Packing tank cars for transit

Good day group

I'm coming to you for your thoughts and suggestions once again. While transporting trains to shows in my Axian Tech box my tank cars do not fair well during transit. These are Atlas and Athern cars. The platforms are mangled and off the top of the car. The ladders are damaged, and some also out of position. My train bag is not shaken, up but lifted and carried. When I open the box the details stated above is what's seen.

Is there any way of protecting my tank cars during transit with out keeping them in the jewel case. My boxes are labeled according to the consist of train that is placed in the box.

How do you transport your cars safely and securely?

Peace be with you,

Arthur

 

I keep the Jewel cases also which you know they are safe for travel

 

All cars and locos stored in their original jewel cases here.

I know a club member that uses padded wine crates to transport his rolling stock and locos to and from the layout.

 

I participated in many threads asking the same type of questions regarding the use of carriers for transporting rolling stock and locomotives.
The Axian System was the one most often stated to be a reliable transporting method. The reason these questions are often posed is because the time factor involved in removing the rolling stock and locomotives from their jewel cases. The ease of set-up and taking down of the consists without having to look for the appropriate jewel case(s) is the strength of these transportation cases. The problem is... that the safe transport of the items is not what is advertised.
The jewel cases and their appropriate nests are designed to withstand the rough handling of shipping... and while not perfect either... they are actually far more effective at keeping everything safe. The use of additional packaging in padded cradles to hold the jewel cases will double the safety factor. I know many modelers will ditch the jewel cases because they either have all their rolling stock on their layouts... or... use these padded cases (like Axian) in case of transporting. I think the only reason I would get rid of the jewel cases and inserts would be if the rolling stock or locomotives have been altered (detailed) and they no longer will properly fit in the jewel cases. Other than that... I would not transport without the manufacturers designed cases/nests.

 

For future purchases you should save the inserts and cut them down to fit the box slots.

It's not about you carefully holding your train bag. You can always get shocks and vibration from what I assume is transport by car, unless you have adjustable air shocks.

 

I use the Plano trays found in the fishing Dept of Walmart. At about $4.00 per they are low cost and provide adequate protection. I line the trays with a thick foam product found in Joann Shops. I line the bottom and both sides of each compartment the top has a sheet of the foam all of the foam is held in place by double stick tape. These Plano trays will hold about 30 or so 40 foot cars and six of them fit inside a plastic milk crate

 

For storage, I keep N scale cars in inch-deep boxes on their sides where I can recognize them easily. And I keep them by car types, where I can pull what I need for a particular operation, or in a few special cases, by consist (ie specific passenger trains, etc.)

I could improve on this for tank cars, especially if I am transporting them, by some kind of insert in each car slot, that would touch and hold the top of the car about a quarter way down the top of each TANK, instead of on the platform. But haven't done it yet except in one or two instances...

 

I use old VCR boxes. Cut off the posts that held the cassette and glue some type of thin foam to the inside of the box. I save packing foam from a variety of electronics for this. Glue a soft foam to the lid that is thick enough to hold the cars safely in place. The cassette box lids snap closed keeping the cars from moving around. Add a label to the outside and you are ready to travel.

Dave G
Cache Valley & Northern RR

 

The axian cases are great for the majority of rolling stock and own a bunch, but would never want to use them for tank cars for just that reason you stated and causing damage. I'm lucky enough I have a couple of the High Iron storage boxes that were designed specifically to hold the tank cars and work great and I haven't had to worry about them at all. But since those are long out of production and very hard to come by not really an option anymore. What is still a good option are the Deluxe Innovation boxes. You can pluck out the shape of the tank car to hold it in the foam nicely and since it's a flat piece of foam it doesn't press on the car like the axian case does.

 

I have used these for years and very similar boxes I picked up years ago at a few shows. And I just noticed that Mr, Fifer carries these in his shop. The top lid foam wedges seem to hold stuff tight.

 

That's exactly an Axian car case, the one that Arthur has. Could the foam be compressing the platforms and ladders too much?

 

I have several manufacturers of tank cars and have not experienced that issue with any using these cases. Some are the more delicate laddered IM cars. However if something is sat on the box causing the lid to depress could have an effect.

 

Perhaps we could get a little more detail on what you think might be causing the damage.

Are the cars being compressed too tightly by the foam and crushing the delicate parts. Or is it a case of the cars being too loose and allowing movement back-and-forth of the cars during transit? Delicate parts can catch on the foam as the car move back-and forth.

You might consider placing a piece of foam between the cars thus preventing any back-and-forth motion while the cases are in transit.

 

No matter what cases I have used, it seems like IM box cars with their applied ladders and tank cars take more abuse than they should. One thing that I have been MEANING to try (just haven't had the opportunity yet) is lining the foam with saran wrap so the ladders don't get snagged in the foam. If anyone tries it, let me know if it works...