Hi, On my way to Arizona to meet up with some friends and plan to take some locomotives and rolling stock with me. Is there any problems with doing this in carry on or shuold it be done in checked luggage? Thanks!
I don't think there would be a problem unless they wanted to open your carry-on and "examine" everything. You might not like that. But perhaps the trains aren't that delicate.
Don't think they'll be a problem; I placed lots of such items in my check-in baggage last year when I went to the N Scale Convention; and they checked my bags there was a slip in the bag stating so. Nothing was broken.
I take trains back and fourth when I visit home all the time. I always pack them in the original jewel case and carry them on. Never had a problem. Though, now that I think about it, being DCC equipped, one would think the decoder and wiring would raise some red flags when going through the x-ray, yet they never have...interesting.
I had a couple small bags of Arizona Rock & Mineral Ballast come under scrutiny in my carry-on. They just re-ran it through the X-ray machine. I would expect the the worst you would get was a separate rerun through the X-Ray. Better yet just pull them out on your way through and run them through separately like your laptop and shoes.
Never had a problem. Never been questioned, even with DCC equipped locos. Always put them in carry on. Airlines will not be responsible for loss or damage to trains or any electronic equipment in checked luggage.
Don't sweat it. I used to be a TSA screener- on the Xray,t here is nothing suspicious about the guts of a toy train That's for the up-top screening. The baggage screening doesn't use detailed-enough Xrays to really catch the intricacies of a decoder. Even if it did, the attaches toy wheels and motor make it obvious what it is. The stuff you gotta worry about is rubber- prosthetics and "adult toys" and the like- lots of rubber has the same organic compound level as explosives, and therefore the large Xray machines usually pick them up as potential threats........ it's all automated. IMO, take your trains up top, so the bag screener having a bad day doesn't decide to "screen" (read: rough-handle) your $150 locos. Trust me.
The last few times I took Micro-Trains cars through the security checkpoint the carry on was flagged for a visual inspection after going through the x-ray. It was not a big deal. The TSA agent was surprised that model trains were made that small. (Too bad I didn't have any introduction to model railroading brochures...)
I live in Missouri and work in Maryland and make the round trip every 3 weeks. I take trains to and from home all the time. As recently as last Monday. Always in a carry on bag and hey, if they want to look in it, what's the big deal? The best experience I had was Thanksgiving 2 years ago. I was working a 14 month project in Orlando, and had stocked up at a couple of train shows. The bag was packed totally FULL of N scale. I made it thru security, but the TSA had a pop-up inspection at the gate. Sure enough, I got called out of line for a look see. Turns out, the agent was a model railroader, too, and we had a quick discussion. Would have liked to talked longer, but didn't want to miss my ride.
Carry-on. I brought some trains back from England with no problem. The screener sorta hesitated and was looking at my bag on the screen and I volunteered, "It's a model train." There was that sudden expression of recognition, the bag slid through, and it was no problem at all.
Well... for me it was a slight problem in 1987. Even before the real BIG crackdown on what one could bring on a plane began... there was scanning of luggage including carry-ons for potential weapons... specially guns. I had gone to Tampa on a business trip and while there visited several hobby stores. At one place there was a 'flea market' where several model trains were being offered at real low prices. Among the items were some Minitrix F7ish items at $20.00 for an ABA set... The two "A" units were poweered, the "B" was non-powered. They did not come their orignal boxes... so I put them into my briefcase... which was a carry-on... and proceded later that day to take a flight back home. When my briefcase was scanned... the locomotives apparently showed-up looking like a GUN... because I had arranged them in an "L" shape in my briefcase. I was pulled aside while other security officers and police arrived. They opened the briefcase and pulled out the engines... sort-of... snickered... discussed it briefly... and then let me proceed onto my flight. Now-a-days... I'm not sure if they would run some sort of tests on the models to see if they were explosives or some other device that could bring down a jetliner... or be considered a weapon or other hazard. I'd be concerned that I could be detained as a terrorist for bringing model trains onto a plane.
I used to do a ton of travelling all over the US and Canada, and I've carried on G scale, Z scale and N scale locomotives, cars, structures, track, other stuff, not all at once mind you, on planes in both countries, never had even a glance. I wouldn't trust my stuff to the tender mercies of the airline baggage handling system, not once, not ever. If it fits overhead or under your seat, carry it; its the only way you know you'll still have it after you land.
I’m going to Milwaukee, Wisconsin this Monday for a week. I don’t know if there are any N scale train shops there but if I find something, I’m going to bring it back with me. Last October I flew to Pittsburgh from LA with my 2 ½ yr old and he had his Thomas the Train in his little backpack and they wanted to open up his bag and inspect it. I don’t know why because there weren’t any wires or electrical stuff in it. On the way back I had a couple of Loco that picked up in Pittsburgh and nobody looked. I guess they figured it out.
Not had a problem. In the last 2-3 years I've bought back quite a bit of equipment from the US to the UK in hand baggage. Had to buy a new bag to fit it in on my last trip 18 months ago! No one batted an eyelid and that was an international flight. When I know I'm visiting friends in the US I nearly always get smaller shipments from suppliers delivered to them and then carry them all home together.
Never took a train on but did get stopped by the Korean screeners in Seoul once for supposed weapons in my checked bag. After they called me over I opened my bag and showed them a going away plaque from my tour there that had miniature 9mm and M-16 plastics on the plaque and they laughed once they saw it. Got me a bit scared though. John
I don't know, I was going to do a search this weakend before I left to see what is there in the way of trains.
I learned a long time ago to pick my battles wisely. I forget that from time to time. I decided the prudence was a better solution after thinking about this, reading these threads and realizing that I was also going to be carrying a 16 week old baby as well. So amidst of all the confusion of the baby, diaper begs etc, I boxed everything up and sent it to my parents in Phoenix. I will pick them up when I get there. I will reverse the process on my return. Thanks for all of the insights!
When I went out to Portland in June, I had 2 engines with me & came home with 5. I had them in my carry on, that is a laptop bag. But I use it for everything but. I had a book, my Ipod, meds, etc. No problems.
