Will MTL ever get more Gem boxes for resale ?

[up1950s]

I miss them , I want them , I love them , I just ordered 10 Atlas N scale freight car size Gem boxes because MTL has none for sale empty . What are you folks using ?

[peteski]

MTL no longer sells the jewel boxes?  I did not know that (I still have few in my stash, but I bought mine from BLW, so that was some time ago).

[Mark5]

Interesting ... https://www.micro-trains.com/replacement-boxes

All sizes of replacement boxes are currently unavailable.

[rodsup9000]

 When we was there touring the Micro Trains plant in June, Eric made a comment that they are still not 100% staffed from the fire. I think he told us that they are  somewhere around 70% staffed when we was there. They are behind on special runs for other clients and only run parts as they need them. I'm guessing, this also applies to the cases that the cars are shipped in.
   Lowell Smith (RailSmith) had sent out a email recently that some more of his special runs cars, that are going to be done by MT have been pushed back again. For some cars, this was the second or third time they had been pushed back.

 If they ever get back to full staff, I think we'll see a lot more stuff come from Micro Trains

[learmoia]

Didn't I read a while back that MTL developed the foam case runner packs due to limited availability of the jewel cases. 

~Ian

[peteski]

Didn't I read a while back that MTL developed the foam case runner packs due to limited availability of the jewel cases. 

~Ian

I thought tat was done for lower price for non-collectors who want to run the cars.

If the jewel cases still appear as a not in stock item, there is hope that they'll become  available again in the future.

[JoeD]

I thought tat was done for lower price for non-collectors who want to run the cars.

If the jewel cases still appear as a not in stock item, there is hope that they'll become  available again in the future.

Correct on the first count.  Second, contact the front desk about availability.  We use them up as fast as we make them and I don't know off hand what we have for customer orders.

Joe

[basementcalling]

When we was there touring the Micro Trains plant in June, Eric made a comment that they are still not 100% staffed from the fire. I think he told us that they are  somewhere around 70% staffed when we was there. They are behind on special runs for other clients and only run parts as they need them. I'm guessing, this also applies to the cases that the cars are shipped in.
   Lowell Smith (RailSmith) had sent out a email recently that some more of his special runs cars, that are going to be done by MT have been pushed back again. For some cars, this was the second or third time they had been pushed back.

 If they ever get back to full staff, I think we'll see a lot more stuff come from Micro Trains

Why are they not fully staffed from the fire? Did employees die? Are some still unable to work because of injury or dealing with property damage issues? Is there not enough housing for people in the Talent area?

[thomasjmdavis]

Personally, since the choice seems to be between making more spare boxes and making new products like the PS-2s and the Mill Gon, I am going to vote for new products.

As for the boxes...I'm surprised that no enterprising internet hobby retailer has found the giant Chinese plastic box maker (there must be one, since all the cars I have that are made in China came in a plastic box), and ordered a couple of cases.  When I was looking for some, I tried Amazon, and had no problem finding every size box I could imagine EXCEPT appropriate sizes for N scale trains.

[JMaurer1]

As I am on the verge of retirement, if only I lived closer to Talent OR, I would LOVE to go work there as a hobby/job. I'm almost out of my stock of jewel cases as well (probably out if I were to actually clean and organize my office), but I guess when a company is producing as much rolling stock as MT does, producing extra jewel cases would take away from actually producing rolling stock. Given the option, I'll take rolling stock.

Micro Trains is still the best...keep up the great work and I'll buy more jewel cases when they get caught up.

[rodsup9000]

Why are they not fully staffed from the fire? Did employees die? Are some still unable to work because of injury or dealing with property damage issues? Is there not enough housing for people in the Talent area?

I think they relocated. @MTLJoe can answer that better than I can. It was a very devastating fire and a lot of property damage. 
 

[Southern1970]

I miss them , I want them , I love them , I just ordered 10 Atlas N scale freight car size Gem boxes because MTL has none for sale empty . What are you folks using ?

I’ve purchased a few items without cases and was thinking what to use.

I’ve found these type of plastic cases (from a local hardware) which with some double sided adhesive tape and foam make good cases.  I think the max they can take are 50ft rolling stock or shorter. 

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

For longer rolling stock and locomotives without cases, I use kato full size cases (eBay seller)

[thomasjmdavis]

I’ve purchased a few items without cases and was thinking what to use.

I’ve found these type of plastic cases (from a local hardware) which with some double sided adhesive tape and foam make good cases.  I think the max they can take are 50ft rolling stock or shorter. 

For longer rolling stock and locomotives without cases, I use kato full size cases (eBay seller)

For years, I have been getting 14"x9" plastic cases at Walmart (hardware section), that have inserts so you can vary the size of compartments. They easily store 8 passenger cars or 12 40-50' freight cars with lots of padding. Up to twice as many if you fit 2 cars side by side per compartment.  They has several other sizes of similar boxes in the fishing tackle and arts and crafts areas.  I tried similar boxes from Harbor Freight, but the latches holding the lid on did not work as well.

[JoeD]

  https://www.amazon.com.au/Stanley-1-93-980-Storage-compartments-Transparent/dp/B008DHZXRC?th=1   

I use these for most of my storage at home.  they nicely fit Passenger cars as well. 

Joe. 

[thomasjmdavis]

  https://www.amazon.com.au/Stanley-1-93-980-Storage-compartments-Transparent/dp/B008DHZXRC?th=1   

I use these for most of my storage at home.  they nicely fit Passenger cars as well. 

Joe.

Joe, with all respect, you must have different ones than the one pictured in your link if they fit N scale passenger cars, other than maybe RPOs or shorties, or maybe a baggage car with its couplers off.  The dimensions given on the product for the outer case show it as only 6 1/4 deep. I have several of these, and the drawers themselves only have an ID of 5 1/4".  I've been looking for a cabinet with 7" drawers (an 85' car with couplers and a bit of padding), but have been unsuccessful. If you've found a source, I'd love to know where to get them.