MRR Club Members--How do you do it?

[SpaceMouse]

Get your locomotives and cars to and from the club?

[Anonymous]

A couple turnouts and a really REALLY long piece of flex track.


:-D

And yes, I am kidding. :-)

[tstage]

Chip,

The cheapest alternative is to use the original box the locomotive came in. Did they include that with the ones that you bought off of ebay and the Internet dealer?

Tom

[Anonymous]

I'd say to use the original box, then put the assorted boxes inside a plastic storage box of some type, ideally with a lid. I have found army-surplus (empty!) .50 Calibre ammo boxes to be very good for N scale - my entire Fleischmann collection is currently stored in original boxes inside one of these - heavy, but very solid, waterproof, and offering great protection for the contents. Try your local DIY store, if they're anything like ours they will have plenty of plastic storage boxes/crates with lids that are ideal for transporting stock to and from clubs and storing it at home. If you can, buy "solid" rather than translucent boxes - this will hide your models from prying eyes if you have to leave them in the car at any time. Hope this is of help!

[SpaceMouse]

I was thinking taking them in Gun cases. No not rifle cases. I have a couple suitcase size that I could cut into the foam. I'm just worried about snagging things.

[challenger3802]

Put them all into a large cardboard box, meaning my collection vists on a six week rotation basis (more or less!)

Ian

[randybc2003]

Depends on the car. cheap "fleets" transported in shoe boxes, or plastic file boxes form the office store. 1st. string models transported in their boxes (if possible) in heavy grocery bags, or "R-Kive" boxes from the office store. Some special models transported in "Tray Boxes" w/ foam padding my LHS gets from Walthers.

[Anonymous]

Ive been having this problem too. Our new maids threw out all my old original boxes so im waiting for the next train show in 3 weeks to get a couple of these big train boxes a guy in my area sells. Theyre about $30 for a box with the trays and probably hold about 60 cars .

[cacole]

I have lockable storage cabinets at the club and leave my HO stuff there. Other members do likewise. I get it there initially in the boxes it comes in after I engrave my name somewhere on it and get it entered into my computerized inventory.

[SP4449]

[swg] I post this with my tongue planted firmly in my cheek, but it worked for a member of our group. Make several trips to your local pizza parlor [dinner] and acquire some of the large boxes they put carryout pizza in (preferably unused). The boxes are just the right size for HO equipment to fit on their sides and with some papertowel to protect the cars and locos from the box and each other, you can get quite a few cars to and from the show/club layout. In fact, the boxes were labeled with contents of a set of cars and loco making up a complete train. We thought he had treated us to dinner the first time we saw the containers. [:D]

[Jetrock]

"That's not Labelle oil on my power trucks--it's pepperoni grease!"

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SP4449
...Make several trips to your local pizza parlor [dinner] and acquire some of the large boxes they put carryout pizza in (preferably unused). The boxes are just the right size for HO equipment to fit on their sides and with some papertowel to protect the cars and locos from the box and each other, you can get quite a few cars to and from the show/club layout.

Been there - done that -STILL doing it (can't beat the price!)

[Anonymous]

I purchased a "car carrier" at the GATS show. It's made out of cardboard, carrys more cars and locos then I want to take, and works like a champ. It has four trays for carrying the items.

Bob

[Anonymous]

Our club operates a modular layout several times a year. Several of us use inexpensive plastic toolboxes to carry around our models. These are a decent size, maybe 2' long with a removable tray inside. I line the sides and ends of the box and tray with foam from Athearn blue box kits - the long square black pieces. It is not glued in. Models are arranged in the box and tray, and thinner foam is placed between them so they don't rub together.

This system has worked for about 20 years now without any major problems. These toolboxes have handles and a place to put a lock if needed. Often our modules and associated equipment like these model boxes are hauled around in rented trucks, so they aren't babied. I've lettered mine with my model railroad name, and have luggage tags on them too with my name and address.

I've found that while I pack the boxes (I use 2) with care at home, repacking them in a hurry after dismantling the modules is another manner. Often I couldn't get the models back in the box the way I originally packed them, as I don't always take the same ones. So now I tape a sketch in the inside top of the toolbox, showing what models go where in the box and in the tray. That does help! [:D]

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

The club I belong to made up some carriers out of wood with partitions dividing it into several long channels. Each is lined with a soft shelf lining material you can get from Lowes, ect. The center divider is made out of a 1x6, tapered at each end and has a handle in the center that was made with a router. As the club is heavy into operation, and car forwarding between the club layout and the many home layouts, these are just perfect to transport entire trains to and from layouts. Cheers Mike