Atlas Blue Boxes (the Empty Ones); What do you do with them?

Save the boxes, you will not be sorry if and when you decide to sell the engines.

First it's something buyers like and most want when buying , it makes it easier to package and ship, and they are really nice boxes.

Rich

It would seem prudent to keep the original boxes anyway, in case the items need to be transported or stored for any [unforeseen] reason. I found space in my attic for surplus items that I might find a use for some day.

Original train boxes would help resale value, if/when the need arises.

Ace posted:

It would seem prudent to keep the original boxes anyway, in case the items need to be transported or stored for any [unforeseen] reason. I found space in my attic for surplus items that I might find a use for some day.

Ditto !

For those who have an unfinished basement, another place to stash boxes, especially the Overland and Sunset boxes is up between the ceiling joists.

All of my freight cars are in replacement boxes from Uline

http://www.uline.com/Product/D...=S-1725&ref=1351

These are uniform in size and stack neatly wherever one chooses.

mwb posted:

All of my freight cars are in replacement boxes from Uline

http://www.uline.com/Product/D...=S-1725&ref=1351

These are uniform in size and stack neatly wherever one chooses.

 

 

Those would certainly work for my engines and other things. Thank you.

I guess my biggest whine about Atlas boxes (which are very nicely made) is that they are so HUGE compared to Weaver or MTH ...

I'm just running out of space and have been creative in storage (some in a small attic space and some up on a shelf between joists) but I am increasingly threatened by the hegemonistic encroachment of various domestic, imperialist forces.

Bill McBride posted:

mwb posted:

All of my freight cars are in replacement boxes from Uline

http://www.uline.com/Product/D...=S-1725&ref=1351

These are uniform in size and stack neatly wherever one chooses.

 

 

Those would certainly work for my engines and other things. Thank you.

These are also available from vendors on eBay selling smaller lot numbers.

I guess my biggest whine about Atlas boxes (which are very nicely made) is that they are so HUGE compared to Weaver or MTH ...

In part, that is why I just trash almost every box and replace them with what is now a standard for me that is very rugged and solid - folks also tend to appreciate these at shows & meets when I do part with cars from my inventory

I'm just running out of space and have been creative in storage (some in a small attic space and some up on a shelf between joists) but I am increasingly threatened by the hegemonistic encroachment of various domestic, imperialist forces.

Under the basement stairwell???

mwb posted:

Bill McBride posted:

mwb posted:

All of my freight cars are in replacement boxes from Uline

http://www.uline.com/Product/D...=S-1725&ref=1351

These are uniform in size and stack neatly wherever one chooses.

 

 

Those would certainly work for my engines and other things. Thank you.

These are also available from vendors on eBay selling smaller lot numbers.

I guess my biggest whine about Atlas boxes (which are very nicely made) is that they are so HUGE compared to Weaver or MTH ...

In part, that is why I just trash almost every box and replace them with what is now a standard for me that is very rugged and solid - folks also tend to appreciate these at shows & meets when I do part with cars from my inventory

I'm just running out of space and have been creative in storage (some in a small attic space and some up on a shelf between joists) but I am increasingly threatened by the hegemonistic encroachment of various domestic, imperialist forces.

Under the basement stairwell???

That area is already full -- and it's not MY stuff. Ha!

My tastes change from time-to-time, so I cannot guarantee to myself that I won't one day sell an item that I felt I couldn't live without when I first had it.  Makes it easier for me to sell.  But another major reason is mortality.  My grandsons aren't into trains as I am (where did I fail??)...and after I'm gone they will have the responsibility to evaluate a price for my collection before final disposition.  The boxes will make it all the easier.  Also, I have more items than will ever fit on the layout.  Need some way to store them between swapping them out on the layout.

Once I get time to get this far down the list of stuff to do, I'll pull all the boxes for trains I'm getting rid of and put all the trains back in em for sale and throw out the rest. I'll keep loco and passenger. At boxes 

Atlas O freight cars are very limited in production and fragile.

Keep the boxes for safe storage and for resale/trade.

If you are not going to keep the boxes, then tell us you are a millionaire that can have Atlas produce any special run for you at any time.

Andrew

I was just sitting in the basement finishing up covering the concrete floor in the layout area with rubber flooring mats from Sam's Club

Not to get off the subject but how are the Sam's rubber mats working out? I'm thinking about doing the same thing on the basement floor.  Are you using the multi color squares?

I'm getting up there so I save all the boxes so my kids can pack this stuff in the original boxes when the house goes up for sale.

If you are not going to keep the boxes, then tell us you are a millionaire that can have Atlas produce any special run for you at any time.

dobermann posted:

I was just sitting in the basement finishing up covering the concrete floor in the layout area with rubber flooring mats from Sam's Club

Not to get off the subject but how are the Sam's rubber mats working out? I'm thinking about doing the same thing on the basement floor.  Are you using the multi color squares?

I'm getting up there so I save all the boxes so my kids can pack this stuff in the original boxes when the house goes up for sale.

I really like them.

I started doing this about 1-1/2 years ago and did it in sections as I had time and the money. These are the multi-colored ones. I put the colored side down because I wanted a uniform floor plus the colored sides are not smooth. They are easy to cut with a utility knife for fitting up to the walls. They make standing easier, help acoustics, and look a lot better than the concrete floor.

I just went through many of my Atlas rolling stock and got rid of the boxes and Styrofoam packing.

They take up too much space. If I were to sell any of the pieces, I can wrap and pack the model more securely in less space than the Atlas box. The model is worth $$$, the box isn't.

I do save boxes for engines, since they weight so much more.

Mine are stored away in the attic inside of...even larger boxes. I discovered the Atlas boxes fit nicely inside of the Large moving box from Lowe's leaving almost no wasted space.  Each moving box has a number written on the outside that corresponds to entries within my database inventory. When it comes time to sell, I will look up the item and know which box to open. 

I do what Chris does, trash all the boxes but for any brand not just Atlas I keep all the Locomotive boxes  the cars are in drawers or on the railroad everything gets used at some stage nothing sits around for to long.

When I go I don't really care what happens to the trains my missus is well covered as far as finance goes, I am not a millionaire either, it's all plastic.

The room is worth more than the trains. Roo.

 .

PRR Man posted:

I just went through many of my Atlas rolling stock and got rid of the boxes and Styrofoam packing.

They take up too much space. If I were to sell any of the pieces, I can wrap and pack the model more securely in less space than the Atlas box. The model is worth $$$, the box isn't.

Exactly so. 

I do save boxes for engines, since they weight so much more.

As do I if the engine had or came with a box - I have many that did not.  I wish that a good solid replacement box was available.  I have also build wood boxes for several of my smaller steam engines that are to a standard of my design so that they can be stored uniformly.

Having helped dispose of a couple of estates (O scale, that is) our experience has shown that buyers do care about boxes for brass cars and locomotives, but are less concerned about boxes for plastic models.  So, if you have the storage space, definitely keep the boxes for brass but don't worry about the plastic.

maint posted:

Save the boxes, you will not be sorry if and when you decide to sell the engines.

First it's something buyers like and most want when buying , it makes it easier to package and ship, and they are really nice boxes.

Rich

 

 

 

what rich said.....its worth repeating......i will not buy anything unless its ob,just the fact nothing  gets broken in shipment....

Good views all around.

I keep engine boxes and only a few rolling stock boxes (generally passenger cars) the rest go, as there is no space. Its either keep the boxes or the layout!

as mentioned, you can always buy boxes when and if you ever need them.

I leave them at the March Meet or my local energy from waste facility, as opposed to landfill.

mwb posted:

If you are not going to keep the boxes, then tell us you are a millionaire that can have Atlas produce any special run for you at any time.

Martin!   You forgot to lock the gate again!