Yes, mostly because I never get around to buying A-Line boxes.
I have always saved the boxes, there is always plenty of room under the layout.
I don't have more rolling stock than the layout design can handle so rotating equipment on and off the layout is not an issue. That is what staging yards are for.
I'm not concerned about resale value, and I have no intention to ever sell anything, and no intention of ever moving again. But after I'm gone, the boxes may be of some use to whoever gets the trains, or wants to get rid of the trains.
I do consider the original boxes a good way to transport or store them if necessary.
I do not lug my trains to clubs, so tote systems and such do not interest me, just one more expense I don't need. Some things won't go back in their original boxes, and other arrangements are then made as needed.
As stated above, I don't concern myself with value, but I do think it is nice to preserve the history of these items, brand, description and prices on boxes, etc. I have a fair amount of stuff from the mid/late 50's and all thru the 60's/70's.
I have brown box, and red/white box Athearn, which predate yellow boxes, that predate blue boxes....... same kind of history with Varney and MDC.
They are all in there boxes right now, as layout contruction is getting under way.
Sheldon
Guess I would have to answer yes since I still own the large box and individual boxes my first HO set came in. Tyco, around 1965.
If the locomotoives and/or rolling stock come in boxes, then yes, I do save the boxes.
If I buy locomotives that don't come with a box, I'll often make a box to suit, but in most cases, the locos are on the layout. The locomotive boxes are useful for transport purposes.Most of my freight cars came with boxes, but I have bought new boxes and/or constructed ones to carry rolling stock items that are related...such as a wreck crane with a boom-tender car....
Freight car boxes are a must, both for storage purposes...
..and for transporting purposes.
For passenger equipment, I use these Mountain Goat boxes that are used for both storage and transport...
...then use cut-up cardboard boxes to create partitioned trays that fit inside the boxes...
Fragile rolling stock that's stored in either their original boxes or in owner-created boxes, often require methods to protect those fragile details. Here are a few examples...
It seems to me that if you own expensive and/or fragile model railroad stuff or similar scratchbuilt items, it's in your best interests to ensure that those items are well cared-for and well-protected.
Wayne
I save all of the boxes from locomotives as well as rolling stock.
One reason is possible future sale. But, another reason is a possible move. The safest way to transport locos and rolling stock is in their original boxes.
Rich
Alton Junction
I agree with Kevin. My locomotives usually get Kadees before they ever feel track beneath their wheels. Most of my rolling stock is kits anyway, and those get couplers, metal wheelsets and weathering. Older engines now have non-OEM decoders I installed.
So, the boxes aren't going to add value.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I do not save any boxes once the model is assembled and painted.
There are better solutions for storage for cars that go on and off the layout. Less used equipment goes into a display case.
I do not even save the boxes for brass steam locomotives. Once they are painted for the SGRR, they have no value anyway.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
For my rolling stock, the answer is almost never. I understand that it adds to resale value if an item is in its original box, but I don't expect to sell much of my rolling stock and when I do, I just take it to my LHS in a cardboard box and they give me a fair price for it.
Locos are another matter. There might come a day when I decide I have too many (if that's possible) and will want to put them up for auction on ebay. Then it might be worth it to save the boxes. I have lots of 1980s Rivarossi steamers that I intend to sell and the boxes are long gone. That will probably affect the sale price. I also have saved the boxes for passenger car sets which also should increase their value should I decide to resell them.
Saving all the rolling stock boxes would require lots of shelf space which is already at a premium in my basement. I have more rolling stock than I can fit on my layout at any one time so I store the excess in Sterlite, 3-drawer, plastic, stackable cabinets and rotate them on and off the layout as I see fit. I see no reason to store the empty boxes as well.