Large Scale Central

Shipping Baboons and Mallets

General Discussion
#1

I recently received a loco I bought which was shipped via USPS.
Several times now I have had heavy locomotives shunt back and forth in their apparently snug, original foam shaped boxes. You cannot let any movement happen at all. Never trust the foam box.
Firm padding at the buffer beams so the loco can’t move is the only solution but not too many understand and put their faith in the original box’s design as it seems secure.
The problem in this case was that the cab is secured by the foam but the heavy lower part of the loco is free to move back and fourth. This usually happens with long heavy locos and I assume the shipping handlers habit of regularly dropping them on their ends.

I have had this happen to several locomotives now, Usually LGB and LGB/Aster as they always seem to have some jiggle. Some survive but chew out the inside foam, others shunt back and fourth breaking things.
This is why Accucraft locos are mummified.
This is why Bachmann and AristoCraft are tightly wedged in.

Fair Warning to all those who are shipping a heavy locomotive.

Andrew

#2

Andrew,

my commiserations, that is not just a run of the mill LGB loco. I used to think ‘drop shipping’ was where the dealer sold an item and had it delivered direct from the distributor. I am beginning to think that it means firstly drop the item and then ship.

I worked in international aviation for 35 years and saw many incidences whereby baggage handlers were criminal in their handling of packages. When questioned as to the meaning of the ‘fragile’ sticker on a package, invariably their response was that they should take care of their own fragile bodies when picking up, reasoning the word fragile referred to the handler and not the package. They are employed for their brawn, not their brains.

I received two Accucraft Geese that had been through similar circumstances, even though as you say they are ‘mummified’. It certainly does cause your jaw to drop when such things occur. I have received LGB Moguls whereby similar movement in shipping have sheared off everything above the boiler including the cab.

#3

Tim I also had some brass water columns sent via USPS which were very well padded with soft supporting foam within each box. The items were not that heavy so the inertia required to break things from a casual drop was non existent. There is no way these could be broken by regular handling. I figure they would have to be dropped or thrown 10~20 feet to do the damage.

I must admit though, I usually have little problems with USPS shipping but every now and again they get a high score for complete and utter incompetence.

Andrew