Wrap

RJR,

Those little packets contain silica. It's supposed to help protect your piece from moisture while in transit. I've never heard of any damage or experienced same. I just toss the little buggers.

If you ask the folks at your neighborhood drug store. They receive the same thing in pill bottles from the drug companies. My pharmacist gives me a bag full every month. All you have to do is ask.

I toss a couple of the fresh packets in each of my train boxes as I run my trains during the month. I started doing this about thirty-years ago. To date none of my one hundred year-old pieces have suffered any new damage. All I can say is, they work plus they're free. 

Those little packets likely contain silica gel, which is hygroscopic (absorbs and retains moisture).

The styrofoam CAN and WILL leave marks on painted surfaces over a period of time!

Plastic bags and soft foam wrap are generally inert. 

My New Lionel ES44ACs had the styrofoam to protect the rails etc but now they wrap it with tissue paper around the styrofoam....

Another point about silica gel is you have to bake it for a few hours to remove moisture to reuse it.  Once it's sat around unsealed for any length of time, putting it into the box is just a placebo, it may make you feel better, but it's not doing any good.

I don't think the OP is talking about the silica gel packs at all.

  --Joe

No, I'm speaking of the clear plastic wrap that's around the rolling stock between it and the styrofoam.  I've had some paint damage to cars that were stored for years.

For that matter, if the plastic wrap weren't there, would the styrofoam rub the paint and damage it?

Styrofoam will stick to the cars if you don't wrap them for long term storage.  I suspect the best thing would be acid-free tissue paper if you can find it.

I agree on acid-free tissue paper if you can find it.  However, the damage is done, with the Chinese early-1990's plastic that Williams used.

I've used food grade plastic bags for years. I punch a few holes so moisture does not get trapped, and do not close the end. Some of my trains have been stored for almost forty years with no ill effect.

RJR,

IMHO You're better off trashing the plastic wrap. You can buy acid-free sheets of wrapping paper to use instead. This will prevent the foam from causing "rubs" on your boxed pieces. I use the acid free paper when I put my trains away. I place it between my trains and the bubble wrap. As most of us know that the bubble wrap can ruin painted surfaces.

You can purchase the acid free sheets of tissue paper at Hobby Lobby, Wal.Mart and most other hobby stores. I usually stock up around the holidays. Most every store that sells holiday wrapping paper will have it.

I was not aware that bubble wrap can cause damage to painted surfaces.  Thanks for that bit of info. 

I'm wondering if at some time over the past 20 years, I had put these cars in the foam without any wrap and the damage was caused by rubbing.????

for that length of time probably.

use puppy piddle pads.

Here's a related question with regards to the "clear" plastic found wrapped around locomotives by mfr's (Lionel, MTH, Atlas, etc.).  The plastic (with logo) used by both Lionel & MTH appears to be made of the same material.  However, Atlas's non-logo'd translucent wrap looks different and feels thicker and has a slippery finish.  Do each of these wraps provide the same safety or does one (Atlas) provide better protection?