Locomotive Storage and Transport
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:27 pm
Thought I'd share something that may be of use to others.
I used to carry my Ruby in a padded safe case with a perforated foam insert, cut out to match the loco's shape. Relying on public transport, I need to give more thought than many to protecting my locos and stock when visiting other lines. The loco was also often kept in this box for months between runs. However, the box (and therefore the loco) was often stored on it's side. This being an Accucraft loco, the foam quickly became saturated in residual steam oil seeping from the cylinders, which over time spread throughout the sides of the box. Having to wipe down the loco every time it was taken out was a mild annoyance, but it helped keep it's (at the time) gloss paintwork shiny. After about five years of this, I grew tired of living with this box and loco's foibles, and set about improving things.
Rebuilding the loco was another mess entirely, that I won't bore you with.
A proper roll-on/off carrier was made to fit a new box. Mini bungee straps hold the loco in place, with clean soft rags to protect the paintwork. I think this is the way to go, for me, as the oil stays around the bottom of the cylinders and away from the weathered finish. It also means far less handling of the loco, reducing the chance of damage, and frequency of touch-ups.
The box is a steel "ammo" style toolbox. The lettering isn't perfect, but this box made good practice fodder for signwriting more critical things, for example, that pub in the background.
The carrier is 6mm MDF with 10mm pine uprights, with coffee stirrers for rails. Thick coats of enamel paint protect it all from errant water and oil. Excuse the chip in the paint, I had to slightly shorten the rail, so the loading ramp would fit. A pair of M3 screws act as locators for the ramp.
The ramp was fabricated from aluminium bar and sheet. Countersunk M2 screws, loctited and reinforced with a bit of JB Weld.
Only coupling faces need be touched to set out a steamer, and battery locos can simply be switched on and driven away.
Any locos lacking the structural fortitude over which to wrap bungee straps, are retained via picture hooks and stout rubber bands. Conveniently, those locos are all battery-powered, and their gearing prevents them rolling about - so in their cases, the rubber bands are only there to keep them on the rails.
A large toolbox has more recently been bought and repainted - wasn't a fan of the blue, and still waiting on a proper metal handle in the mail. Some more carriers were made for battery locos either on order, in the works, or on the drafting table. These boxes will also need lettering at some point, now that I think of it..
The jury's still out on weather or not to do something similar for the growing roster of wagons - I'll certainly have to for my planned rake of thirty sugarcane trucks!
Regards,
Aaron
I used to carry my Ruby in a padded safe case with a perforated foam insert, cut out to match the loco's shape. Relying on public transport, I need to give more thought than many to protecting my locos and stock when visiting other lines. The loco was also often kept in this box for months between runs. However, the box (and therefore the loco) was often stored on it's side. This being an Accucraft loco, the foam quickly became saturated in residual steam oil seeping from the cylinders, which over time spread throughout the sides of the box. Having to wipe down the loco every time it was taken out was a mild annoyance, but it helped keep it's (at the time) gloss paintwork shiny. After about five years of this, I grew tired of living with this box and loco's foibles, and set about improving things.
Rebuilding the loco was another mess entirely, that I won't bore you with.
A proper roll-on/off carrier was made to fit a new box. Mini bungee straps hold the loco in place, with clean soft rags to protect the paintwork. I think this is the way to go, for me, as the oil stays around the bottom of the cylinders and away from the weathered finish. It also means far less handling of the loco, reducing the chance of damage, and frequency of touch-ups.
The box is a steel "ammo" style toolbox. The lettering isn't perfect, but this box made good practice fodder for signwriting more critical things, for example, that pub in the background.
The carrier is 6mm MDF with 10mm pine uprights, with coffee stirrers for rails. Thick coats of enamel paint protect it all from errant water and oil. Excuse the chip in the paint, I had to slightly shorten the rail, so the loading ramp would fit. A pair of M3 screws act as locators for the ramp.
The ramp was fabricated from aluminium bar and sheet. Countersunk M2 screws, loctited and reinforced with a bit of JB Weld.
Only coupling faces need be touched to set out a steamer, and battery locos can simply be switched on and driven away.
Any locos lacking the structural fortitude over which to wrap bungee straps, are retained via picture hooks and stout rubber bands. Conveniently, those locos are all battery-powered, and their gearing prevents them rolling about - so in their cases, the rubber bands are only there to keep them on the rails.
A large toolbox has more recently been bought and repainted - wasn't a fan of the blue, and still waiting on a proper metal handle in the mail. Some more carriers were made for battery locos either on order, in the works, or on the drafting table. These boxes will also need lettering at some point, now that I think of it..
The jury's still out on weather or not to do something similar for the growing roster of wagons - I'll certainly have to for my planned rake of thirty sugarcane trucks!
Regards,
Aaron