Lionel Classics Box

Do you mean a 384E?

Lionel Classics never made a 383E.

I think he means the 381E.

Pretty sure this is what Joe wants the box for.

Steve

It would be perfect to get the exact right box.   But you could make your own if its just about safe handling and storage.

About a month ago I made a foam insert for a large KCS lionel engine.  I got an empty lionel engine box that wasn't needed, and some packing foam sheets like used in the corners of boxes they ship copiers.

Cut two half pieces that together would fit nicely inside the lionel box or whatever box you're using( that's the easy part).

Then center the engine on one of the half pieces of styrofoam.  Use a ball point pen or sharpie to outline the engine onto the styrofoam piece. 

 Then use an exacto or other sharp knife to carve out a cavity in the styrofoam that will take that half of the engine and get it to sit fairly level. 

Then take the other half of styrofoam, flip the engine over and do the other engine side.   Hopefully the two halves will be too fat to fit in the box.  So you sandwich them together and keep whittling until the two styrofoam halves mate tightly, totally capturing the engine.

I just happened to have a lionel engine box that was big enough.  I have done this several times using ordinary cardboard boxes that were big enough to house a certain postwar accessories (make there's some extra room for the foam).  I've done the 38 water tower, 455 oil derrick, some engine and several of the loaders.

Be sure to mark which half is port and starboard for easy reattachment. 

I'll try to remember to post some pics.  Email me if you need them and I forget. 

That sounds like a LOT of work! A repro box might be available for a modest price from some supplier.

@Steve "Papa" Eastman posted:

Pretty sure this is what Joe wants the box for.

Steve

Correct Steve, this is the box I am looking for

@aussteve posted:

It would be perfect to get the exact right box.   But you could make your own if its just about safe handling and storage.

About a month ago I made a foam insert for a large KCS lionel engine.  I got an empty lionel engine box that wasn't needed, and some packing foam sheets like used in the corners of boxes they ship copiers.

Cut two half pieces that together would fit nicely inside the lionel box or whatever box you're using( that's the easy part).

Then center the engine on one of the half pieces of styrofoam.  Use a ball point pen or sharpie to outline the engine onto the styrofoam piece. 

 Then use an exacto or other sharp knife to carve out a cavity in the styrofoam that will take that half of the engine and get it to sit fairly level. 

Then take the other half of styrofoam, flip the engine over and do the other engine side.   Hopefully the two halves will be too fat to fit in the box.  So you sandwich them together and keep whittling until the two styrofoam halves mate tightly, totally capturing the engine.

I just happened to have a lionel engine box that was big enough.  I have done this several times using ordinary cardboard boxes that were big enough to house a certain postwar accessories (make there's some extra room for the foam).  I've done the 38 water tower, 455 oil derrick, some engine and several of the loaders.

Be sure to mark which half is port and starboard for easy reattachment. 

I'll try to remember to post some pics.  Email me if you need them and I forget. 

Not sure i could find foam that big.

Here are some pictures.  This is the Lionel box I used.

Here are some pics of different kinds of stiff foam that I use.  The light green has a rougher texture than the others.

Here is what the two halves and the engine look like when removed from the Lionel box. 

This is looking in the box with the flaps open.

This is one of the styrofoam halves. 

This is the engine sitting inside the other half of styrofoam. 

Not an exact fit, but it's an upgrade from the purple bath towel he was rolled up in.