John,
I would get the trains out of the attic ASAP. The heat can damage trains as bad if not worse than water. Insulation on wires can become brittle, plastic can melt or warp, and the heat is probably hard on electronic components. I have many pieces that have been ruined from being in the attic during the summer months. Get the trains out before it is too late!
Jim
John to the forum !! I would only worry about the plastic possibly melting, though I doubt that may happen. I would think oils & grease in the engines could run out easier. Only would worry or move them till it cools down a bit if it is really extremely hot up there. You really have to make that determination yourself, & I think I would, though, if it were me. Better safe than sorry !!
I see you are in Ohio, there are lots of us here, come on over to The Coffee Pot if you have time !!
Thanks, John
Hi John,
my G scale are kept in a metal 10x10 storage shed all year round.... locomotives and cars.... I keep my USA GP38s with Phoenix in the house and MTH J and Dash8 as well as the TIU. My Aristo TE and 10amp power supply are left in the shed.
Now I run all winter and summer, today is 90+ and NO RUNNING, rails hot in sun and anything with traction tires would most likely loose them (as well as in cold winter) and lubricants I'm sure take a beating. I have had the TE shut down in really hot temps, have fan however havn't installed as yet (only 5 years on the shelf)...
Winter and extreme cold takes it toll as well, have lost gearing in USA SW that's been in service since '98 outside all the time. I take what the weather gives and except for the SW, a GP38 and RS3 all else is inside so there are some failures, breakage and your attic (except for the dirt, snow and ice) would compare.
Move em OUT!
john1577 wrote:just engines or all the car and accessories also..... john
John : I would at least get the engines & cars to a little cooler place. Depends on the accessories you have, metal ones may be ok, but again, plastic could be warped.
Oh, where in Ohio are you ? !! May hit 100 tomorrow !!
Could anyone put a number on what you're saying? I'm on a ventilated sunporch that gets pretty warm and pretty cool, but not extreme either way. It probably stays warmer than 40 and cooler than 90.
(If the train has to come inside, I'll have to go outside. I'd rather the train stay out there.)
My trains have been stored in Pennsylvania attics for 20 years and I have had no problems due to heat. Most of the time, they were in their boxes, the past two years they are sitting on the layout. Most are MPC era Lionel but I've added quite a bit of new stuff in the last 8 years. I've got one Railking engine with Locosound that acts up a little when it's cold (sweatshirt chilly) in the attic but no heat related problems. My attic gets hot in the summer but is bearable for short periods of time.
When I worked in the vending industry, if we moved a machine, we were always concerned about allowing the electronic pinballs and video games to warm to room temperature in the winter but never worried about them cooling down in the summer.
That's my experience, your mileage may vary.
Dale
AydansPop wrote: Could anyone put a number on what you're saying? I'm on a ventilated sunporch that gets pretty warm and pretty cool, but not extreme either way. It probably stays warmer than 40 and cooler than 90.
Almost all electronics are designed to operate at maximum temperatures of 50 degrees C or above (=140 deg F). Of course, that is internal temperature but the components aren't generating any heat when they are off.
So the real issues are the lubricants running out and the plastics softening. If you use transmission fluid, lubricant temperature is a non-issue also. Don't know about the Labelle lubricants. Plastic softening is difficult to predict. Thin sheet stryene is probably the most sensitive to temps in the 110-120 deg F range. This would typically be found in lighter plastic cars and structures. The older Bakelite and PW plastics are probably pretty safe, as would be the UV-stabilized plastic used in the better G scale stuff.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
Trying to update my avatar since 2020
MartyE and Kodi the Husky Dog! ( 3/31/90-9/28/04 ) www.MartyE.com My O Gauge Web Page and Home of Kodiak Junction!
Interesting replies. My post war "stuff" was stored in a walkin attic that went from cold [above freezing] to hot in the summer. Was stored for 20 years and no damage. I had been told that humidity would be the worse enemy. Got them out, lubed the engines and away they went.
Suggestion: Insulate the roof by putting batt insulation between the rafters. Your trains are worth the $$$$. Do it yourself and save. Hit Home Depot or Lowes when they have the 12 months same as cash. Pay it off a little each month. I just did this to the walkin attic I'm going to run trains through the walls. Now I leave the door open [you can't do this with your attic] and this winter was very confortable and now it is OK. Makes a big difference. Now for the summer, get a gable end fan with thermostat. [I've got a monster one in my attic attic with humidistat too]. In the Ohizo winters, cut off the gable end fan and block off the gable end vents and put a little [or maybe two] thermostat controlled electric heater up there. I have only one in my shop [well insulated] and it keeps it above freezing and hardly runs at all. With enough insulation, you can really make a difference. Now with a "hip roof", you have a problem.
Mark, your sunroom is OK. Summer, keep the direct sun off, as it will heat things up [especially black], with shades or blinds. Just keep the humidity down in the winter. If it gets too cold in the Hill Country of Texass, try the little electric heater trick.
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Bob Nelson
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month