moving !!!!####**** arg

[doctorwayne]

Les, the economical way is often the labour-intensive one.

For your locos and passenger cars, you can make boxes fairly cheaply.  I use fruit boxes, which usually come with separate tops - this helps to make them sturdier than ones with fold-over flaps as tops....



I then use sheet cardboard (appliance stores that do delivery and set-up often have large sheets of flattened corrugated cardboard boxes available for the asking) to make compartmented trays into which the models can be placed.
To make the trays, all that's needed is a utility knife, a straightedge, and a hot glue gun....oh, yeah, and some time.

I usually put the locos into the trays upright...





...using foam sheeting to allow for easy placement or removal.

MoW equipment usually goes into similar trays upright, but minus the foam sheets....



...and each model (or models normally coupled together, such as cranes and boom tenders) have a tray with one side open-able. for easy placement or removal...



Passenger cars go into similar trays within similar boxes, but I usually place them on their sides on a paper towel...



Accurail offers boxes for individual freight cars, but at three for $2.99, it will be an expensive expensive move.

For cars, especially those with fragile details, for which you do have boxes, adding a piece of foam to create a tight fit of the model within its box will keep the car from moving around, thereby protecting the details...



For less-detailed cars, you might get away with using cardboard strips to divide a large box into "aisles" into which the cars could be placed, on their wheels and coupled together.  Add a block of foam or crumpled paper towel to fill-in any excess space in each aisle, as you don't want them to roll back and forth every time you carry the box.
Once the bottom layer of aisles is filled, place a sheet of corrugated cardboard, cut-to-fit the box, over it, then create another layer of aisles, repeating until the box is full.  This operation will go quicker than making trays, and should protect things just fine, unless the box gets dropped.

Structures present their own problems, especially larger ones, as it may be difficult finding boxes large enough.

If your track has been put in place using track nails, and ballasted using white glue, a good soaking with "wet" water will make it easier to take up after removing the nails.  If you've soldered the rail joiners, you can either unsolder them or use a cut-off disc in your Dremel to cut the track into manageable lengths.

I'm sure that others will chime in with some useful suggestions.  If I were a little closer and not quite so busy, I'd drive down with all my ready-made boxes, empty, and give you a hand.  When's moving day?  I may be available by then, and would be pleased to be able to offer some assistance.

Wayne