Collapsing empty boxes?

Often thought of this, myself.  However, your parenthetical comment re internal clamshells, molded styrofoam, etc. seems like making an even bigger job of archiving...identifying/matching everything up.  So I've tabled the idea.

I'm leaning more heavily, however, towards the suggestion of many forumites to save only the complete packaging...boxes + cradles...for those items such as locomotives, selected cars/accessories...that might require shipping for service or sale in the foreseeable future.  (A tough decision in itself, I know.)

All others...ditch all the packaging...period.   (Which around here allows for recycling the cardboard boxes.  But, no recycling of the innards!.  (White beaded styrofoam cradles are mostly a 'curse' in the recycling world.  Clear plastic clamshells most often are not designated with the recycling triangle symbol...ergo, not accepted by our waste management folks!) 

Like I said...  Haven't resolved this storage issue,........yet.  But that's the current inclination as access to the grottos beneath the table or evidence of 'feast-by-beast' drives me to more immediate action.

One thing I have resolved, however...   There is absolutely no reasonable rationale for saving an outer box if only to trash the clamshells and cradles within in order to make it "collapsible"!  Makes NO sense to me whatsoever.

Just sayin'....IMHO.

KD

Yeah, I know - eternal problem.  Some past threads saw people renting monthly storage units to store boxes which seems extreme.

John

My take is if what you have is what you run and, say, 99% of everything you have is out on the layout at the same time then getting rid of boxes makes some sense.  Based on the threads and posts to the various OGR Forums it is my impression that the majority of model/toy train enthusiasts have far more than they can put on the layout at the same time.  If that is the case then I don't see any benefit to discarding boxes - particularly the boxes and inserts for recent production since these boxes are specifically built with model protection in mind.

Some people want to keep the boxes, and that’s totally fine, but, I have yet to see a box run down my railroad, so yes, I collapse my boxes, it makes it easier to take them to the recycling center …..😉

Pat

@Craftech posted:

Yeah, I know - eternal problem.  Some past threads saw people renting monthly storage units to store boxes which seems extreme.

John

Now thats putting it nicely!

@Robert S. Butler posted:

Based on the threads and posts to the various OGR Forums it is my impression that the majority of model/toy train enthusiasts have far more than they can put on the layout at the same time.  If that is the case then I don't see any benefit to discarding boxes - particularly the boxes and inserts for recent production since these boxes are specifically built with model protection in mind.

That's what shelves are for.

gunrunnerjohn - so true!   I must admit I envy those of you with the wall space you can dedicate to train displays - for me it is either on the layout or in storage.

Don't see a benefit of collapsing boxes and retaining liners.  Then have two stacks at minimum taking up more space, risk damage to both and as mentioned, create additional task of matching boxes and liners.

What, me worry?

Foam inserts nixes collapsing for me.

Having a basement with open ceiling bays allows me to store scores of empty boxes between the rafters sitting on lath strips fastened to the bottom of the 2 x 12 rafters.

There are various areas in the basement ceiling for different manufactures.

Excess boxes go under the layout.  I frequently turn my stock over so I do not discard boxes.

My county recycling dept. requires ALL boxes to be flattened prior to pick-up.  So it's a no brainer.

I have about 50 flattened extra boxes from the post 1980 that I keep under the layout for storage of things I might buy that don't have a box.

All my pieces that have a box, stay in the box until called for duty.

Pieces with no box stay on the shelves or layout.

I highly value the original box for storage and shipping.  If I buy a modern era item without the box  it has to be at a tremendous discount.

I'm getting ready to move myself 900 miles and I am really glad I kept the boxes.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

That's what shelves are for.

So how to you keep them from getting dusty? I know most train rooms aren't that dusty, but it will accumulate eventually.

My problem right now is should I get rid of the exterior boxes for items that come with a loco and caboose in one box? Each individual item is in a box so why take up space with the styrofoam insert?

@paulp575 posted:

So how to you keep them from getting dusty? I know most train rooms aren't that dusty, but it will accumulate eventually.

Natural weathering.   I also occasionally come by with my air hose and dust them.

I have the boxes stored in closets, under my bed, and in the corner of my bedroom. Three room apartment in NYC; the only good thing is that I have 11-foot ceilings, including in the closets. I've recycled the outer shipping cartons, though.

@paulp575 posted:

So how to you keep them from getting dusty? I know most train rooms aren't that dusty, but it will accumulate eventually.

I keep and store all my empty boxes in plastic tubs that they were packed in for the move to this house and those tubs are in the loft in my out building/shop. The loft was built for the storage of train boxes so when I parked in tat great roundhouse my kids can sort it all out and sell them. Hoping the boxes will bring them a little more at that time cause the wife and I are spending their inheritance so all they will get from me are trains, trains, more trains with a lot of tools and guns.

The previous owner of our house transformed the two-car garage into a game room and installed carpeting, heat, and AC. After a few years of our occupancy, we removed the then-worn-out carpeting and painted the concrete floor. I installed wall shelves along three walls of the garage; one wall for my wife (for yarn stored in plastic bins for crocheting projects), and two walls for trains stored in their original boxes, some empty train boxes with inserts saved inside, and some general household storage.

The benefit of filtered heat and AC vents in the garage keeps the train boxes in excellent condition. If/when I decide to sell an item, buyers expect the original box as part of the deal.  Or no deal.  I recently sold 13 MTH NASA-décor freight cars in their original boxes. Most deals were sold at a higher price than I originally paid because the original boxes (along with styro or clamshell protectors) were provided.

Many hobbyists/collectors store train boxes (full or empty) under the layout; however, I often need navigable access to the underside of the layout for wiring repairs or to create new wiring paths.  In our region (central Arkansas), most subdivision houses were built on a concrete slab; i.e., no basement. Attics are too hot for long-term storage; cardboard will soon decay.

I do not keep the cardboard shipping boxes. I recycle them. If I need a shipping box, I go to the nearby U-Haul store and buy a new right-size box. BTW, USPS provides free PRIORITY MAIL boxes. Their "Shoe Box" sized box is perfect for shipping a boxed train car.

Mike Mottler   LCCA 12394

My opinion is, eventually all the engines and cars will move on to another owner.  I don’t collect per se, so if I buy something, I sell something else in the near future.  I am fussy enough that I want to pack in the original box for safe shipping.  If not, I think the boxes will help my wife and daughters make sure the right car is in the right box and they will know the value upon my demise.   Besides my spreadsheets, I am now putting everything on a database with photographs that will help with identification for them.

@paulp575 posted:

So how to you keep them from getting dusty? I know most train rooms aren't that dusty, but it will accumulate eventually.

I hung a sheet of the thinnest plastic painters film over my shelving areas about 30 years ago.  It's very light weight and easy to reach under to retrieve an item.  It does slightly obstruct the view but I've already seen the stuff for many years.

It's hung with little strips of Velcro so it can be taken down if visitors are coming.  The shelf ends are blocked by stonework in the walls or by wrapping the plastic around the ends.  Things that are critical to protect, stay in their box or in boxes I have made.

I'm not sure how or if I will display any trains in my new location.  The shelves are planned to be 24 in deep from floor to ceiling with 30 inch height per shelf.  The trains will probably retreat into some kind of boxes with dividers like liquor boxes with flaps to keep them from the dust.

I am in the process of helping inventory a friend's trains who passed away this year.  Fortunately he did keep the boxes for almost everything.  I understand the 2 camps but in this case it will help the value a bit.  I keep most of mine as well just because of this.

Keep the boxes - Marty hit the nail on the head - I sold a close friends collection who passed away a couple of years ago - just about everything was boxed - We did fabulous price wise but as importantly the boxes helped to move the trains quickly -  which the family REALLY appreciated

Find a spot and keep your boxes

I too agree with Marty.  Often someone asks me if I have the original box.  They want it, and I think it makes the item worth a few more dollars.

People aren't going to like this response, but I feel that if you don't have enough room to store the boxes and packaging, then you probably have too many trains.

Has anyone had a friend or family member ask to come over and see your collection of train boxes?

Charlie

Just speaking from personal experience, but I won't purchase locomotives without the original packaging. Shipping becomes a major issue for myself, or anyone after me.

I presume this discussion is about the boxes that contain the styrofoam insides and other things in addition to the item(s) themselves.

What about the boxes that MTH uses for their locomotive & caboose sets? Both items are in their own boxes so I'm not seeing any need to keep those generic boxes that most of the time have no info about the specific items contained therein. Sometimes they have a hand written SKU on the box. But generally that's all.

I'm considering throwing those out as the styrofoam inside takes of some valuable space - not that much for each item, but when you add up all those styrofoam pieces, it becomes some space that I could potentially user for related rolling stock ( to keep all the consist pieces in close proximity.

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

Has anyone had a friend or family member ask to come over and see your collection of train boxes?

Charlie

LOL Charlie!

I think my OP ended up a little skewed even though the ''should I or shouldn't I' ' discussion is great.

I was asking if anyone (who keeps them) ever collapsed any of their boxes to save space?

John

@Craftech posted:

I was asking if anyone (who keeps them) ever collapsed any of their boxes to save space?

Well, unless you are talking about older boxes like Lionel post-war, you can't fold them without tossing the internal Styrofoam or plastic holder.  Doing that kinda makes the box useless anyway, what's the point of keeping them?

@Craftech John’s reply shows why I didn’t think of boxes without foam inserts.  Nearly all of mine have them.  However, I just reorganized my boxes last week, putting the smaller car boxes in a big plastic bin.  So, I have the cardboard only boxes separated.  I think it is a great idea to flatten them, now that you brought it to my attention.  I’m going to do that.

@Craftech posted:

I think my OP ended up a little skewed even though the ''should I or shouldn't I' ' discussion is great.  I was asking if anyone (who keeps them) ever collapsed any of their boxes to save space?  John

But John, virtually every product box in the last 35 years has either a styrofoam or custom-molded plastic blister insert.  How would flattening the boxes save space when you would still need these inserts (the same size as the box) to hold/store/ship your trains in the future?

@RadioRon posted:

But John, since virtually every box from products in the last 35 years has either a styrofoam or custom-molded plastic blister insert.  How would flattening the boxes save space when you would still have these custom-made inserts (the same size as the box) to hold/store/ship your trains in the future?

Not all of mine have those.  Also, some of the plastic folds as well.

John

@Craftech posted:

Not all of mine have those.  Also, some of the plastic folds as well.

John

John, I’m so sorry we didn’t think of the boxes without inserts.  The boxes with plastic folds that I can think of only have one plastic fold, so I could fold the opposite corners and leave the plastic flat.  
I think this has been a good discussion!!!

I keep all my boxes.  I put them into large cardboard moving boxes and store them in my attic and under my train board. It's to the point that I'm think about putting shelves in my attic to deal with all the boxes that I've accumulated over the years. I often thought about why I do this, but in the end I just can't get rid of them.

When I was selling at public train shows, the box was an issue about 50% of the time.  At TCA and TTOS shows it was about 85-90% of the time.  The price differential on postwar was 10 - 20%.  The box wasn't expected, so there could be an even higher difference in price with a nice box.  I once sold an empty postwar box for $500. 

With MPC it seemed to be more of a requirement.

With LTI it was a requirement.  Only a huge discount could compensate for no box.

For the OP, yes I flatten unused boxes

Lionel, K-Line  MTH, etc.  I have even printed labels for postwar cars and reused MPC boxes.

But I don't flatten any box that has a matching car or engine

In many cases there are larger boxes to house and protect bulky items like 072 switches

And engines

Things with no box stay in double wall computer hardware boxes or on the shelf behind a detachable plastic film.  This plastic sheeting has been up about 30 yrs now.

If I can't accommodate the box, then I don't buy it or I sell something to make room.

I tend to not flatten my 3rd Rail engine boxes.   Ditto most of the Atlas engine boxes, too.

@willcline64 posted:

I keep all my boxes.  I put them into large cardboard moving boxes and store them in my attic and under my train board. It's to the point that I'm think about putting shelves in my attic to deal with all the boxes that I've accumulated over the years. I often thought about why I do this, but in the end I just can't get rid of them.

Do you find the heat in the attic in the summer an issue?  My attic can get up to 120 degrees.

John

@aussteve posted:

For the OP, yes I flatten unused boxes

What do you do if there is a plastic blister or styrofoam insert?