Keep ALL the boxes?

cjack posted:

I'm tempted to just keep the ones for the things that roll on the track, and maybe the heavy stuff like transformers. And get rid of all the boxes for switches, small accessories, track, modules, trees, etc.

What 'cha think?

The ONLY boxes that I have retained are for locomotives (in case I ever have to ship one back for repairs), and fine (brass) passenger, freight and caboose pieces. I also saved one Z4000 box. Everything else has been trashed.

this topic comes up every now and then.

I know some who keep every box they get and even rent a storage place for all the boxes.

me, I am only keeping engines boxes and special run boxes.

everything else is recycled.

I don't keep boxes for track and switches, etc., and other small parts.  But I have for even building and rolling stock kits I have built, and for ready-to-run rolling stock, train set boxes, and train set boxes.

I'm going through the same issue right now.  I have saved every box and it's overwhelming at this point.  I can't decide if I want to keep the boxes for the buildings.    I'm probably going to keep the locomotive boxes and throw out the remaining boxes. 

I don't have room to store boxes.  I recycle all of them with the exception of engine boxes and some expensive passenger cars.   (All of my trains are modern and I run them.)

I have found that it doesn't really matter if you have a box when reselling most items.  The prices are the same (low) whether an item has a box or not.   Boxes do not enhance the value of modern trains or make them easier to sell in my experience.

I recommend that unless  you have a lot of free storage space that you toss the boxes except for engines.

NH Joe

I tend to keep the boxes. Makes it a bit easier to store things in the closet. its stack-able.

I keep them all.  I always put my stuff back in the box when I was a kid.  That's why they still work.  Both my little brothers' stuff was always broke within two weeks.  That's why I keep the boxes.

I agree with keeping only the engine boxes. The standard gauge packaging is HUGE. plus my stuff is all reproduction.

I keep the boxes, to make it easier for my executor when distributing trains to grandchildren,

I keep a lot of my boxes especially the prewar and postwar ones. I like the boxes as it makes storage neat usually. Now I don't have thousands of trains to me what takes a lot of room are set boxes but I have even some of them both modern and postwar and prewar. I like boxes as if you do want to sell it helps the value normally when selling and even thou you still put it in another box if you have to ship them it helps protect them better also. 

Bottom line thou it's really up to you and if you have room or not I have thrown some real big set boxes out just because they where so big and each car and the engine was individually boxed anyway.   

I have all the engine boxes and stuff like the Legacy #990 in the attic in poly-wrap to keep them "fresh".  If I'm storing the engines or cars, I use more compact storage.  One of my favorite storage methods is trading card boxes, you can get multiple bay boxes that will fit a number of cars or engines.

I am dang near buried in empty boxes. Between the trains, toys, diecast cars and my wife's collectibles, we could build a new house with all of the cardboard. I keep telling myself to throw it all out, but I just can't bring myself to do it. Have to admit, they came in real handy when we moved, but the next time we move, I plan to be in the box.

I have kept all my boxes, even a lot of the shipping cartons. Even though it is lot more work to take care of I am just happier keeping my rolling stock and engines in their cartons. Anything else that came in a box gets thrown out..............Paul

I try to keep all boxes, all cartons, all instructions, all parts that belong to cars, engines, and the accessories, just all for the main reason, I think it tends to help in holding some value, and also when shipping to buyers..... When I buy trains from friends that do not have the boxes, it hurts me when I try to sell the items.  One other thing, I keep all boxes in dry, ventilated areas..... Yes, it takes up a lot of space....Luckily, my train table has lots of room underneath, and my garage is well insulated. For sure I would keep all Locomotive cartons and boxes, also all accessory boxes, and cartons. Also all passenger car sets, freight car sets, specialty cars like LCCA and TCA.....You might say, KEEP THE BOXEs....Please be happy and Have a Happy New Year!!!!

Most rolling stock boxes get trashed. 

I keep:

Engines

Cabooses

Passenger Cars

Accessories (buildings)

Anything really fragile or with lots of delicate detail parts I may keep the boxes for. I don't keep boxes for most rolling stock. 

I keep all locomotive, cars, and transformer boxes.   My problem is that I have many boxes. 

I am constantly upgrading.  If something comes out that is better than what I have, I go for it.  Selling the existing version only gets good money if you have the box.   

I'm bad about keeping all my boxes , including shipping cartons for new orders as well.

I'm actually going through them currently (a week) trying to organize, stack, separate  and decide what is necessary to keep.

It's not the first time I have tried this either.

I kinda sorta think you all that keep engine boxes only are probably correct. Now if I could stick to that logic ?????

I just have SO MANY most of you would definitely laugh if you seen them.

Larry

Recent room and layout construction has me thinking twice.  After shuffling and reshuffling then reshuffling again, all these boxes are not held in as high a regard as they once did.  A ceremonial bonfire might mark layout completion.

Bruce

Gentlemen,

    Keep the boxes, we discarded my Father original Tin Plate 263E Work Train boxes, and many of the boxes from my 1959 Northern Pacific work train, now I wish I had them all back to properly house my trains in, when I break down my Christmas layout each year.  Some people save them because they believe it adds value to the trains, we got rid of ours because the old boxes made a trip to Guadalcanal during WWII, and they had something growing on them, my Father & I burnt them in our outdoor fire place in 1950, we then stored his train in a Steamer Trunk wrapped in the original paper that finally degraded and was thrown away thru the years.  The old girl is on constant display at my Brothers home now, in a beautiful long case that I gave him for Christmas one year.  

SAVE THE BOXES

PCRR/Dave

The original Lionel 263E Engine & Tender with the Green Gondola & Red Caboose running properly around my Brothers Christmas Tree, at over 100 years old.

I've had to make several job related relocations and the engine and rolling stock boxes have demonstrated their value each time.  The original boxes keep this stuff safe and damage free till I can get everything unpacked and running.

 Insofar as keeping boxes for accessories, buildings, switches and what have you; I've always tossed them as soon as the item goes on the layout.

Curt

Having bought used "stuff" from Marty above, I will say that the stuff, all in original boxes with the factory dunnage, were perfectly preserved.

I also keep all the boxes, but I will say that the original Lionel prewar boxes probably wouldn't afford much protection now,

I always keep all of my train boxes!!

chessie1971 posted:

I always keep all of my train boxes!!

Ditto, and I have way to many boxes.

I understand keeping boxes, for shipping, storage etc. What I don't understand is people buying and selling empty lionel boxes on ebay for outrageous prices.

If it has wheels and goes on the track, I keep the box.  Track and building boxes all get pitched.  I still have the box for my ZW-C, but it's all taped up as my 2 year old loves to climb and stand on it, so it's a toy.  I kept my Legacy command box because I've already had to send it back for repair, so I keep it to do so again, which it is in need of.

Colt I buy boxes to complete a set but not for outrageous prices and I have seen some think they have the last of the gold to top it like I needed a set box one time but all there was showing was about 2/3 of the box and all tore up and the guy wanted like $400 for it come-on now you have to be out of your mind on that call and I don't care what set. ( the set was for 2356 southern and it's cars ) ( I forget exact set number now) 

If it's a reasonable price and I need a box I will buy it but nothing outrageous.  I understand the ones that don't want to keep them to me it's just a personal preference as it should be with everyone

Not being a "collector" but an "operator", I have yet to find a box that will operate successfully on our layout.

I have saved all of my train boxes.  However, I have discarded the plastic and styrofoam inserts in accessory boxes and flattened the boxes.  Most of the accessory boxes, especially operating accessories, are really large, and take up a  lot of space.   I have never sold any of my train "stuff" but, I can always wrap the accessories in bubble wrap and put them in their original boxes, should I decide to sell any of them. 

George

I'm also facing a current dilemma with boxes. Most of my postwar items have a box. After recently renovating our family room and deciding to forego a layout in favor of display only, I now need to find a new place to store them. 

I've passed the "keep the box mentality" on to my grandson. Maybe it's time to tell him he might want to rethink that.

Started dumping all boxes except engines, and some higher end operating cars/accessories.

I keep them all.

Keep all the boxes for later storage and transport.

If you move from your house or have to rebuild the model railroad, you will need to pack everything back in the boxes.

You might also need the boxes to sell or trade these items.

Andrew

Everyone - please keep ALL boxes. Nothing is more frustrating to me when I am buying anew or used item and the seller did not keep the boxes or the manuals in the boxes. Sellers feel they will never part with the items only to find out later their interests changed or life's moments have changed their direction.Sorry- my $.02

JoeG

It's this simple to me.  No box No sale.  Keep the box and have more possible buyers.

Rick

GNK posted:

I have saved all of my train boxes.  However, I have discarded the plastic and styrofoam inserts in accessory boxes and flattened the boxes.  Most of the accessory boxes, especially operating accessories, are really large, and take up a  lot of space.   I have never sold any of my train "stuff" but, I can always wrap the accessories in bubble wrap and put them in their original boxes, should I decide to sell any of them. 

George

Just keep in mind when and if you do sell anything, that those who are looking for a box are normally interested in the full original packaging for various reasons (collector reasons, or functional). I'm also pretty sure I've read stories here of bubble wrap leaving marks on trains (you can end up with the bubble "pattern" on the surface of the item, I believe)

Also, some items really do depend on the original packaging to be properly protected.  As an example, if you were to sell me an original 12782 Lift bridge, there is no way we would be talking about a deal if you had to ship it to me by wrapping it and it's support pieces (control box, power supply) in peanuts and bubble wrap.  This probably actually applies equally well to other larger bridges (swing, more recent lift bridge, bascule, etc) as well.  (This is sort of immaterial in my case anyway, as I would never want to risk shipping one of those even if properly packaged).  

Similarly,  (but for slightly different reasons) a 12767 Steam Clean and Wheel Grind Shop also benefits from original box and styrofoam packing, IMO (the styrofoam forms for the 3 large pieces that comprise that accessory actually fit together in a well engineered way you will not duplicate by bubble wrapping them).

These are just 2 examples off the top of my head, there may be others that also make sense (coal tipple most likely, and probably others too).

A somewhat thin cardboard box with a cube of original form fitting styrofoam will survive shipping and/or storage of the item better than a box with the accessory filled with bubble wrap and/or peanuts to make it fit "good enough".

Having said that, some of the recent Lionel packaging I find terrible, and your method might be equivalent there.  The plastic clamshells are fine (IMO) for rolling stock, but for accessories (I've seen it on the recent control tower, burning switch tower, and also the beacon), it's not by far ideal(but I don't have a problem with that method for small items like the little crossing shanty). 

With the recent QC/QA issues (recent may not be the right word, but I'm thinking the last 6-7 years), I've taken to opening everything before leaving the hobby shop with it.  These  new clamshell packages for accessories are much more of a challenge to fit back together properly (at least for those of us born with only 2 hands ).

-Dave

I keep the locomotive boxes and just a few of the rolling stock.

I'm tempted to just keep the ones for the things that roll on the track, and maybe the heavy stuff like transformers. And get rid of all the boxes for switches, small accessories, track, modules, trees, etc.

What 'cha think?

Sounds reasonable to me.
Keeping boxes does enhance the salability of our stuff. This is true of almost anything (not just trains) sold on the secondary market. Many of us don't plan to ever sell our stuff, but things change, and someday, there will be an estate to settle.

I would not go as far as to rent storage for empty boxes.

Followed through today on a past resolution; all the rolling stock and accessories boxes are in the back of my F350 to go to the dump to be recycled.  What a liberating experience and I have room under my layout!  I did keep a few boxes, locomotives, passenger set and some old Lionel set.  Otherwise, they're all going away tomorrow.   I was going to post a picture, but figured it would give some collector a heart attack.

I did save out some plastic sleeves for Lionel boxes, some inner plastic bags for cars, blue satin strips, and some desiccants if anyone would like them. Send me a note and I can send them to you if interested, you pay the shipping.

I keep E V E R Y T H I N G.