How do you store your locomotives and cars?

[Anonymous]

How do you store your locomotives and cars when not on the layout?
Do you keep the boxes that come with your cars etc?
william[:)]

[nbrodar]

I store my rolling stock in the boxes they came in. I store those boxes in 15 gallon plastic crates. The kind with the two piece interlocking top.

I'm not too fussy about padding the cars, but always used the factory padding where ever possible for the locomotivs.

Nick

[Anonymous]

you must have read my mind about asking this question. i woke up wondering about it
guess that translates too i need something better or is there something better??

yes i save the boxes if it came with one . lots of my N scale came from a lionel vendor who put little value on the small trains . thats good for me but no boxes

i also use totes but they are too big to handle and i have arms like a chimp . my totes are way to big
then inside i use plastic clear sectioned boxes. a bunch of them

i would like to use tackle boxes if i could find some that are section correctly.

i begin unpacking today after 22 years. ill let you know how they fared. fingers are crossed :)

thanks for the great question. best regards . John

[Isambard]

I store freight cars (HO) in the original boxes, passenger cars and steam locomotives in Rubbermaid drawer organizers, all individually wrapped in bubble wrap. These get carried to and from the club in Rubbermaid tubs. Despite much handling I've not had any significant problems.
[:)]

[joeyegarner]

I have some in boxes now. The big misstake I made about 6 years ago is; i left everything out for that long up stairs in my train room. Now this wouldn't be so bad if it weren't out back up stairs in my tool shed. The cats used to spend time there chasing Mice birds and other small animals, I found snake skins bird nests and mice in my tunnels. Of course all these animals knock stuff over and break things, so this is where the repairs started, it took me about 2 weeks to get enough of it running to be able to enjoy it again but that was only the beginning. I've been working now for aprox 2 months and I have finaly made some head way(the amount of repairs and maintenance I done was attrocious). I'm building a new RR in the house now starting any day now. With the wifes approval of course!! Have a good day.

[Anonymous]

I mounted 1/2 inch sheets of painted plywood to the wall and put railrax on these so this is how i store my g and o guage.

[Anonymous]

i have a open wire shelf that keeps all of the loco's in boxes and i bubble wrap the freight cars.

[rolleiman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by nbrodar

I store my rolling stock in the boxes they came in. I store those boxes in 15 gallon plastic crates. The kind with the two piece interlocking top.

I'm not too fussy about padding the cars, but always used the factory padding where ever possible for the locomotivs.

Nick

Exactly the same way.... now that is... Use to store them in cardbard boxes, wrapped in padding such as packing tissue paper (the kind used for gift wrapping) to keep them from sliding around in the boxes, until I had a flood one day.. During a huge thunderstorm, the city drain control quit working and EVERYONES basements flooded.. Wouldn't have happened but somebody was asleep at the switch. I only got about 9 inches of water so most stuff was okay but anything within that 9 inches was completely soaked (didn't smell very pleasant either). The tissue paper had also soaked and became a real chore to remove.. I was able to save most of it but had to repalce all the couplers, wheels, weights... The boxes were trashed. On the upside of that, everything else that was near the floor, you know, the I'll get to it or need it someday pile of stuff, all finally made it out to the trash.. The trash pickers had a ball that week..

Jeff

[tatans]

On my layout, of course, where else??? in boxes?? in the closet?? that's why I have a layout.

[trainboyH16-44]

I put them on flextrack on shelves to display them without much expense.
Matthew

[selector]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tatans

On my layout, of course, where else??? in boxes?? in the closet?? that's why I have a layout.

Yup-perrr!! When I have to start putting things away, that is my signal to get a grip on my spending. What does not fit on my layout is unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

First, why do I have more cars and locos than can fit on my layout? (1) I model three different roads - all correct for the modelled region - and have a complete set of motive power for each so at any given time, two sets are not in use (also means swapping out cars like hoppers and passenger that would be home-road only); (2) my staging is insufficient to house all the "through" trains.

I keep the steam locomotives (about 85% of my motive power, I have diesel power for only one of the roads) in attractive wall-mounted shelving with glass doors. I have three home-made wooden cabinets mounted on wheels for the handful of diesels and the excess freight cars.

Having said all that, i've realized as my operations become more realistic that I still have an excess of rolling stock. Need to sell of some of it.

[Anonymous]

well after many too many years i unpacked today and all is well. not even the dreaded roach.
so totes and divided polyethylene boxes worked well.

unpacking trains from the past add years to ones future .

[Rotorranch]

I store mine in the original boxes, when available, and keep the boxes stacked in plastic milk crate type storage units stacked up against one wall. This is temporary, as the crates will go under the layout, leaving that wall open for railroad expansion. I built the layout on short 24 inch or so legs, since The Kid was only 3 years old then, so it was at his sight level. He's about to turn 14 now, so it's time to raise the layout up to a more normal level.

For the equipment without boxes, some are stored in soft drink "flats" on top of the crates. I recently bought about 75 new Atearn boxes in various sizes, and I'm printing identification labels and putting the homeless cars into those now.

Rotor

[nbrodar]

Yes, Yes.

Labels are a must. Many of my Athearn and Roundhouse boxes are so old the printing has faded off. I use MS Word and ink jet address labels. Normally, I put one one the end and one on the top. I also put a list in the crate, with that crates contents.

Nick

[waltersrails]

I usally store my cars back in there boxes or leave them out on the selves above my layout.

[Anonymous]

I store mine in original boxes. If they don't have their original box, I either keep it on the layout, sell it(If it is not desired much), or find an old Athearn BB box to put it in. I store it all on a shelf and under the layout.

[Anonymous]

I built a wall cabinet with mulitable shelving, w/track and sliding glass doors. Helps keep dust and fingers off while still being able to enjoy looking at them.

Bob

[back_pack]

I use Rubbermaid interlocking shelf units under the layout. The shelves can be found at Staples, Office Max, etc, and are about 10"x13" which holds 5 50' cars or 8 40' cars in each bin. They are also modular and stack up very well. Mine are about 4 feet tall, with about 12 shelves per stack. I lay the cars on their sides on top of a cushion material like felt or sweatshirt-cloth inside each drawer (don't use foam cupboard shelf padding, as it WILL stick to the paint on some freight cars if it gets warm). The cars are arranged by car type and then alphabetically by reporting marks.

My layout is small (6x12), but has a large variety of traffic sources, so I need more cars then I can keep on the layout, but they have to be readily accessible. Each 4-drawer unit costs about $11.00.

I have seen a great idea of using an architectural flat-file to store cars. They can be as big as 40"x36" with 20 drawers, which will store A LOT of cars!

[selector]

QUOTE: Originally posted by John Hall

unpacking trains from the past add years to ones future .

Well said, John.

I am happy to hear that you found them in good condition. Enjoy!!

[Rotorranch]

QUOTE: Originally posted by uspscsx

I store mine in original boxes. If they don't have their original box, I either keep it on the layout, sell it(If it is not desired much), or find an old Athearn BB box to put it in. I store it all on a shelf and under the layout.

Athearn sells the boxes seperately. I just bought a bunch for my "Homeless Equipment". I'd be glad to get you some if you need them!

Rotor

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rails5
I model three different roads - all correct for the modelled region - and have a complete set of motive power for each so at any given time, two sets are not in use (also means swapping out cars like hoppers and passenger that would be home-road only);

I thought I was the only one that did that. What is your region and road names? I have equipment for the middle of Kansas scenery with AT&SF, Rock Island, Mopac, and Frisco. Additionally I have equipment for three AT&SF time periods, and two MP times.