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Change Log:

01/26/2012 – Corrected typos and fixed minor error in Bill of Material.

Back in the summer of 2009, I built a case to hold a K-27. It has worked out fairly well, and I have used it on numerous occasions to move my locomotives to other layouts or to railroad shows. It also works great as a maintenance case when I need to service the undercarriage of the locos or tenders.  Link to K-27 case post.

The K-27 case does have a few drawbacks. First, it is big and heavy. Secondly, it requires a long ramp of track to run the locomotive between the layout and the case. After a few uses, I found it easier to just move the loco and tender between the case and the layout with the old trusty 0-5-0 method. This defeats one of the original intentions to make the movement hands-free (and fingerprint-free.)

My second iteration of a transport case allows a loco to be run easily into or out of the case without using a ramp. It is smaller-sized and designed for a C-19 size loco. Those of you who go to Marty’s annual September open-house may have seen these cases in operation. The larger case was there in 2009 and 2010; the smaller case was there in 2011.

There are a few disadvantages to the smaller case: It is open-topped and does not protect the loco from anything accidentally dropped or spilled onto the case. It lacks the clamshell sides and top of the larger case. Since the foam cushions are not permanently attached to the sides and top, they do not cradle the loco and tender sides as tightly during transport. The case cannot serve as a cradle for working on the undercarriage.

There are several advantages: It was less expensive to build, went together faster, and is ideal for getting the loco onto or off of the track quickly without requiring it to be touched. Since the foam cushions are not permanently attached to the case sides, it can be reconfigured as need for different locomotives. The integral handle and lighter weight make it easier to carry. I plan on building a slightly larger version of it to move the K-27s.

Like its big-brother K-27 case, the frame of the C-19 case is made from pieces of ¾” x 1½” with a skin of ¼” birch plywood. On the C-19 case, the frame is on the inside of the skin, rather than the outside. I used poplar wood for the C-19 case as opposed to pine on the K-27 case, simply because I had some poplar stock on hand. The wood species used is not critical.

Top View of Case with Loco and Foam

The top of the case is open. This provides easy access to the power switch located under the water hatch of the tender for turning the locomotive ON or OFF. It also allows pieces of soft foam to be inserted along the sides and ends after the locomotive is run into the case. A 1” diameter hardwood dowel runs along the center top of the case to provide a convenient carrying handle. The top pieces of the ¾” x 1 ½” frame have a 1” diameter hole drilled through their centers. The dowel rod fits into these holes. 

Foam Removed - Loco Still in Case

The base is removable and is attached to the case with four brass plated draw latches. It provides rigidity to the case during transport and is only removed when setting the case on the layout track for running a loco into or out of the case.

Close-up of One of the Four Latches Holding Bottom onto Case

The locomotive and tender wheels ride on strips of 1/8” x 1” aluminum attached to the bottom of the case. These strips rest on top of the track when the case is placed on the layout. The ends of the strips are beveled so that the locomotive can be run into or out of the case without handling.

Case Un-latched and Placed on Track

 I find it easier to back the locomotive out of or into the case to prevent the pilot from catching on the aluminum strips.

End View of Case on Track

Locomotive Backed Out of Case onto Track

Top view of Empty Case with Bottom Removed

Underside of Case with Bottom Removed

End Door Removed and Setting on Top of Case

Close-up of Case Bottom Showing Cut-outs to Clear Screws

To run the locomotive from the case to the layout:

• Set case on the ground next to the track.
• Unlatch the four latches that attach the case to the base.
• Lift the case off of the base and place onto the layout rails.
• Remove foam cushions from between locomotive/tender and case walls.
• Lift out end door on tender end of case.
• Elevate the locomotive end of the case slightly by placing the end door removed in the previous step on the track under the case. This insures that the aluminum strips rest snugly on the tops of the rails at the opposite end of the case.
• Turn the locomotive battery switch to ON position.
• Back the locomotive and tender out of case and onto layout.
• Replace end door.
• Place foam cushions inside of case.
• Remove case from rails and re-attach to case bottom.

To run the locomotive from the layout into the case:

• Set case on the ground next to the track.
• Unlatch the four latches that attach the case base.
• Lift the case off of the base and place onto the layout rails behind the locomotive and tender.
• Remove foam cushions.
• Lift out end door on end of case closest to the tender.
• Elevate the opposite end of the case slightly by placing the end door removed in the previous step on the track under the case. This insures that the aluminum strips rest snugly on the tops of the rails at the opposite end of the case.
• Back the locomotive and tender from the layout into the case.
• Turn the locomotive battery switch to the OFF position.
• Replace end door.
• Replace foam cushions between locomotive/tender and case walls.
• Remove case from rails and place on base.
• Re-latch four latches that attach the case to the base.

Here are a few figures showing how the case is constructed. Click on any figure to see a larger image.  Refer to the Bill of Material at the end of the post for quantities, descriptions and dimensions of the individual components shown by the lettered circles. 

Case End View

Exploded Case End View

Case Side View

Component Cut Plan (figure 1 of 2)

Component Cut Plan (figure 2 of 2)

Bill of Material (Updated 01/26/2012)