While preparing to wrap all my trains into bubblewrap in anticipation of moving, I wondered how everyone stores their trains when they are not on the layout. Do you generally use the box the engine or wagon came in, do you have some fancy storage system, some improvised solution or don't you ever separate the trains from the layout?

I usually just keep everything on the layout. Equipment that I'm not using, or are need of repair, are kept on shelves in my workshop.

Right now I store them in the original box, but later they will be on a shelf above the layout.

Loren

I used to store stuff in the original box on the floor beneath my layout. My basement flooded recently. I think that my storage needs are going to be re-evaluated.


Matt

My equipment generally runs on the modular club layout. For those items, I have a series of foam "cradles" that stack in a tool box I use for transporting them back and forth. The rest of the stuff that does not see regular use is kept in original boxes.

Andrew

A few years ago I bought a large tool chest, the kind with drawers in it. Most of the drawers are not very deep so they are ideal for storing cars and loco one deep. The wider drawers hold some locos that are still in the original boxes and some of the smaller drawers I use to hold larger parts like shells and chassis.

Here's a picture of what I'm talking about, I took it over four years ago, but nothing has changed since then except it's been moved around a bit since it is on wheels.

I store mine in the original boxes or in cardboard pop flats..

Because I do all my operating on a club layout, or on the modular layout at shows, I have to be able to quickly assemble and transport "trains". Those pieces that will fit in their original boxes are stored there, with padding and extra support to prevent damage. The stuff that doesn't fit in the original box?, I build new boxes for.
I've taken 30 pieces of rolling stock, and three locomotives, to San Diego on several occasions. They traveled "checked baggage",from O'Hare, and arrived undamaged! Yes, Really!
To conserve space, I have built boxes for multiple cars. Each box has the car's road name, and road number on the label. That helps me pick what cars I want to use, and acts as an "inventory check list", to insure all the cars I took with me, make it home.

I have operated entirely on a modular club layout for the past few years. I hope to join the La Mesa Club at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum and operate on Tehachapie once a week or so in the near future. I have tried various methods of moving my trains to shows and frankly nothing I have tried is really satisfactory. There was an article in Railroad Model Craftsman a few months back about a system using regularly available plastic boxes from a sporting goods store (I think it was Big 5) and making large boxes out of plywood to transport the plastic boxes. I think I'm going to try that system out and see if it works for me.

Russ,

I found a bunch of the "photography case" foam that is semi-performated so you can remove appropriate shapes to custom fit whatever you want to put into it. My foam fits 4 40-foot cars (across) or 3-50 foot (parallel to the long edge). I then stack these into a tool box.

I'll see if I can get you a picture.

Andrew

All the locos live in their original boxes inside a big ally case under the layout and the cars in their boxes in bigger storage plastic boxes need to sort them into types though once the layout is up and running properly, could be time for a clear out of some.

I make my own stackable trays as I need them. They hold 25-30 cars each...

If I am able to join the La Mesa club, i is not unusual for them to run very long trains with a lot of locomotives on the point and even helpers mid-train or pushing on the rear. I want to be able to carry as many cars and locomotives as I might want to run, and having them in a large cabinet that can be strapped in the back of my pick up and roll into the museum just makes sense to me. I also tried the Proto Power West carrying case system, but that thing gets awful heavy to carry if I'm parked any distance from a show! I also forgot to mention that we installed a floating floor from Ikea in out new master bedroom, walk in closet, and dining room. I still have most of a roll of the foam that goes under the flooring to use to wrap up my rolling stock in to protect them.

I have far too much rolling stock to have it on the layout at once.
I have a lot in original boxes but I think they can be damaged if the box is too form fitting or too loose (e.g. Athearn kit boxes).
I found a set of scrap-booking drawers on sale at Costco (6 drawers and a stand) and the drawers are little clamshell cases, a suitable height for OO and HO, about a foot square. Using foam board separators I can get 9 or 10 coaches/locos in a box. When I go out operating I can put a whole moderate train in one box, 2 for a longer train. Most of my stock is now in 4 or these stands.
The empty original boxes are stored in the large plastic storage boxes as is a lot of still unpacked rolling stock

Interesting replies. I also asked because I came across a foam padded case specially designed for trains claimed to hold even 50 to 100 units of train (depending on size). Not sure though, how something like that takes fine detail, as I could imagine that some details might stick to the foam.