Boxes?

@Bill at the Beach posted:

Hello everyone!  I’m in the process of relocating my downstairs, small, train room to an upstairs room with nearly unlimited space! My downstairs “train closet” is half full of the original boxes of my O scale engines and rolling stock. I understand that, if sold, they are worth more in the original boxes. However. I don’t see me selling anything in the foreseeable future, so, should I keep/transport the boxes or not?  Many thanks. Oh. And if you’re REALLY bored, you can listen to our podcast: On the Track-Myrtle Beach on Spotify or Apple. Thx again!

Just half full?  You're not fooling anyone with that "half full" talk.

I am not a box person but I have them and they take up too much space. I would save the locomotive boxes if you cannot decide.

@Bill at the Beach posted:

Hello everyone!  I’m in the process of relocating my downstairs, small, train room to an upstairs room with nearly unlimited space! My downstairs “train closet” is half full of the original boxes of my O scale engines and rolling stock. I understand that, if sold, they are worth more in the original boxes. However. I don’t see me selling anything in the foreseeable future, so, should I keep/transport the boxes or not?  Many thanks. Oh. And if you’re REALLY bored, you can listen to our podcast: On the Track-Myrtle Beach on Spotify or Apple. Thx again!

Bill if you’re getting more space keep the boxes. I know your problem I also live in Myrtle Beach. If you would contact me through my email which is in my profile I would like to know about your podcast and maybe we could meet up.

Sounds like you are trying to convince yourself to throw the boxes out.  Doing so will definitely decrease the resale value of your trains, and it will make it more difficult to store/ship/move them.  But you already know that.

I keep all my boxes.  I've also had trains that I said I would never sell and I ended up doing so. 

I keep all boxes. The foreseeable future comes sooner than later. I had at least 100 pieces of rolling stock that I did not care to have anymore. I got a couple of tables at a local train show and unloaded every one of them. Of course the price was good. Displayed in the original box was certainly a plus.

Good thoughts. Thanks!

Thanks for our your thoughtful replies. And yes. I WAS trying to convince myself to toss the boxes for space considerations!  However. The majority seems in favor of keeping them. Thanks so much everyone. And. Happy Octoberfest!!!

I keep all my boxes. I am fortunate to have a 6x30 storeroom. All are in plastic containers. Each container has a QR code, so I keep track of the boxes. It comes in handy as I send stuff for auction. I use the Tote Scan app to do this.

About 4 years ago, I realized that I have so much stuff, that I should pare down my collection. I was real happy that I kept my boxes. It really does add to the value.

Peter

Just as I thought!  Thanks so much after overwhelming response to keep them I am planning to do so. Thx!

I agree with Don at minumn I would keep the locomotive boxes. Not for only resale value but if you have to ship or transport the locomotive there is no better then the orginial box. I have all my boxes except some post war stuff in tubs in the loft/ceiling of my shop building.

@Putnam Division posted:

I keep all my boxes. I am fortunate to have a 6x30 storeroom. All are in plastic containers. Each container has a QR code, so I keep track of the boxes. It comes in handy as I send stuff for auction. I use the Tote Scan app to do this.

About 4 years ago, I realized that I have so much stuff, that I should pare down my collection. I was real happy that I kept my boxes. It really does add to the value.

Peter

I do as Peter suggested.......Large plastic storage boxes. I ha a few under my layout, but most in the attic. I have sold some pieces, and the boxes make a significant difference! I kick myself when I come across a piece of rolling stock that I threw the box away early on.

Mike

I no longer have space to keep all the boxes.  I keep locomotive and passenger car set boxes.  I also keep boxes for the expensive stuff like the Rocket Booster Train, and I've kept all the boxes for the Vision Line Ethanol cars and the Vision Line PFE boxcars.  However, plain rolling stock sadly loses their boxes when they come here.

I was drowning in boxes.  After much discussion, my sweetie reminded me that we plan to leave our house feet-first (hopefully not for awhile), and asked if I planned to sell my trains before then (of course not!).  I'm leaving the disposition of my trains either to her, or whoever has the misfortune to find my rotting corpse.  While I understand that a lot of folks don't want to burden their significant other, we agreed about this.   

As a result, I'm thinning the herd of boxes - keeping boxes for rare or valuable items (really very few of these), locomotives (when possible, mostly for transport if needed), or for items I plan to sell (very few of these either).  Giving them away when I can, recycling when I can't.

For most items, I'm willing to take the small hit to the value that the box represents.  Personally, I've never passed on buying an item I wanted just because it didn't have a box, and I've rarely saved more than a few bucks doing so.  (Please note that this applies to modern era boxes, not prewar or postwar.)

If you have the space for boxes, go ahead and keep them, but unless money is no object, don't pay to rent a storage unit for them - IMO, better to spend that money on more trains.  I really like @Putnam Division's use of QR codes, as keeping track of box location is a real challenge.    

I keep all the valuable box's and throw the trains away.

@David Eisinger posted:

I keep all the valuable box's and throw the trains away.

Do you mean like the box for the hopper from the girls train that sold recently for over $2k ($1800 + buyers premium)?  Just the box!

It was easier when the boxes were all cardboard, you could open and flatten them. Now, Styrofoam inserts compound the storage problem.

@Mallard4468 posted:

For most items, I'm willing to take the small hit to the value that the box represents.  Personally, I've never passed on buying an item I wanted just because it didn't have a box, and I've rarely saved more than a few bucks doing so.  (Please note that this applies to modern era boxes, not prewar or postwar.)

I don't own any stuff that would greatly increase in value because of the box, that's my reasoning as well.

@CALNNC posted:

It was easier when the boxes were all cardboard, you could open and flatten them. Now, Styrofoam inserts compound the storage problem.

Agree totally!

Peter

As an update to my earlier post I still collect and operate on a limited basis Post War Lionel but when I purchase any Post War the box is not a factor for me, the condition of the unit is what counts.  I only keep my boxes out off habit from my early Post War days

Another important consideration is recognizing the value of minimizing the "mental clutter" that comes along with reducing the physical clutter. That could well be worth the nominal hit you may be taking in terms of resale value, and may also enhance the quality of life for any significant others that share your living quarters. I really like GRJ's approach, saving them for the higher-ticket items and recycling the others. I know he has posted before about some nifty baseball card storage boxes that work well for storage and transport, should that ever be necessary. Who knows, you may get to enjoy one of your recycled rolling stock boxes again someday with your next take out pizza!

I keep all of my boxes. They help curtail new purchases and remind me that I have plenty of trains already. Also when something new does come in, something must go out to make room.

I know a couple guys who toss the inserts, and unfold / flatten the box so that they take up significantly less storage space.

@H1000 posted:

I keep all of my boxes. They help curtail new purchases and remind me that I have plenty of trains already. Also when something new does come in, something must go out to make room.

...

Tried that - don't ask how well it worked.  You're a unicorn!

@Mallard4468 posted:

Tried that - don't ask how well it worked.  You're a unicorn!

A consultant for the Women's Institute for Financial Education  (WIFE) has some input on the matter!

I originally kept all my boxes. When I moved, it did make the move nice being able to put everything back in the boxes. However, it was a lot of work and it was time consuming. Probably would have been easier to just wrap up the trains and put them in totes.

After I moved and the layout was up, I got rid of all my boxes except for engines, rare items and my tinplate stuff. I had the room to store them but just did not feel the need. Glad they're gone. For newer trains, very little extra value is added for the box.

I need to get my brother in touch with you guys that don't want your boxes.  My Father, around 1950 and a couple of years after that too, bought a War Bonnet 2343 A-A combo that came in a set with some cars.  That set was contained in a bigger box that held it all.

We call it the 'Family Train' because it has been in mine and his possession since our Mother passed away (Dad died before she did).  I had it first.  Spent a lot getting the engine basically rebuilt and getting all of the couplers and trucks in working condition.  I learned how to repair and improve some of the cars, like the operating milk car, and did that to the best of my ability.

My brother just this year is now in possession of it all.  He has made it his mission to get each piece restored to perfect condition. He researched the 1950 Lionel catalogue and he also added cars from that catalogue.  He also is on a mission to find ORIGINAL boxes for each item, including the big box that held the original set.  He has spent a lot of time and money finding those boxes.  Had some success but can't find 1 or 2 and has searched high and low for the big box with no luck.

So boxes DO mean something important to some.  If you think you have some of these boxes and want to unload them, email me with what you have and I'll let my brother know.  The BIG BOX is the ultimate prize.

- walt

I ditched the boxes for my buildings but kept everything else. That worked out really well with our move to our new home.
Chris

P&O

This topic comes up several times a year. The answer resides in just how much of a collector you are vs. a model railroader and the balance between them that you occupy.  Available space figures in to some extent.  I keep my brass in the boxes if they exist. Everything else goes into 4"x4"x10"(12" or larger) white mailers. When I do sell stuff, folks are surprised that I supply the rolling stock in any boxes at all. I doubt I'll worry about this after my demise.

Bill, it sounds like you're moving out of the spare bedroom into a bonus room over the garage.  When we moved to Myrtle Beach I was really hoping for one of those bonus rooms but things didn't work out that way so I'm stuck in the spare bedroom.  Since the plan had always been for a larger train room I've got ore trains, buildings and accessories than I do layout space.  Most rolling stock is stored on a shelf around the top of the garage, in individual boxes within the moving boxes they came from New York in.  All engines and any rolling stock with electronics as well as building and accessories are on display shelves in the train room and the empty boxes are in the storage space above the garage.  Space is at a premium for those of us that live in areas where basements are few and far between but in my case having the boxes makes storage easier for the rolling stock not on the layout.  If I had the space to display everything I would probably dispose of the rolling stock boxes, the baseball card boxes @gunrunnerjohn has posted about before would make easy replacements if you sold anything or had to move again, and accessory boxes while keeping engine boxes to make transport easier if required.

Like @poconotrain has said, I too am located in Myrtle Beach, email in my profile, we should try to get together.

Our club received a donation of trains in a musty basement. My predonaton mind kicked in expecting a box of junk. I was pleasantly surprised to find every model unopened and still in their  shipping box including a Z4000! We took what we wanted and are storing the remainder in my garage for the auctioneer. Whatever we get we are giving to the daughter as she has been super.

@DMASSO posted:

I am not a box person but I have them and they take up too much space. I would save the locomotive boxes if you cannot decide.

I only keep engine boxes (in case I have to mail them somewhere, like for weathering or repair) and ditch the rest. I then weather my rolling stock which kills their "value" anyways.

"Bill At The Beach"? Just how far are you from/above that "beach"?

As many have pointed out, keeping and storing the boxes can be a chore space-wise for sure, but in my view, the perception of "added value" of an item in the original box has some truth to it.  I solved the majority of my storage issue by using the 1' x 8' plywood off-falls from my 4' x 8' table top pieces (cut to 3' x 8') to make shelves to sit on cut-to-sized 2' x 4's under the table on the basement floor...and the final step was to cover the entire exposed area with fabric skirting, with great help from my wife! 

Can you see any boxes...lol???...  I just wish those lally columns would disappear...lol...

@walt rapp posted:

I need to get my brother in touch with you guys that don't want your boxes.  My Father, around 1950 and a couple of years after that too, bought a War Bonnet 2343 A-A combo that came in a set with some cars.  That set was contained in a bigger box that held it all.

We call it the 'Family Train' because it has been in mine and his possession since our Mother passed away (Dad died before she did).  I had it first.  Spent a lot getting the engine basically rebuilt and getting all of the couplers and trucks in working condition.  I learned how to repair and improve some of the cars, like the operating milk car, and did that to the best of my ability.

My brother just this year is now in possession of it all.  He has made it his mission to get each piece restored to perfect condition. He researched the 1950 Lionel catalogue and he also added cars from that catalogue.  He also is on a mission to find ORIGINAL boxes for each item, including the big box that held the original set.  He has spent a lot of time and money finding those boxes.  Had some success but can't find 1 or 2 and has searched high and low for the big box with no luck.

So boxes DO mean something important to some.  If you think you have some of these boxes and want to unload them, email me with what you have and I'll let my brother know.  The BIG BOX is the ultimate prize.

- walt

Boxes for prewar and postwar Lionel, Flyer, Ives, etc. are the exception.  Some sell for ridiculous prices.  This discussion is primarily focused on the boxes for items that had to cross the ocean to get here.

I have an attic full of boxes....their life expectancy will likely extend past the first move, then the rolling stock boxes will get the ol' heave-ho. I'll keep the engine boxes.

Bob

I save all my boxes and have them on shelves in such a way that I can read what's in the box.

It's a lot easier to dust the boxes than the individual items.

@Putnam_Division posted he uses ToteScan to organize his boxes. I discovered this app about 2 years ago. i had boxes in totes under my layout and boxes in my garage...stuffed anywhere I could find space. I now use ToteScan to not only store boxes, but to organize them and more easily locate any individual item. I was so taken with how it is to use and the benefit to our hobby I posted a "how I use it" video on You tube. The App scans the barcode on boxes and fills in the data (works about 50% of the time); you can add photos and it provides a hardcopy inventory if you want one. 

@Mallard4468 posted:

Boxes for prewar and postwar Lionel, Flyer, Ives, etc. are the exception.  Some sell for ridiculous prices.  This discussion is primarily focused on the boxes for items that had to cross the ocean to get here.

Maybe you need to re-read the opening post.

0 walt

@walt rapp posted:

Maybe you need to re-read the opening post.

0 walt

I did, and it doesn't specify.

Every train person I've ever met assumes that prewar and postwar boxes should be kept.

And we all know what Felix taught us about assumptions.