Large Scale Central

Carrying G scale locos by plane??

General Discussion
#1

I’ll be travelling from Aus to UK and USA soon and would like to bring a small loco with me. It’s radio control, using a small keyfob transmitter.
From reading the US regulations (I assume they are the most strict), I’ve decided on the following:
I’m planning on putting the loco in my ‘checked’ suitcase, with batteries removed. I’ll leave the keyfob transmitter opened up with the battery removed, all in a plastic bag next to the loco. I’ll also leave the 8, NiMH, AA cells in separate plastic bags next to the loco. (No lithium!)

Has anybody had any RECENT experience transporting locos? and NiMH batterries in luggage?

I’ve carried ‘proprietry’ locos and motor blocks back from the US on a number of ocassions with only a nice note form US customs saying they had opened my bag.

#2

I did something similar last Summer when I traveled to the east coast to visit the family. I had brought my son’s cheap toy G-gauge loco so he could run it on my dad’s railroad. (At 4, he wasn’t quite up to running the “real” trains.) I took all the batteries out and put them in zip-loc bags. The loco and transmitter were packed in the middle of the suitcase, with lots of clothes packed around for safety. We had no troubles traveling out or back, and the loco survived just fine. No evidence that the TSA thought anything was odd at all.

Alas, that loco didn’t survive the winter (it was cheap, after all), and Andy acquired a new Piko 0-6-0 in its place. With built-in Lithium batteries, it didn’t go east with us this year. (Andy is a lot more responsible, so he can use granddad’s trains.)

Safe travels!

Later,

K

#3

Just a thought, why not ship your loco via UPS or similar service? It is insured with less chance of damage or theft and no U.S. TSA to deal with?

#4

I would suspect that shipping a loco from Austrailia to the US and back would be costly!!!

In the suit case would be zero dollar cost and that is why Greg is posting the question.

#5

Boomer K. said:

Greg

This si from the TSA website regarding AA rechargeable batteries, charger and device.

Search Results For:

rechargeable AA batteries with charger

(http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/images/icon_check_carry.png)

Check or Carry-on

You may travel with dry batteries (AA, AAA, C, and D) in your carry-on or checked baggage.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prohibits loose lithium batteries from being transported in checked baggage. Car batteries, wet batteries, or spillable batteries are prohibited from both carry-on and checked baggage unless being used to power a scooter or wheelchair. If a battery is used to power a scooter or wheelchair, you must advise the aircraft operator so that the battery can be properly packaged.

Even if an item is generally permitted, it may be subject to additional screening or not allowed through the checkpoint if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or poses other security concerns. The final decision rests with TSA on whether to allow any items on the plane.

http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/cib_results.aspx?src=tsawebsite

That’s what I was basing my plans on. Just wondered about anyone’s actual experiences.

Yes Dan, costs a fortune tp ship stuff around when I have a perfectly good suitcase.

Thanks everyone.

#6

When I tried to take my live-steam Bantam from Adelaide to Melbourne for Gordon Watson’s steam-up the airline insisted that the loco be checked baggage plus NO steam-oil, NO butane & No distilled water allowed on board. Trying to buy those on the other end was a major pain, fortunately my host was able to supply steam-oil

#7

So, only issue should be the battery and hopefully it can be left home and at the other end someone can let Greg ‘borrow’ a battery.