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Hello Folks,

Hope everyone is staying well while being cooped up in our homes.  The past few days have given me some time to work on a project that I have been thinking about for the past several months now.  Looking at pictures of other layouts on the forum, I see where many of folks have built shelves on the walls to store their off-layout trains.  Unfortunately, I don't have any wall space easily available right now to have such shelves.  But I do have plenty of open room under my O-gauge layout table.

I thought I might share with you my latest project, straight from the Mixed Freight "Skunk Works" (with maybe a little more emphasis on the "Skunk" portion, not so much on the "Works" part ).  Here is a rolling train storage rack that I can roll in and out from underneath my train table.  Nothing too fancy, built from some scraps of 1 x 4 wood  and 3/16" luan ply that I had laying around, plus a 30" x 18" Hardwood Dolly from Harbor Freight Tools.

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I laid the storage shelves back at an angle to help keep trains from falling out.  Highly necessary for a unit that can roll around and possibly be bumped on occasion.  Two wood back braces support it for now, but will soon be replaced soon with another shelf rack that I will build in order to double the storage space.  The trains you see now in the rack were all cluttering up my O-gauge table (not on the tracks, as I got more trains that are already on the tracks).  It sure is nice to get the clutter off the layout, but still have easy storage and easy access to it.

While this rolling storage rack might not be for everybody, maybe some folks would find it useful.  Maybe modular train guys could find an item like this handy, for frequently swapping out trains during shows?  That idea might have some merit. 

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totrainyard posted:

I would add a door or cloth across the front to keep dust and critters out.

I would not want the trains to be rubbing against the wood or each other.

I keep as many trains as I can on book shelves behind glass doors, when not on the layout.

Good thinkin'.  I keep a gas-powered leaf blower in the basement to keep the trains dust-free.  Also a high-powered pressure washer to keep them clean.  Since I live in an earthquake-free zone, I don't have to worry about the trains rubbing against the wood or each other.  Or glass doors shattering, in the advent of said earthquake.  Never fear, Mixed Freight is here!  I have an answer for EVERYTHING, even if it's totally wrong, or 100% politically incorrect (and it usually is, one or the other, or both)!!!  

Thanks totrainyard.  Some good points, but rest assured, they'll be just fine at my place, trust me! 

Mixed Freight posted:

Good thinkin'.  I keep a gas-powered leaf blower in the basement to keep the trains dust-free.  Also a high-powered pressure washer to keep them clean.  Since I live in an earthquake-free zone, I don't have to worry about the trains rubbing against the wood or each other.  Or glass doors shattering, in the advent of said earthquake.  Never fear, Mixed Freight is here!  I have an answer for EVERYTHING, even if it's totally wrong, or 100% politically incorrect (and it usually is, one or the other, or both)!!!  ..............

I was thinking all sort of things while reading that, luckily I kept reading until the last sentence.   Well played.

Neat project, btw.

-Dave

 

"I keep a gas-powered leaf blower in the basement".

   Carl? ...I'll just play through if you don't mind

There is still a lot of room behind it; on the base too. A shelf or two from legs to backboard? Trainbox storage, packrat allotment area, etc. ? 

The weight may help make it even more stable as you ride it cheerfully  around the basement with the leaf blower backwards over your shoulder;  chanting "Come on streamliner".   (ala Errol Flynn )

Watch for an old school, big cabinet, big screen projection tvs (I like Mitsubishi DLP ) (Craiglist free, usually many if you help carry, take etc.. but nearly as many "curb alerts" really.)

Grab the frame that holds the screens (can be a few) and pop it off (most are easy, for cleaning. Pry/butt with heel of hand).  Thin sheets, very strong, kinda flexible. It possibly has a tinted layer too (UV light protection on DLP at least) sheets of clear cabinet plastic for "free".

Well, I got my second shelf rack unit done and mounted.  The original back braces on the singular unit served as the end pieces for the new rack.  Fortunately, I had cut them the exact same length as the first end pieces.

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I even got the second side half-loaded up with trains.  I either need to stop buying trains, or else start planning on building another rolling storage rack.

Stop buying trains? 

Looks like another run to Menard's and Harbor Freight Tools in my near future, huh?  

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