Easy access train storage 175 cars

Jeff...this is a great idea!!  AND...your layout is really something else...VERY NICE!!  I like the rock work around the perimeter....

 

Thanks,

Alan

Nice idea, well executed!.  I'm trying to think where I could do incorporate that.  I have a glut of rolling stock and locos in fact.

Very nice.

Thanks all. Lee, I still keep my favorite locos in a glass door cabinet close by for a bit more protection from dust and dirt. My niece was moving and thowing out this cabinet so I grabbed it. Works out perfect.

Jeff

 

That looks great, a superb idea. Your layout is beautiful

 

Alex

Jeff, that unit is great!  Did you build it from scratch, or did you buy it somewhere?

 

Andy

super idea!! 

BTW the, layout looks real nice.

I like that unit, great idea.  I may adopt something similar.

Thanks Andy. Scratch built. I used closet door rollers, 4 1. 1/2 inch casters on bottom and 1x2x6 better grade wood so it was straight. I had 2 pieces of 4x8 maple plywood ripped into 4 pieces 2x6 for shelves at Lowes. Very little cutting on my part after that.

I am by no means good at carpentry. I just improvised as I went. I didn't even start with much of a plan in my head. I surprised myself. Drawers roll out very easily considering they are 6 foot long. At first I was just going to slide them in and out without rollers until the hanging closet door rollers caught my eye walking the isles. Total build time was 7 1/2 hours including clean up.

Great idea AND layout!

A very well thought-out system. One suggestion I would make, would be to cut grooves in the base for the wheels. That way the cars wouldn't be able to move around and bump into each other when you move the trays. It's easy to do with either a table saw or a router - or you could even cut the grooves with a circular saw and a straight edge clamped to the workpiece. If the dividers are already glued in, you could make up some straight pieces out of 1/8" plywood or Masonite to hold the flanges in place and glue them to the base. 

I did think of that as I progressed but hit the "just get it done" point. They slide very smoothly so they really don't get bumped around. I will most likely add the strips you mentioned above because I know over long periods of time more and more damage will occur if I don't. I tried old 027 gauge track but it took up too much room. The slits cut with a saw or router would be the way I would go if I did another. I really did not think this out very much, just got the idea on a Saturday morning and banged it out. Right now I have enough space so I can spread them out and they will not bump. But uh-oh...it's York week. LOL.  Thanks for input.

Jeff,  This is very nice solution to a problem we all have.  What is the height of your bench work, i.e. table top level?  What spacing did you use for your drawers?

 

Thanks,  Pat B.

Pat B. My layout platform is 37 1/2 inches from the floor. I could have fit 5 shelves but I thought it best to just buy 2 sheets 4x8 plywood to see how it worked. The top shelf can fit cars 7 1/2 inch high, next shelf 8 inches high, lower shelves 6 inches high.

 

The way it is set up now I can fit 210 cars in a measly 2 foot by 6 foot by 35 inches high. I am thinking of adding another unit under a different layout area that will pull out alongside my chair at my work bench.

 

As I mentioned before I did very little planning I just kind of went for it. In the same 2x6 area if it was planned out better I think I could fit 300 cars. 

Potentially 300 cars..... Impressive.  Now we need for you to focus on boxes. LOL  Thanks, Pat B.