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A Message From The President: October 2005 -- Pandora's Boxesssss
New Club President Jim Jansen
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Several years ago, I purchased a beautiful red box
with gold embossed lettering stating Denver & Rio
Grand Western M-69-482. Inside was a somewhat used
H.O. guage brass steam engine 4-8-2 Mountain, unpainted
(but in enchanting and costly-looking brass tones).
With this new acquisition I had a problem. If I stored
my exotic brass steam engine in its bulletproof
(figuratively speaking) enclosure, protecting it from
mental aspersions, I would proudly proclaim, "I have a
great brass engine well kept in its box ready for
resale for at or above its original manufacturer's list
price when new".
However, since I received this engine it
has somehow been able to self-destruct on my home layout where
all other engines work fine. After running it a while, it
seemed to run slower and slower, getting warmer and warmer and
then .....nothing! -- one dead motor to a fine brass engine
with built-in electrical shorts. Now what, leave it in the
box?
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My only brass steam engine now resides on a track
section on my display shelf wherefore, if it were stored
in its bulletproof box, it would be revered as the
great exotic beautiful brass engine, but instead I can
peruse it occasionally and wish it ran as well as it
looks.
A new motor and a DCC decoder installation might bring
it back to life and back into its proper place - in the
box gaining value and corrosion, but then how would I
justify this to all my other engines that I use that
are not in boxes - sitting on shelves silently
screaming to be the next units run on the great GCMRC.
Away in their boxes I'd have no visual contact. No
reason to tweak them with weathering or marker lights.
No easy access to compare which engines would fit the
next running at GCMRC...
And so, the dilemma grows. To box, or not to box (that
is the question - sorry, I couldn't resist). If I don't
box, I could lose some bulletproof boxes, or even
worse - toss them, heaven forbid! Guys keep boxes - I
would have to turn in my 'guy' card.
Once stumbling around in the basement after a heavy
rainfall and tripping over some flood-soaked boxes in
an inch or so of sewage backup, the thought occurred
to me that the engines in these soaked boxes would
have been ruined in the in the sewer backup water
because they were thought to be safe in their boxes.
I'm not good with boxes. I have boxes stored in black
trash bags all over. I don't even know what boxes I
have, nor where they are. I have too many boxes that
I don't know what to do with. I can't find room to
store any more boxes; in the basement sometimes too
wet, in the attic (full of boxes already) adding to
the kindling and fire load potential, and finally,
rent storage? Ahhhh... no!
However, the peace and quiet of the Out of Sight - Out
of Mind kind of thing could free me from continually
tweeking every engine and rolling stock I look at.
With all my acquisitions in boxes I could could enjoy
the pleasure of even forgetting what engines and cars
I have tucked away getting older and out of date, and
consequentially buy them again. What fun!
Perhaps the solution to the box dilemma is the web
site eBay. Buyers seem to want the sale
item for its quality and condition at a fair price,
and seem to be forgiving to a "no-box" sale.
The life expectancy of a good box with train enclosed
is perhaps similar to automobile value. In the show
room, its price is full value as a new car but soon
the car and train belonging to that box loses its
value as does a new car being left behind in the
technology stampede.
Perhaps the market has changed to where a really good
box won't help a forgotten, unused, antiquated engine
sale.
So, bottom line -- storing in boxes is a good
organizational trait but if you don't use your stored
engines, you lose them.
Now, I must go look for a box.
Jim Jansen
President, Garfield-Clarendon Model Railroad Club
October 17, 2005
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