Running trains in the rain

[Anonymous]

We are finally in our rainy season and today, I was thinking about how neat it would be to photograph trains in the rain. I am aware that you supposedly can run trains in essentially all weather conditions, but will running trains in the rain have any harmful sideeffects on them? For example, I don't want to run my Bachmann shay or Climax and have details ruined, or my SD40-2 (yes, I do own one diesel!) and have water get on the internal circitry through the exhaust fans. Just wondering what other people do.

[Anonymous]

Teran-
I wouldn't personally run my trains in the rain. The liabilities far outweigh the benefits of such an outing. How fun could it be?? You might even ruin your camera while your ruining your locomotives. I hate to be a wet blanket on this issue but while its raining stay in and scratch build a new structure. You might even catch cold, and then your messed up for the next week or so.

If you do elect to go out in the rain, just be certain you give yourself time afterwards to wipe off the wet locomotives. Don't put anything away wet.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck. Hope your pictures come out. I would like to see them. LSCentral has a photo gallery, post some there.

Peter

[BudSteinhoff]

I live in a rainy area and would not take my trains out in the rain.
Electronics do not like water or even dampness especially sound boards and on board receivers.
Even if you are sealed fairly well dampness will get in beleive me and you will be replacing something.

[Marty Cozad]

I personally have never run trains in the rain. But I have after a rain to take some nice photos. I do run in the snow and backed the engines in the shop and they melt, never had a problem so far.

[mkblk]

Another excellent reason for LIVE STEAM!!

[cacole]

Considering the size of a "prototype" raindrop compared to a G-scale locomotive, pictures taken in the rain will probably cause the raindrops to appear more like cups of water falling out of the sky, unless it's just a light drizzle. With all of the sensitive electronics circuit boards that are inside today's models, even those with no sound, I would never consider letting one stay out in the rain.