Organization: An Architect's Cabinet For Rolling Stock Storage.
While on a weekend getaway to Kalamazoo, I stopped into a local resale shop and found this beauty.
By taking out a section of bookshelves I was able to set it right next to mylayout. I've always wanted this kind of cabinet, but they tend to be far more expensive than I can afford. I've seen similar furniture pieces called an Art, Architect, Map or Flat File Cabinets. Judging by a few paint-jar shaped stains inside this one was probably used for artwork and is a bit smaller than the large kind used for architect's plans. The interior of the drawers is around 36"x24". I would have preferred a more modern business-looking cabinet, but this was very well priced and looks nice enough.
I put down a layer of felt in each drawer and nearly all my rolling stock fits.
I had previously been putting all my rolling stock in boxes purchased from the paper company. Boxes were great for protection and well organized, but they took up alot more space than these drawers.
Large drawers make it very easy to put together consists. No more boxes to open, close and replace.
The top of the cabinet is at a slight angle, but not so much that cars can't be set on top while making consists. I will be adding a non-stick surface to the top though, just to be sure.
Having all my cars of a given type displayed together makes it really easy to see which ones need repair. I found two broken stirrups already and one with a missing coupler.
I was also able to quickly take stock of what I wanted to purge. While loading these drawers I pulled out 10 cars to sell off.
Two quick notes regarding this kind of storage:
-Felt is nice but does slip a bit. Usually slides back a bit each time if I'm not careful in closing the drawers slowly. I'll be adding bits some sort of tape or adhesive to keep it from slipping around.
-These older artist style cabinets don't have any sort of drawer stops. This is not a problem if you're storing large artworks. However, if you need to get to the very back of each drawer to get a car you will have to remove the drawer and set it on top of the cabinet, or pull out the drawer below 2/3 of the way and then let the drawer above rest on top. Since these pics were taken I put a line of boxed cars I don't use often at the back of each drawer.
The long and short is that I'm extremely happy with this cabinet. My rolling stock is close at hand, my son can more easily get to his cars and it's like Christmas every time I open up a drawer and see rows of lovely rolling stock.
Have a great weekend.
-Karl
By taking out a section of bookshelves I was able to set it right next to mylayout. I've always wanted this kind of cabinet, but they tend to be far more expensive than I can afford. I've seen similar furniture pieces called an Art, Architect, Map or Flat File Cabinets. Judging by a few paint-jar shaped stains inside this one was probably used for artwork and is a bit smaller than the large kind used for architect's plans. The interior of the drawers is around 36"x24". I would have preferred a more modern business-looking cabinet, but this was very well priced and looks nice enough.
I put down a layer of felt in each drawer and nearly all my rolling stock fits.
I had previously been putting all my rolling stock in boxes purchased from the paper company. Boxes were great for protection and well organized, but they took up alot more space than these drawers.
Large drawers make it very easy to put together consists. No more boxes to open, close and replace.
The top of the cabinet is at a slight angle, but not so much that cars can't be set on top while making consists. I will be adding a non-stick surface to the top though, just to be sure.
Having all my cars of a given type displayed together makes it really easy to see which ones need repair. I found two broken stirrups already and one with a missing coupler.
I was also able to quickly take stock of what I wanted to purge. While loading these drawers I pulled out 10 cars to sell off.
Two quick notes regarding this kind of storage:
-Felt is nice but does slip a bit. Usually slides back a bit each time if I'm not careful in closing the drawers slowly. I'll be adding bits some sort of tape or adhesive to keep it from slipping around.
-These older artist style cabinets don't have any sort of drawer stops. This is not a problem if you're storing large artworks. However, if you need to get to the very back of each drawer to get a car you will have to remove the drawer and set it on top of the cabinet, or pull out the drawer below 2/3 of the way and then let the drawer above rest on top. Since these pics were taken I put a line of boxed cars I don't use often at the back of each drawer.
The long and short is that I'm extremely happy with this cabinet. My rolling stock is close at hand, my son can more easily get to his cars and it's like Christmas every time I open up a drawer and see rows of lovely rolling stock.
Have a great weekend.
-Karl
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