Storing rolling stock? What, how, where?

[bsoplinger]

I loved the High Iron boxes but they don't seem to be available anymore.

Most of the other box solutions start from a HO sized box then do something to make it N-scale, but the box is still over 2 feet long. I want something that can be carried without worrying about going through doors and up steps, etc.

The Deluxe unitpak seems to be the best option out there and they work out to be quite a bit more expensive than the high iron boxes which I loved.

So what do you folks use? Or just store everything on the staging yard and never take anything anywhere?  :

[3rdrail]

Since there's no Ntrack near me, I don't usually move that many cars and locos. I keep everything in jewel boxes and can easily fit a train and several spare locomotives in my old briefcase from work. I also have a plastic blanket storage box I can use.

[wm3798]

I don't do N trak, but when I have occasion to tote a coal drag to John's, I use a couple of envelope boxes and separate layers of cars with 1/4" foam air conditioner filters.  I like the protection that jewel boxes afford, but it takes so bloody long to play Memory Game matching cars to boxes.  With the layers, I just stack 'em till they don't fit no' mo'.  The foam does a great job of keeping things from shifting around, too.

At home, I have one of those Sterilite rolling drawer things.  I use the same a/c filter foam to protect the cars when they're stored in there, too.
Lee

[Denver Road Doug]

Here's my storage plan:
1. TrainBoxesPlus - I purchased one of these about a year ago to have a place to put my general freight cars.  (basically everything but unit trains)  So far I've been really impressed by them and soon bought another.  Each n-scale version has three trays, with three compartments in each tray with foam inserts available in two configurations.  One insert has two more spacious channels in which to place taller cars laying on their side, while the other has three channels that are useful for placing cars upright or for flats or gons.  I also use this latter configuration for containers. As of now, the two I own hold all of my freight car and container/trailer fleet except for my unit trains and my DI articulated intermodals which are still currently in their original boxes although will probably move to a TBP box when I buy another one.  These boxes are 6.25"x31.5"x14" and will hold between 110-140 50-60ft cars depending on the insert configuration. $35 at the shows, a little more to ship. ~$.25/car.
2. High Iron - I have about 9-10 high iron boxes holding all my unit train cars plus a few specialty cars like Centerbeams.  I really liked the H.I. boxes to start with, but now I'm only lukewarm about them.  Mine have started to come apart in places, which can probably be fixed pretty easily, but still kinda disappointing.  I am considering moving to TrainBoxesPlus for all my cars but I'm gonna try to do some minor rapairs on the H.I. boxes first. 3.25"x13"x12.5" and will hold ~32 50' cars.  $17 but OOP as far as I know. ~$.50/car.
3. Deluxe UnitPak - I have a couple of these by default because that is what the Roadrailers I bought came in.  They are actually a pretty good system and are highly customizable give the cutouts and foam chunks provided. 1.5"x11.25"x11.25" and will hold around 10-12 50-60' cars. $10. ~$1/car.
4. Avery 5960 Laser Printer Label Boxes - I get these from work for free and use them to hold all my locomotives, which are the only items I have that stay in their jewel cases.  2"x9"x11.5" and will hold 9 Kato or 6 Atlas cases.  (I'm actually looking for an alternative for my Atlas locos.  I'm told it's best to store locos "wheels down" and the Kato's fit in these boxes that way, but I have to lay the Atlas-es on their side.) Free.

I started buying the H.I. boxes when I was in a club and figured out real quick the jewel cases had to go.  Now, it's just a matter of quick access to the cars and a little more compact storage solution.

[Ryan87]

I use these, with bubble wrap between the layers of cars.

http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/product/product.jhtml?prodId=HPProd260059

- Their cheap
- Easily available at Wallmart, Zellers Target...
- They can hold approx 96 50' boxcars (3 rows across)
- Damage is minimal (I've never broken a car in transport)

[Hyperion]

I've got one of the TrainBoxesPlus boxes.  Can't say enough good things about it.  It's survived at least 6 moves now and looks as good as they day I bought it (except for tape marks -- see my below comment).  It's extremely well-built (it could probaby support my weight if I stood on the edges), holds a lot of cars (probably 60-150 depending on their size), and I dare say it would be near impossible actually hurt the cars without causing some sort of catastropic damage to the box -- like running it over with a truck.  Twice now it's been dropped by movers from over 4-feet.  The box isn't dented and the cars barely move.

The only negative thing I'd say about it, is that there's no means of securing the lid.  I'd love some of the tie-downs like you see on Inter-Office envelopes.  So, when moving, you have to actually tape the lid down to protect what's inside.  Which means the box doesn't look so good once you remove the tape.

EDIT:  Just happened to check their website and they're having a 20% off sale.  For $63 you can get their "Super" box which has a total of 1512 inches of storage space.  Enough to store over 20,000 scale feet of train.

[DKS]

At home, I have one of those Sterilite rolling drawer things.  I use the same a/c filter foam to protect the cars when they're stored in there, too.

I pretty much do what Lee does. I just use different foam.

[engineshop]

I got a cardboard box from the Container Store and their 3-Part Convoluted Foam pieces that are designed for photo camera cases. The little squares a pre-cut and you just have to pull them out. I glue the foam with Gorilla Glue on a sturdy cardboard piece.

http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?referringProduct=61536&referringCategory=231&PRODID=61244&CATID=268

It is not really cheap but you can make it fit the model. I only used them for models that did not come with a jewel cases.



This box fits 4 layers.

[CoalPorter]

I got a bunch of  keyboard boxes from work that are great for n scale.

[bsoplinger]

I got a cardboard box from the Container Store and their 3-Part Convoluted Foam pieces that are designed for photo camera cases. The little squares a pre-cut and you just have to pull them out. I glue the foam with Gorilla Glue on a sturdy cardboard piece.

That seems to be a reasonable solution, sizewise it looks close to the high iron boxes which I really like. I didn't see the box on their website though, do you have what model number the box is?

[bobcat]

I got a cardboard box from the Container Store and their 3-Part Convoluted Foam pieces that are designed for photo camera cases. The little squares a pre-cut and you just have to pull them out. I glue the foam with Gorilla Glue on a sturdy cardboard piece.

That seems to be a reasonable solution, sizewise it looks close to the high iron boxes which I really like. I didn't see the box on their website though, do you have what model number the box is?

It does look alot like the High Iron boxes, but I couldn't find it either.

Those TrainBoxesPlus look like something that would work for me too. I have never seen them before.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I have a really great method of storing my stuff, pioneered by my dad a while ago.

We use these little boxes (thanks dollar store!) like product 1774
http://sterilite.com/Category.html?Section=Storage&ProductCategory=43#

We then made trays out of posterboard to sit inside them. We get 3 trays per box. Each tray is differently sized to fit in a specific order (to get the max space out of them, since they're tapered).

These work well to hold the rolling stock. But then, when it comes time for a show, where I need to take the whole shebang, I stack them in a piece of rolling luggage (they fit perfectly, with some room left over for purchases) and go on my merry way. This luggage doubles as regular luggage when I'm not using it for this purpose, but makes moving the collection around very easy.


Mine is blue like this, first it makes it easy to spot (in a show, or on a baggage carousel), and second, you know I've gotta represent big blue...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh, by the way, if anyone is looking for a high iron substitute, someone in my NTRAK club is looking to do a group buy of a similar product. If you're interested, pm me and I'll pass on his info.

[engineshop]

I got a cardboard box from the Container Store and their 3-Part Convoluted Foam pieces that are designed for photo camera cases. The little squares a pre-cut and you just have to pull them out. I glue the foam with Gorilla Glue on a sturdy cardboard piece.

That seems to be a reasonable solution, sizewise it looks close to the high iron boxes which I really like. I didn't see the box on their website though, do you have what model number the box is?

I could not find it on their web site either. The box has the bar code number 4 00100 09462 4 and has no name except the blue Container Store logo.

[wcfn100]

I had designed this about ten years ago but never relly followed through.




The foam is die cut with adhesive on the back side.  The tray in the photo is just a hardboard.  It's designed to fit into a standard bankers box.  I am able to get 180-200 40' cars into a single box.  The layout is all done by the consumer and can be fully customized to fit even the most odd shaped car.  I never liked the fact I didn't have a backing to protect from scratching the cars and to make those by hand is too much work.  I had looked at applying foam to the board, but again, way too much work plus the foam I could get at the time was all undersized to the tray. I also don't know how it'll work now with IM cars with their oversized freestanding details.  

If I ever follow up, I need to make aother die that will cut the tray after foam has been applied.



Jason