure it! I've shown it to lots of people I know. Very proudly, I must add.

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I am so glad you like it. I love seeing pictures of donated SGRR equipment in interchange service. I have sent away at least a dozen of these to forum members. Yours and Harrison's seem to appear the most.

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As for boxes... I throw 99% of them away.

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When I was in N scale and had a massive collection of Micro-Trains boxes I saved them all. This was because the boxes were like jewel cases. They fit the cars perfectly, kept them protected, and were easy to store.

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In HO, Kadee, BLI, and Brass Importers use good quality boxes that are worth saving. Pretty much everything else belongs in the rubbish bin.

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The boxes for my Bachmann 2-8-8-4 and my Walthers/Proto H10-44 are works of art. These fit the models perfectly and keep them 100% safe. I will hold on to these. All other locomotive boxes are in the landfill.

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The only need to move my trains is in case of Hurricane evacuation. In this case the Axian train storage boxes are the best option I have found. They hold lots of trains and do not take up much room in the car.

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-Kevin

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[Track fiddler]

Here's a better picture

TF

[EMDSD40]

I kept all boxes for HO locomotives numbering 300+ at this point. Most of the freight/passenger cars (500) where kits, once built the boxes where discarded.The newer RTR detailed cars packaging was retained. O gauge locomotives, freight, and passenger cars number 225+ and every box has been saved. Also O gauge signals, built up structures, and original Plasticville boxes have been retained. All of these boxes have been packed into larger boxes and then put into plastic bags. All of this is in the attic of the house. The center of the attic is floored for storage of Christmas decorations and train boxes. Been there for three decades. The perimeter of the attic is heavily insulated and I think all this plastic and cardboard does provide some R-value. When my time here ends, my kids have been told what to do. If they don’t.....I won’t be here to worry about it!

[riogrande5761]

MisterBeasley

I model in HO scale.  I would think that such a heap of cardboard and plastic lying around would present a fire hazard and require significant space for storage.

Is there not significant space under the layout?  

I save all boxes for moving and transport and some I have sold and original box is a plus for that.  

Seems wise and a no brainier to keep original boxes.  /Topic

[Track fiddler]

Here's a very special car to me.  Don't think for a minute I did not keep the case. 

I found it in two seconds because I keep it on top of the stack.

Not for a minute,  I kept the case and I suggest you do the same for your important cars.

 

 

TF

 

PS.  Thanks Kevin...... I still treasure it!   I've shown it to lots of people I know. 

Very proudly,  I must add.

 

TF

[Track fiddler]

Run the trains, keep the boxes.

 

TF

 

 

They are called Jewel Cases in N scale

[ATLANTIC CENTRAL]

I don't ever plan to resell anything, but I keep locomotive and rolling stock boxes in case of a move, or transport, and after me someone may want the boxes with the trains, which also help identify them.

As for storing, the bigger the layout is , the more storage it has underneath.

Fire hazzard? Not unless you put them near some source of combustion, no more so than 100 other things in our homes.

Sheldon 

[MisterBeasley]

I model in HO scale.  I would think that such a heap of cardboard and plastic lying around would present a fire hazard and require significant space for storage.

I weather most everything, so I destroy any collectors' value before it even goes on the layout.

[BigDaddy]

I save them now, mostly because I will be moving and wish I had every box. 

As and official Old Friendly guy, I have a lot of old stuff that didn't cost much money back in the day and isn't worth much money now.  That said, I would rather buy old stuff on ebay that is still in the original box, because:

a) it might be like new and

b) it will probably survive shipping intact.

I don't have much to sell, because I realized early on not to buy outside my time period or geography.

I have some newer and what I would consider expensive rolling stock and locos.  I am saving those boxes.  If I had all new, high end stuff, I would save all the boxes.  In our previous threads about what happens when you roll into the scrap yard for the final journey, most of us believe that most of the layout will go in the dumpster.

Having had to liquidate my mom's house, few of us have the time energy and inclination to advertise, sell and ship everything that could be of value. 

[Slowmodem]

I have a question I've been pondering for a while.  I've got lots of engines and cars.  Most of them came in the original box with the original packing.  I plan on displaying or operating the equipment.  But it seems if people want to resell an item, it is important to have the original box with packing.

So the question is, what do you do?  Do you have a room full of empty boxes in case you want to sell something one of these days?  Or do you just toss the boxes?  I imagine the older something is, the more important the original packaging is.