Train Boxes

@marshelangelo posted:

Gd Morning

Just a General Question hit me this morning;  What is the reason or the purpose of storing and saving your train boxes ?  I asked myself that when it’s becoming increasingly evident that I’m running out of space.  Just a Question - MARSHELANGELO 

First, you might try the SEARCH feature, has this has been discussed many, MANY times.

Second, I only saved boxes from locomotives and passenger cars (plus boxes for the 2-Rail scale freight cars, mostly brass). All the rest of the boxes went in the trash, and the various cars stored in Rubber Maid tubs, when not on the layout.

If/when the times comes to sell, the original box will offer the best protection from shipping damage since the foam or plastic cradles are form-fitting which minimizes any movement when in transit. Also, the original box, especially in the case of locomotives, will add slightly to its resale value.

Having said that, I pitched all of my rolling stock boxes (mostly Atlas) since they took up too much room. Now I keep only the boxes for the locomotives. 

As of now, I don't have any plans on selling anything or moving.

Greg, this question comes up periodically. You are right about taking up space. I have always kept the boxes along with the original shipping cartons. In my opinion, even though it can be a pain to keep putting them away I feel it keeps them from becoming damaged left out of boxes. Also down the road if by chance you want to sell an item the box and carton will possibly get you a better price but also protect the item better when you might have to ship it...... Paul 2

Yea, right now, I do have a place to store 1/10 of the boxes in a secure environment and the rest will remain under the layout and I have no intention on selling or moving so, I guess I’ll start with track and accessories boxes and see how that looks. 

To me, if you are in any way  a collector, it is not close to being debatable-keep the boxes. 1)Clearly for PW , but I think for all eras, trains in their original boxes are either essential or increase the value substantially; 2)boxes help protect the trains-I can't imagine wrapping a 6464 solid shield Rutland in some paper towel; and, 3) it helps the collector store his/her trains in an orderly, accessible way-so, for example, all the PW 6464s are on one self, MPC 9200s another, PW/ MPC/modern Lionel&MTH FMs another, etc. I agree that space becomes an issue-but it, for me, has made my hoarding at least somewhat orderly!  Finally-remember that there are still a few knowledgeable collectors out there in our train world who focus primarily on boxes only. Reviewing multiple e-bay listings has not convinced me that club car shipping cartons significantly increases value/cost-but I would think that some debate about that is worthwhile. 

I keep all of my boxes and store them under the layout.  I do not sell that often, but my fear is the day I throw them out, my Wife will tell me we're moving.

When I depart this life and someone must decide what to do with all that "stuff" at least they will have boxes to help identify what things are, some approximate values and a method of shipping if they want to sell it all.

I forget who on the OGR forum had the quote... but it went something like, "My fear when I die is my Wife will sell all of my trains for what I told her I paid for them".

Have Fun!

Ron

I keep the boxes cause it’s much easier to keep the items not on the layout placed on shelves for future use. I switch things around often. 

I keep them all.

Hey Guys, thanks for the input, as I said before, I’ll probably get rid of track boxes and small accessory boxes. Somehow it’ll all work out in the mix, until then it’s time to climb the stairs and put these boxes back where they were before the layout was built. Thanks again for your input.  -  MARSHELANGELO 

Topic comes up weekly?

Boxes for brass get saved; everything else gets put into 4x4x12 (or larger) boxes from ULine or equivalent - standardization of 2 dimensions makes storage better with end labels applied.

@marshelangelo posted:

Gd Morning

Just a General Question hit me this morning;  What is the reason or the purpose of storing and saving your train boxes ?  I asked myself that when it’s becoming increasingly evident that I’m running out of space.  Just a Question - MARSHELANGELO 

...join the club!  

Mark in Oregon

I gave a bunch away, sold others, kept a few high dollar set and rare loco boxes, and had a nice fire for a couple of nights with any junk boxes and all the MPC era is ash too.  (many large 80gal bags full, left in a garage attic since I was a kid, mostly from Gramps stuff and empty... I couldn't give a lot of it away, even free)

Sell a train willingly?.... You guys are funny. 😁

  And I use up all the big heavy bath towels vs paper ones. 

   I did keep half a dozen newer boxes, but mostly because of the foam. I use them as step shelving in some cabnets vs 2x4s etc.. The logos behind each level of locos/cars look good too imo.

I built a loft in my out building ceiling and store all my empty boxes and have the tubs numbered with the box location in my inventory spreadsheet that way if I ever need the box I don't have to spend days looking for it. A Little OCD maybe!

I have a separate box room in my house (aka the 4th bedroom).  I am buying separate storage racks, as one should not stack these older boxes to high, for fear of crushing the boxes on the bottom.

As for keeping boxes, I collect ancient trains, so the boxes are a part of the history of the trains and show both packaging, advertising, and in many cases add value to the trains.

The following boxes each date to 1908 and have been with their respective sets since the beginning.  You just cannot replace that history.

And, yes I keep the modern boxes as well (although there are far fewer of them).

NWL

WOW !!

Greg

Your "WOW!!" was the first thing I thought of as well... 

Speaking of "boxes"...this arrived today:

Now this has a proper home... 

Mark in Oregon

Between my trains and my toy cars, I have so many boxes it is scary. Once in a while, I screw up the courage to throw a couple out, but only for track or buildings. Then I feel guilty. This past winter, I actually built a loft in my attic, so I could have more space for my empty boxes. 
 As said already, I like to have them when I sell. I also moved a while back, and I felt much better putting everything back in the correct box.

Aaaahhhh.  One more time!!!

I get rid of mine.  Yes, maybe the trains are worth less when they are sold.  But I don't have to store them (I would have over 600 boxes by now) and what they sell for will not be my problem . . . I'm keeping them until and they are value to me only because of the loco or rolling stock, not the box.