Shipping a Postwar Set with Boxes

I like to put plastic bags over my trains before putting them in their individual boxes (original or aftermarket) to prevent box rubs. 

I'd ship them in their original boxes, with packing around the boxes.

If the cars are loose in the individual boxes, I'd put a little packing in the box too.

C W Burfle posted:

I like to put plastic bags over my trains before putting them in their individual boxes (original or aftermarket) to prevent box rubs. 

I'd ship them in their original boxes, with packing around the boxes.

If the cars are loose in the individual boxes, I'd put a little packing in the box too.

Would you worry about bagging the individual boxes inside the set box as well? 

I pack them separately. I wrap the engine/cars, put foam/paper in the boxes and them put them in a shipping box with packing materials.

Would you worry about bagging the individual boxes inside the set box as well? 


No, I would not.
I see that another poster would ship separately.

If the set is properly packed, there is little to no chance that the trains will burst through the boxes. If they can, then the set isn't packed properly.

Keep in mind that with a big box, such as your set box, there is a good chance it will wind up on the bottom of a stack of boxes, with plenty of weight resting solely on it.
Just recently had a discussion about packing a string instrument for shipment with a buddy.
We talked about reinforcing the box for just that situation. Then his sister came up with a suggestion: use a packing service that insures their work.
That is what he did.
(Might have been a guitar or an upright bass, I forget which. He plays both.)

I agree to put the trains in their original boxes, if the coupler tabs are still there use them! I like to crumble a piece of newspaper and put at each side of each individual box to keep the train from moving inside. Then I use plastic wrap to carefully wrap each box so the flaps cant open. after all is wrapped I pack inside set box as tight as you can and fill any open spaces with more paper or foam. Once filled I use the plastic stretch wrap to wrap the set box. Make sure the big box you use has enough room that you can have protection around every side of the set box. Whatever you are packing should not be touching the sides of your shipping box and it should not be able to move around when shaking your shipping box. If you follow these guides you'll be fine unless of course you get a lunatic postal worker that decides to throw it off the dock or use it as a step ladder! Believe me it has been done. I once shipped a set of passenger cars and the buyer never got them. My tracking showed nothing because these idiots never scanned it so as far as the computer was concerned I only printed up a label  

  I refunded the buyer and took it as a loss. 3 month later to my surprise a totally different box showed up at my front door, I opened it to find my original box soaked in oil! I swear it looked like someone submerged it in a drum of car oil. The shipping box was destroyed and the individual boxes had a good amount of oil damage but the cars themselves were salvageable with a little cleaning. So crazy crap does happen. I contacted the post office and ofcourse No One Knew anything!

I like to double box the original shipper inside of another bigger box with packing.  Make sure each car has packing inside of its original box to prevent movement.  It is a good idea to plastic bag and tie all the original boxes and the original shipper.

Had an almost disaster when the USPS delivered an order in a leaky mail van during a rain storm - the back door would not close and let pure rain into the van; fortunately, Train World had double boxed everything and only the outer box got soaked.  Sent an email of appreciation to Train World.

Double boxing is a good suggestion but the outer box must be twice the size of the box your shipping. There also should be about 5" all around the item your shipping and pack that space with foam peanuts. That space must be packed very tightly. 

Also wrap the item in heavy duty bubble wrap. Make sure you tape the outer box really well. Seal each end of the box to prevent water leakage. 

Finally put a label inside the box with your address and phone number in case the box is damaged.

If you use a label on the outer box, tape it well even if the label is self stick.

Dave

My suggestion would be to box them as YOU would like to receive them. If you think stuffing is needed the add it. If you feel comfortable then you are good to go.

Use a wooden box and pack them securely on the inside.

Mark

Thanks everyone! 

I have to say, I really like the idea of having it professionally packed. This is a rare set, and I don't want to be the reason there is an issue. 

I know UPS offers that service; but, I would inspect their work and the shipping label.

I agree, I think your more equipped to ship then any shipping company

If the set and boxes are in really nice condition, then i would definitely ship the trains separately.  Wrap each car in the white foam sheeting that's sold in 36 wide rolls.  The stuff you see covering the corners of furniture and picture frames on the corners.  Pack all the trains in a super sturdy box. 

For the lionel boxes i would pack them full of crushed newspaper and put them in the setbox if available, if not then in another sturdy box.  If you have the set box then you may have to build a box for it.  If i remember this was a valuable set.  Nice boxes could be worth more than the train

I once shipped an empty setbox from Texas to Georgia for $500 + shipping.  It wasnt anything like a 746 set though.