We'd all love to leave our model railroads up and never take them down. Unfortunately for many that is just not an option. Whether you have a seasonal train display that must go into storage every year, have more trains than you can run at one time on your permanent set up, or if you're facing the prospects of having to move your collection, packing the trains so you'll find them in one piece again when you're ready can be a frustrating ordeal.

Original Boxes

In most cases, the best storage for your model trains is the boxes they come in. This packaging is designed to protect the model through shipment and handling over greater distances and through harsher conditions than most of us would ever dream of inflicting upon our models.

There are some drawbacks however.

In some cases, such as model kits, you may not be able to fit the completed model back in the original box. And in some older models, the foam packaging used can actually break down over time and stick to the model itself. This is especially true of brass models from the 1960s - 1970s. (Some companies make replacement foam inserts.)

The boxes themselves also tend to break down with age. Train set boxes that are packed and unpacked every year will fall apart even more quickly. While most collectors will tell you that the original box makes a train more valuable, there are a lot of conditions applied to that. If you intend on saving the box purely to add to the models value over time, it is probably best to store the model separately if you intend on taking it out frequently.

And of course, you want to properly box both the model and the box to keep them in the best condition.

For most of us, that is just not a practical option, or even the goal of having trains in the first place. If you bought your trains for their play value, enjoy them and take care of them the best way possible. In the end, that is a better investment that a special box for the boxes in which they came.

New Packaging

Whether you've lost the original box or just can't use it any more, a new box is your best bet. Here are some tips on packing your trains so they'll stay in the best condition while in storage:

1. Pre-packing Care: Before packing away the trains, give everything a good cleaning. Don't lubricate the trains now however. Excess oil can be more of a problem than a preservative if the trains will be in storage for some time.
2. Wrapping: Wrap the trains in clean white paper towels or tissue paper. You can add additional padding with bubble wrap, foam peanuts or newspaper around the paper if desired. All of those packing materials can leave marks on the plastic and finish of models over a long time, so it is best to use them as a secondary cushion.
3. Marking: Since all cars will look the same once wrapped, it is a good idea to mark the outer towels with notes if necessary. For example, tank cars have most of their fragile details in the center and top of the car - exactly the place you're most likely to grab it. A simple "T" on the paper towel will remind you to handle that car with extra care.
4. Layers: Whenever possible, it's best not to stack trains on top of each other in the box. This is especially true when models have fragile details on top. Models with only cast on details are a little more rugged and you can stack them a few tiers tall if they are individually wrapped. Place heavier cars on the bottom of the pile. Add a sheet or two of bubble wrap in between layers as well.
5. Marking - Again: Once you've packed the box, mark the outside - on all sides and the top - so that you'll know what's inside. It's easy if your whole collection fits in one box. If not, some basic notes like "passenger cars," "locomotives," "coal train," etc. can be a big help down the line when all the boxes start to look alike. If you are moving, be sure to add important words like "fragile," "top of stack only" and up arrows to encourage careful handling and packing.

Now that you've got them packed, where is the best place to store them?