Temporary Storage

Wrap in tissue paper, then bubble wrap , pack securely in good strong boxes or plastic totes

Remove any batteries.  Make a list of the items in each box and either put a unique number on each box or an alpha-numberic designation on each box.  John

Intended 3 month storage has a way of lasting longer than expected.  Dont ask how I know this (decades are involved)

Consider wrapping in acid free paper (Amazon)

What john said about inventory.  Guaranteed that you will want to find a specific item

Bill

For items that don't have boxes, use 850 card baseball card storage boxes.  These are big enough for most traditional sized trains.  Alco diesels will fit but 6414 Auto Loaders won't.

Twenty four years ago I sadly took down my large N-scale operations layout.   Locos were all put back in their original cases, same with much of the rolling stock, the rest was wrapped and boxed, as were structures.  Where I failed to keep good track of things was detail parts, tools, those extra scenery items.   All my Lionel was already boxed so I had no worries there.

So we moved to a new house and a new job which kept me traveling for the next ten years until I was finally retired.  Never intended to stay in this house more than a few years, but after retiring we started traveling around this country and it was great. (how long does it take to drive from NC to Oregon and back?  3 or 4 months).

Skip forward another ten years (wife is ill so travel is finished) and I really want to run trains again.   Carpet running Lionel fastrak in the big room, expanded down the hallway to the extra bedroom with a side loop running through the master bedroom.   Some new engines, new cars, new Legacy controls and I'm having a blast with the grandkids, but that is just running trains and I want to do some operations.   With my cataracts removed I can now see again so it's unboxing time.  Been some months now, I've tested and performed a lot of loco maintenance, put up a test track with reasonable switching layout, even scratch built a few new structures and kits that I had acquired long ago.  Also had to remove the Lionel from the hallway and bedrooms (at least until next year).

Summary:   I really wished I had taken the time to inventory and label everything in more detail.   Still haven't found some of my track tools, paints (probably not good anyway) and for the life of me I have no idea what happened to those boxes of tubular track.   And now, I'm looking to move again, this time a single story house which must have space for permanent train room.   

Mike in NC,

@ogaugenut posted:

Intended 3 month storage has a way of lasting longer than expected.  Dont ask how I know this (decades are involved)

Bill

It's rough to justify messing with trains instead of everything else that has to be done when you move (unless you live alone)

John

I imagine the pod is sealed so nothing can leak in (I've never used one).  When I put important stuff in a climate-controlled storage unit I always put 2x4s on the floor to lift the boxes/whatever off the floor.  Nothing in my unit touches the floor.  You never know who you'll have for a neighbor.

Would some Damp Rid moisture absorber also be helpful?

I am on my fifth house and I've always moved myself.  The last move I used a POD and I HIGHLY recommend that!  So much better than dealing with renting a truck and using a storage facility.  Almost half my POD was filled with trains!

Anyway, I used a bunch of the plastic tubs for my trains.  I used rags or old clothes/towels and each piece was wrapped securely.  I experienced no damage.  I also labeled everything.

Best of luck!

For boxed stuff, I just took pictures of the ends before I packed the box.  I printed the pictures and stuck them to the outside of the boxes.  I also numbered the boxes and photos in case the pictures got damaged or removed.

For unboxed stuff I did what others have described, I wrapped them in old towels and used plastic tubs.

One mistake that I made initially and had to go back and change, don't pack a whole bunch of locomotives in one box!  I had a big box of locomotives packed, I estimate it probably weighted around 100#!  Needless to say, it was not going to be convenient to move!  When it was done, I realized the err in my ways and changed that.

@Former Member posted:

Would some Damp Rid moisture absorber also be helpful?

It's my understanding that this product requires periodic maintenance...empty the water-soaked, add more fresh product.   Ergo...

Would a storage container located in a pod storage facility even be accessible periodically to do such desiccant maintenance??

I have no idea, mind you...just asking...never used Damp Rid or a storage container stacked/located in an off-site facility.  Besides, if the storage facility is hawking HVAC control of its ambient environment, seems like they're trying to minimize the need for such extraordinary measures.

Good topic, though.   Hope we will someday read more on the Forum about the results of this sort of pro-active storage.

I've had stuff stored for years in a climate controlled space, and there was no sign of any moisture damage.  Even stuff stored in our attic at the old house for 10+ years came out just fine.

My storing procedure: Plastic containers in my dry basement, numbered consecutively (to find stuff). I disposed of most boxes (no interest in selling, let my son figure out what to do several decades from now; I do use the powered units boxes and store them separately) and wrap the trains each marked in ordinary, paper school lunch bags. The consecutively numbered containers govern the order I run my trains, starting with #1, going forward. I have over 19 containers, two are empty for future expansion. I discovered you can fit a lot in these containers.  There is minimal movement (IMO the biggest occasion for damage is moving trains from location to location), as my O-gauge layout is also in the basement. I have used this system for years and have no issues with deterioration.  Mark

@rattler21 posted:

Remove any batteries.  Make a list of the items in each box and either put a unique number on each box or an alpha-numberic designation on each box.  John

This exactly what I did and when I was finished I was shocked to find that I had almost 100 tubs full of train stuff. Great way to create an inventory of your collection.

@texgeekboy posted:

I imagine the pod is sealed so nothing can leak in (I've never used one).  When I put important stuff in a climate-controlled storage unit I always put 2x4s on the floor to lift the boxes/whatever off the floor.  Nothing in my unit touches the floor.  You never know who you'll have for a neighbor.

Used Pallets work great for keeping your stuff off the floor allowing air circulation underneath them, also leave a few inches between your stuff and the walls for air circulation in a storage container or basement. If you're putting your stuff in a storage container or box truck for moving, then pack everything tightly so things don't shift around on you.