My rolling stock has exceeded the capacity of my sidings to hold them and am looking for recommendations of wall mounted shelves to store the rest when they're not being used. I'm amazed when watching You Tube videos that some people have complete walls of engines and cars that don't fit on their layouts.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Avoid particle board shelves - they will sag. Some people use aluminum shelves that are designed for trains. They're beautiful but expensive and availability can be an issue.
After trying a couple of other methods, here is what I settled on...
I build mine with a 1/4" plywood back (Luaun is fine) and 1x4 (O gauge) or 1x6 (Standard gauge) shelves and sides. Spacing between shelves is around 5" for O and 6.5" for standard gauge - check the height of the items you want to display and allow room to put your fingers on top. Rip grooves into the shelves for the wheel flanges. Size the unit based on the space available. Glue and screw the pieces together, including screws from the back to keep the shelves from sagging. Straight pine is sufficient unless you want it to look like cabinetry (in which case you'll also want to plug any visible screws). Paint / stain / varnish to your taste - I leave mine unfinished - be sure to let any finish cure fully before placing trains on it. Screw into studs - I wouldn't trust drywall anchors for a shelf full of trains.
Oh, and if you don't have shelves, you don't have enough trains!
The previous two posts are great advice. I space my shelves 6.5". I have just found it easier to store some taller engines and cars. One thing I did on top of what has already been said: I made my shelves 36 -40 inch length and put 1/4" plexiglass doors on the shelving units to cut down on dust. I just bough cheap ebay hinges and magnetic cabinet/desk latches. You can get cut to order plexiglass at most home improvement stores or even online. My 2 nickels...
If you are like me, I have very little carpentry skills. Therefore, I hire someone that builds kitchens and baths to do it.
Depends what you want the final product to look like -- A piece of fine furniture suitable for a McMansion, or functional shelves in your train room/workshop? I went for the latter and am glad I did now that I realize I won't live forever, and they won't be too much for the trash people to pick up along with the trains and other stuff I'll leave behind. I used some 1" x 4" clear pine boards (not the junk from Home Depot), painted industrial grey, screwed some old 027 track (I had painted black) to them, and mounted them with 1" x 3" "L" brackets to the wall. Inexpensive, Easy & Functional.
Great idea, after switching from tubular track to Fastrack I'm sure I have enough 027 straight pieces to accommodate my overflow. Thanks
I really miss your shop Mr Sutter
JPaul,
Thank you for your kind remark. I appreciate it. Unfortunately, my wife and I got old. After thirty years we could no longer go. Thanks again for your kind remark. Please take care and Merry Christmas.
If you want to be functional and not care about presentation you can go the plastic route. It keeps dust off the cars and was handy when we moved.
If it's truly excess rolling stock....sell it off and buy something that's excess.
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
