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To anyone considering aluminum shelves, I highly recommend TrainShelf made by Dick Wacthman, who has had a booth in the Orange Hall at York for many years. I looked at both of the popular brands, and although TrainShelf is the more expensive option, I like the design better. What do you get for the additional money?

1: Putting sections together is very easy: all you need is 2 pieces of solid wire, which are used as pins. #12 wire is used for large shelves, and #14 is used for the small shelves. When installed, you don't see the wire, giving a very clean look at shelf joints.  

2: Ease of handling: 4' sections are (IMO) easier to handle than 6' sections. 

3: Safety: With TrainShelf, there is a small part of the shelf that extends out beyond the train, creating a buffer between the train and people passing by. 

4: Strength. When installed correctly, these shelves are solid and will hold even the heaviest of Standard Gauge trains with ease. 

5: Great service. On one of my orders, a few shelves were damaged in transit. I called Dick, told him what happened, and he had replacements on the way, no questions asked. That's tough to beat. 

There was one part of my train room (along a beam) where I removed the Trainshelf brand and replaced it with 2 sections of the competing brand.  I did this because in this case, it allowed more clearance between the beam and the ceiling, maximizing space for taller trains. Putting those 2 sections together was a lot more difficult than any of the sections of Trainshelf that I used. Either product will do the job, so it comes down to preference and budget. All I'm saying is based on my research and using both brands, I'm glad I went with Trainshelf.  

John

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The Train Shelf product is very stable ... I find it the most robust of the available aluminium train shelves on the market ...costs a few bucks more ...but if you like the idea of  a buffer in front of your trains ..this is the shelf for you ....

That  said the Glenn's  shelves are also very nice .... the expandable pin used to attach one piece to another is a bit more of a challenge than the simple drop in a small piece of coat hanger holes in the Train Shelf system . ..

the Glenn system if you have a whole wall of shelves ... you are looking at just rows and rows of trains .... the Train Shelf system with it's deeper profile ...a wall of trains will have a more pronounced horizontal line  due to the thicker shelf section ... 

If your trains are to be in a high traffic area ..Train Shelf is the way to go ..to avoid bumping .... 

For standard gauge those  are the only two I know of ...  there is a third system out of Texas  Mr Train .... for O gauge only ...   I'd place this system third in the race .

 

I use Train Shelf for Standard Gauge .....and Glenn's for O scale ....    if you have heavy Standard gauge pieces ...you are going to like the Train Shelf product .... give Dick Wacthman a call and pick up at York .....it's heavy stuff ...

Cheers Carey 

 

IMG_6843P_20180809_090004_vHDR_On

 

 

 

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Chris Lonero posted:

They sound interesting John. Do you have any pictures of your shelves or a link? My problem is I need more walls! 

Beachhead2's picture shows perfectly how the Trainshelf product helps protect your trains while showing them off at the same time. 

Chris, when you figure out how to get more walls into your train room, I want to know your secret. I'm out of space too, but once in a while I find a way to squeeze in another shelf somewhere. Any trains not on my layout need to at least be displayed on the wall. 

John

 

trains5

 

 

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gunrunnerjohn posted:

The first one takes the majority of the time to get level and make sure you like it, then you just use spacing blocks to build them up.  It is a bit tiresome to shim them with washers for the washboard wallboard in most houses, including mine!   I have one spot where there are five washers behind the shelf just to keep it plumb.

Been there done that. No way around it. I used washers also. If not, the shelves get distorted. I’m the guy that installed my basement walls years ago. No wonder I went with a different career when I was young instead of home improvement.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I just got my wall of GS Shelves up, haven't populated them yet.  I have more to go, and I'm working on the train room as well.  These are my "introduction" shelves, they're in the landing going down to the train room.

Glenn Snyder Shelves Installed

John,
Since the models hang over the edge of the GS shelving, have you given any thought to what is going to happen when someone's shirt sleeve snags one of the models?

Ok, nice to hear this for me because I was just looking at getting some of these.  But I have a question, 2000 or 2001 model? I can't really tell why the 2001 is more expensive or better.  I like the look of the 2000 model better, but I want to make sure I am not missing out on some advantage the 2001 might have over the 2000 model.  Thanks! 

eddie g posted:

I'm still waiting for a invite

Come on over, and bring your tools.  I still have more shelves to mount, wallboard work to do, and of course there's the layout to build!

Greg Houser posted:

If that's the introduction the "main attraction" should be spectacular!

We can only hope.

pennsy484 posted:

Ok, nice to hear this for me because I was just looking at getting some of these.  But I have a question, 2000 or 2001 model? I can't really tell why the 2001 is more expensive or better.  I like the look of the 2000 model better, but I want to make sure I am not missing out on some advantage the 2001 might have over the 2000 model.  Thanks! 

2000 or 2001?  I only know of one set of shelves from Glenn Snyder, did I miss something?

pennsy484 posted:

Ok, nice to hear this for me because I was just looking at getting some of these.  But I have a question, 2000 or 2001 model? I can't really tell why the 2001 is more expensive or better.  I like the look of the 2000 model better, but I want to make sure I am not missing out on some advantage the 2001 might have over the 2000 model.  Thanks! 

The 2000 and 2001 models are the Trainsbelf brand, not Glenn Snyder. The 2000 model will hold pretty much any scale up to and including O, while the 2001 model is wider and will hold larger scales, up to and including Standard Gauge.  www.trainshelf.net

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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