Boxes and Storage

[Anonymous]

I am finding that storing all my boxes that kits came in are taking up a lot of space. This goes for rollling stock and buildings. I like to keep the boxes for engines as they are good for transporting because of the factory foam that is formed to fit the specific locomotive. What is the general concensus on keeping Athearn, Roundhouse, etc....I am finding it hard to want to hang on to these boxes as they do take up space..........Just curious......

[Anonymous]

Since you mention Athearn I am going to guess you are in HO. You have to decide if you really want to keep the boxes. They do come in handy if you decide to move and need to pack everything up.
You can get boxes with lids from stores or buy the plastic container tubs with lids. One free source would be Staples or Office Max where they have copy paper boxes. These work well for holding HO car and engine boxes during storage. If you decide to move pack everything into the original box and then repack into the copy paper box.
I am in G scale and have every original box for all 80 cars, 12 engines, track and switches. I store them on shelves under my layout up off of the floor.

[nbrodar]

I keep my rolling stock in their orginal boxes. I then store those boxes in watertight plastic crates, grouped by car type.

Nick

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I get rid of my boxes. I take any cars or locos that I'm not using and wrap them in newspaper, add a label to tell me what it is and put them all in large plastic storage boxes that have their own lid.

[Darth Santa Fe]

One thing you could do is put them in a large cardboard box, put cardboard strips between all the cars (to protect them from eachother), and then put a large piece of cardboard on top for another layer. That might save some space.

One thing I've seen people do at train shows is put the kit boxes in larger boxes, with only the ends of the kit boxes visible. The pattern looks something like this:
_____________
l=l=l=l=l=l=l=l=l
l=l=l=l=l=l=l=l=l
l=l=l=l=l=l=l=l=l

Each l=l is the end of a kit box.

[tomikawaTT]

I keep only those boxes that originally held fully assembled locomotives and have soft foam packing with appropriate cutouts. Kit boxes join the trash stream as soon as the kit is built - most of them are inappropriate for finished models in any event.

For moving and storage, I pack file storage boxes with layers of rolling stock, coupled together in lines. Bottom, sides and ends of the boxes (which are 12" wide, 10" deep and of several different lengths) are lined with pink extruded foam. Layers and lines are separated by pieces of 1/4" foam, known to vinyl siding installers as 'fan-fold underlayment.' Low-profile equipment is padded with paper toweling before the next 'floor' is installed.

Rolling stock packed that way survived eighteen hundred miles in the back of a pickup truck with no noticeable damage. A few items packed in their original, unpadded, boxes suffered damage to axle boxes (4 wheel cars) and trucks. As an added bonus, those plastic file boxes can be recycled to hold other things once the rolling stock can be accommodated on the railroad.

One of them is now being used for household financial files.

Chuck

[Walter Clot]

I keep my cars in their original boxes or other similar size boxes (check boxes, etc.). I keep the car boxes (sorted by road name, area of the country or car type) in the 3 drawer plastic Wal-mart roll around chests. I have 2 plastic tote boxes for traveling to shows. I also have some cardboard "chicken" boxes that I got years ago from Kroger's for show traveling or storing other items, such as building parts. Unfortunately Kroger's doesn't carry that kind of chicken now.

[twcenterprises]

I never chunk my boxes. Currently all my stuff is packed up pending an upcoming move, once my new layout can accomodate some stuff it gets unpacked, but boxes saved just in case. I use several totes and milk crates. Rolling stock was packed with bits and pieces of foam as an added precaution. Some cars had couplers removed. Hope all goes well.

Brad

[jsoderq]

One thing nobody mentioned is the value of the boxes if something happens and your stuff goes up for sale. I know you don't want to think about it, but sooner or later it will happen. After many years of attending live auctions, cars in the original box bring substantially higher prices. It seems on ebay that boxed items sell better than loose stuff.

[PennsyHoosier]

I keep them all. Moving or selling, the original box will come in handy.

[Anonymous]

The answer to my question, has been answered! The value of the car and its original box! I always have had that on my mind! As of right now I do store my empty boxes in a big plastic foot locker like box. I think Iwill go ahead a keep them!

[fsm1000]

I use a drawer in my dresser and pile them in there.
Also I use those 'under the bed' storage units for things as well. That might help you out.
It might sound wierd but putting the 'boxes' inside a bigger box seems to take up less room than if they are left loose.

I hope these things help.