Couplers and free rolling

A pal of mine in HO who did something similar to this started noticing almost right away that couplers on is cars were giving him problems. It wasn't until he realized they were rolling around the drawers, banging into the sides and damaging couplers, did he realize why.

upright

I do not often need to store cars, but when I do, I prefer to store them standing upright. And separated from each other.

Was recently involved in disposal of a group of Front Range, Intermountain, Red Caboose, Accurail, and other cars. Those tiny styrene details take a beating when they get bumped around or snag on paper towel wrapping.

Rolling around

Yeah, Lee is probably on to something there.  Plus you run the risk of paint rubbing off the sides of the cars from them rubbing against each other.  Foam in the bottom of the trays would help with that. https://www.amazon.com/FS010B-Figure-full-size-Bottom-Topper/dp/B00NGKOHSW/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1519423699&sr=8-12&keywords=pluck+foam

What if you get something

What if you get something like this and line it with foam. I bet you can get one used on Craigslist for under $100 

This doubles as a workbench its $268 at Sears

Do Not Lay Down On Kitchen Anti-Skid Drawer Liners

Do not lay them down on kitchen anti-skid drawer liners. You know, the cushy material that usually has a rubbery feel to it and is mesh. This stuff will pull the paint clean off the sides of your cars.

Regards,

Joe W.

Cheap solution

I have this one that I bought at Sam's for $20. I often see it at Michael's and Aldi's for about the same price. Rolls around and is color coded for different cars / locomotives. I agree with Lee, Graham, and Matt, they do slide around and damage will occur. I am hoping someone here has a cheap and easy solution to fix this? I have cut styrofoam to cradle the ends and sides, but that also takes up room, reducing the storage. The problem with the tool chest suggestion is yes, it is a good workbench, but the drawers are made to hold tools, and are too deep for most model railroad stuff. I do use mine to stuff sanders, oscillating tools, drills, saws, etc. into, but never cars. I guess the lower ones ( very deep ) could hold buildings and other in progress work, but once you start using it for tools it fills up fast. I also agree with Joe...liners are bad...very very bad. Even washing them in Dawn did not remove some chemical residue that will either eat your paint, or worse, eat the plastic. I have several cars and even tools that have the little diamond marks permanently imprinted in them ! Michael

I Built...

...2 of these storage units to go under my projected layout. They will eventually hang from rails so they can be rolled aside to allow access to storage behind them. the diffent spacings allow for different length cars/Locos. Each will hold 102 vehicles. I am going to glue plastic stirring sticks space to match the wheels on each car to stop the rolling and banging the couplers. The unit is 48"x48"x2".

One reason I built these is because of limited floor space in my small train room. drawers take up a lot of space.

Nice Shelving

That's some nice shelving, Graeme.  Be sure to post more photos as you get them finished up and installed.

Is there an Ikea near you? I'd suggest this...

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40196241/#/50264927

Many of the guys in a club I belonged to had these that they kept under the layout. The drawers are deep enough to keep rolling stock upright and smooth and square to allow dividers of foam core or any other material. For $120, they are well worth it and very sturdy.

@ Jack...

...I will post picks when I finish it. Got the parts but at the moment it is low priority.

Drawer lining...

Instead of foam sheets for the lining of the drawer, what about a nice soft blanket type of cloth. Something that won't snag details, but also won't rot, or peel paint.

I have a nice piece of blanket material that a model from eBay came wrapped in that I've been thinking of going down to Hobby Lobby or Michaels and see if I can match... it feels like a flanel, but is thicker, and has nothing that can snag.

IKEA staging

I'm in IKEA staging:

I put some foil in for the cars to stay in place. The cars are stored upright so there will be no problem with foil sticking to the cars or peeling off the color and/or weathering. They won't tip over if the drawers are opened and closed in a reasonable manner.

I use Axian Technology

I use Axian Technology storage boxes with the nylon carry case. A bit pricey, but they protect the rolling stock very well.

When I have a layout, everything is stored on the tracks on the layout.

Shelf liners

There are padded shelf liners for kitchen shelves that can be put in the bottom of the shelves and will limit rolling.  I have also seen people put corrugated paper in drawer bottom with the corrugations running perpendicular to the length of the cars to limit rolling.

Other option

Buy more cars so the drawers are full and stuff will have less room to roll.

Die-cut boxes

Since I have historically run on modular or club layouts, my equipment storage tends towards high-density optimized for transport.  Many years ago while working at a restaurant, I stumbled upon "Meat Product" boxes that they were frequently throwing out.  They ended up being an ideal size for my needs.  While I can no longer find those specific boxes, I have found similar size boxes from other local box/container distributors.

The external dimensions of these boxes are roughly 11.5" x 17" x 3.5" tall.  This allows for 2 layers of cars when stored on sides.  Depending on car size, I can get 8-10 cars per layer.  The tray for the upper layer is a cut down soda/beer can "flat" from the grocery store (those little cardboard trays that hold 24 cans or tins).  For foam, I use the thin white packing foam found at Big Box stores (typically called "dish foam roll" or "packaging wrap").  In the 30+ years that I've been using this foam, I've never had an issue with the foam damaging the paint or finish.

I don't normally have an issue with damage to details due to the cars being packed in so tightly.  I think I've only once had an incident, and that's where several boxes fell off a dolly from a couple of feet up.

For staging on the home layout, I use a wheeled sliding drawer unit similar to what Michael Watson mentioned earlier, and store the cars upright.  I put a layer of white packing foam in the bottom of each tray to keep cars from rolling around. See here:  https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/traveling-around-the-usa-looking-at-11-and-looking-at-and-running-some-187-12208937

Craig

One way to organize rolling stock

Please check out a previous posting of mine on this site located HERE.

Chipboard

I picked up a sheet of chipboard today, and did some experimenting, cutting out "chockes" for the trucks:
 

The trucks sit in the cutouts: 

The cars remain upright and immobile under normal conditions:
 

Two columns for 34' cars:
 

The issue now is being able to read the car numbers.

Couplers

Good idea you have there......maybe cut a small notch for coupler clearance so that the trip pins and such don't get all bent up.

Other than that.........I think you nailed it. 

There are padded shelf liners for kitchen shelves

Will stick and eat your paint.

Nick, I like your cutout idea

I'll have to try that in my drawers.  The foam helps minimize car rolling, but doesn't completely elimiate it.

For coupler clearance, you could simply extend the holes to the outer edge of the chipboard so that there are just little fingers keeping the board centered in the drawer.  The area between the trucks will be sufficient to keep the cars from rolling side to side.  For the hoppers, remove the material between the two inner cutouts so you have one long hole.  that would clear the inner couplers on each row.

Craig

An idea for the car numbers

If your cars are in assigned spots, take some cardstock or similar heavy paper, bend it into a long "L" shape strip, and tape it along the inside of one of the edges.  Then you can write the car numbers on the top of the cardstock beside each position.

Craig

Great idea Nick !

I like it also. Using foam board or anything easy to cut would work. Is there enough room between the cars to put a label there to identify the cars ? At least you could pull the drawer out enough to see down to the label ?

Closed-cell foam insulation as box liner.

I've been using foamed Polystyrene (I thought it was PE)  for use in places "such as between concrete foundation and sill plate" (per catalog listing)....in my old blue boxes.   My cars are lying flat on it.. 10 years 65-75degF ambient temp, no markoff or paint / decal damage.  (I'd advise do NOT store any plastic wrapped articles in an attic... it will soften/ stick / weld)

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Dow-STYROFOAM-22-9-sq-ft-Unfaced-Polystyrene-Roll-Insulation-5-5-in-W-x-50-ft-L/50071521

MOST of my rolling stock is on its side... but where they are upright, the trucks are arranged to prevent rolling about in drawers (perpendicular to drawer travel)