There is no such thing as a military mover, its all contracted. This is one reason why I keep all my jewel cases for everything...I've been through about 15 moves and well, don't matter how well you try to pack, they find a way.
What a horrible sight. I have never used movers that I didn't get something horribly damaged. They always find a way--and for some reason, it's always the things you value the most. It's never an end table you didn't much care for etc.. The only way to keep them from destroying your things is to pack them so tightly in an oversized box that nothing can possibly move, then pack that box inside another box full of packing materials. But of course, they can still hit the box with a wrecking ball or drive over it
Sorry to hear that, I hope you do alright. I had a similar situation about 20 years ago with a private company. Since I packed the item, the people said it was my fault and I had to take them to small claims court. I got the value I paid less deprecation which was about half. I suspect that since yours is a government contract, you might do better than I did.
I think any PCS move that I make I will carry all my hobby stuff in my POV. I guess there is some benefit to not being able to PCS overseas...
This is a Model Railroaders tragedy, I think you have every right to be upset. I can only assume you had the box marked "FRAGILE", and "KEEP RIGHT SIDE UP" It does look as though the top has been removed, was it taped to where the top could not come off ? I will say one thing, and please do not think I am taking sides against you. Someone else mentioned that the Jewel Cases these come in would have prevented a majority of all this damage. That's why in a previous post I stated I liked the KATO Jewel cases best as they offer the most protection. But getting back to the issue at hand, I'd definetly file a case and persue it to its end. Sorry for this happening to you. fatalxsunrider43
I never worked for movers, but I did work on loading docks, as a younger man. FRAGILE= Drop only seven times instead of the required eighteen. DO NOT DROP= Do not drop kick more than fifty feet at a time. THIS SIDE UP= Any side but this one UP. DO NOT STACK MORE THAN FIVE HIGH= Stack at least eight high with a box marked GLASS on the bottom. HANDLE WITH CARE= Be sure that you dump it off the skid at least four times and drop it at least six times, then kick it into place on the shelves. GLASS= Put this box on the bottom and stack boxes of Romex, Bx, or refrigerators on top of it. An alternate interpretation of FRAGILE is 'That Frah-GHEE-lay guy sure leaves his stuff around everywhere'. RATTLE OK= Kick it at least twenty times to make sure that it really rattles, then it is OK. Sorry to learn of your disaster. Having been in the insurance business, you have quite a few hoops through which to jump, yet, and they will try to deny and chisel you the whole way. Perserverance is the Order of the Day.
The Army had private contractors to move our stuff from TX to CT in 2000. We filled a twenty foot trailer. It was locked when it left our house and the same guys that loaded it in TX unloaded it in CT. When we moved, I took everything not glued down off the layout. I built a custom crate for the 4' X 7' layout (international shippers would have been proud). All of the rolling stock, engines, buildings and some supplies went in the car for the ride.
Bad Move! What were you thinking! Never, ever let movers handle, even know of fragiles and valuables other than large mirrors. If they break them- it's a bad relection on them. Otherwise, if your jewels and other precious merchandise arrives as you show- Geez, they packed what you gave them- a well packed box- according to you (as the evidence you will show to the judge/claims company). That box should have been so tight as to not allow any shifting- growth, uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I don't know your situation as far as how far you were moving and if you could have moved that particular box in your own care for the move- but that would have been like jewelry and photos- nobody touches this but me. Sorry, but I've seen a few moves and what goes wrong. Situational awareness. Trust no one and keep vigilance. Oh the humanity- the FP-45s~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yeah, you're peed- You'll be peed at me too but I gotta tell ya- Don't do this again! DO NOT GIVE OVER YOUR VALUABLES/FRAGILE ANYTHING TO A MOVER! That goes to any one moving. Good luck. Mark
Wow... really sad to see this happen to you. While reading your post, I was thinking along the same line as ALHOOP's comments. I know that may seem insensitive, but, unfortunately cardboard is not a particularly rigid packing material... specially when packed full of relatively 'heavy' locomotives. No matter how much foam you put between the locos... the cardboard was likely to flex when picked-up... and perhaps the people handling this box had a slip-up and dropped it. With that much weight it probably bounced everything out of position and if the top came off... the likelyhood is that some of those models hit the floor. I can't say if there really are much better ways to package these items for an overseas trip. Perhaps having the same boxes with the same padding nested 5 deep into several crates with additional padding between the boxes and the crate walls could have prevented this terrible accident. Again... that doesn't guarantee 'butter-fingered' movers from dropping a crate... but perhaps the layers of foam and the rigid crate could have prevented thing from falling out of the boxes. Sorry to see this happen to you.. I have a personal liking for your detailed D&RGW locomotives and it almost feels as if it happened to my collection.
Well, at least you have the remnants! My stuff was packed up and hauled off never to be seen by me again!!
All, I bought the TrainboxesPlus cases, and packed everything really well. The top tray had more vertical play than I realized, even with the top foam in place (removed for photo). The second tray in the same box had another 30 locos in it, including the D&RGW tunnel motor fleet; we all know how delicate those details are. Not a scratch. I'm not sure I buy the "The problem with the foam packing is that it will compress. The weight mass of the locomotives will keep it moving if the shipping box is dropped of slammed against a wall or some other immoveable object." bit, as the second tray was undamaged. Too much vertical play, and not enough "this end up" markings. I suppose I just need more vertical padding. FWIW, this is my 4th PCS, and I have done each with these cases. They have held up remarkably well. At any rate, Brokemoto made me laugh out loud!
I wish I could have handled it myself, but overseas, I couldn't move them myself. I could have shipped them in our airline luggage, and the airline baggage handlers (I have seen them work) scared me. I think I wuld have done better with them.
Hey hemi give me a call if you need anything. I got a few of my tools here and a inverter I can bring out if you need it. This is why I hand carriyed my scratchbuilt stuff. Luckly all the stuff the movers took came out ok. Although all our non-temp storage ended up here insted of staying in wa. So I have all my non n-scale stuff too. Good thong we got a house off post with a big attic if we were on post we would be screwed. Needless to say ft Lewis jppso got a piece of my mind once our stuff showed up. They also damaged my wife Harley and banged up the roof of her car. Hopefully the move out will be smother.
Delamaize, I appreciate the offer, however, I have all my modeling tools back now. They seemed to get here ok.
Awww man that would sting......I feel for you Jere. It's too bad you couldn't carry it with you. I suppose this is why I have left all loco's in their original boxes,at least there is some degree of protection,good luck with the repairs......
Hemi, Sorry for coming in so late, but the dog ate my homework!!! Actually over the past two weeks, I have been helping my son finish his college, right after a drunk driver totalled his car with him and his dog in it. Everything is OK now, and my son is home, graduated, driving a rental car provided by the dd's insurance co, and check in hand toward a new car. This moving thread has hit some tender parts and memories........ I learned after being in this hobby that no one, absolutely NO ONE, cares for your trains like you do, even another sympathetic model railroader. Ever since I started in N, I have been through 2 marriages and 7 residences. Currently I live alone in a retirement community in a paid for double wide with a large living room for my layouts, and a spare bedroom for my workshop and shelving. But some of my older trains went through hell to get here...... On this move, I learned to use a professional mover to transport my furniture, electronics, personal goods, clothing, tools, etc, and I personally transported my trains in my car, all boxed and insulated by me. I would not allow anyone to come close, and my stuff wasn't as delicate as yours. I know logistically that this policy is not applicable to all moving situations, but whenever given a choice, I only allow my own hands to touch, handle, pack, and seal my trains. I used to work summers for a moving company, and at least when I was there, my co-workers and I did everything to preserve the condition of "beloved belongings", and was involved with moving Hummel statues, doll collections, other memorabilia, and every one required special care, which we tried our best to follow. Movers are experienced, but special handling especially when working under a timeclock, is a rare luxury. Most movers use special care to qualify for a nice tip at the end of a move. The last two moves reflected great increases over the years of my inventory, but the saving grace was that I saved all new loco boxes, and made boxes for unboxed purchases, and save unlimited newspapers (many of them from the recycle bin at the shopping center), for packing and protection. I did not have any breakage from this most recent move. Why, because I moved everything myself. My layout board was the last to go, and I paid the movers to move my board in their emptied truck, after removing the structures, and help me inside my new home. I know, Hemi, that breakage, loss, theft or ruin of any valued loco just ruins one's day, at least it does my day. As soon as you are set up, isolate and troubleshoot those broken locos and make it highest priority to initiate repairs. You will sleep better, that is if you are like me. Good luck, it killed me just to look at the box with broken trains......... Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
