I had my last layout in the loft atop a barn-like garage. The top floor was insulated, but not temperature controlled....only dehumidified. In July and August, the temps rose into the 90's inside the train room, and I had everything in there. Now, seven years later, it all functions perfectly. None of my two-plus dozen of different decoders has gone belly up or developed a programming glitch since 2012 when I moved it all in, and the drive mechanisms all work just fine.
I should have my layout up and running in a couple of weeks. I will keep you posted. Thanks for everyones help.
RailEagle Tempatures ranged from 20-80 degrees with little humidty
I would think exposing the models to high humidity would be a much bigger problem than just exposing them to heat and cold. If the storage area was dry, my guess is they'll be fine.
When I was a kid, we only could put up a layout Thanksgiving to New Year. We didn't have room for a permanent layout. The rest of the year, everything except the tables themselves were stored in the attic, no heat, no AC. In Summer, you really couldn't stand to be up there for more than a few minutes, it would be so hot and humid. In Winter, you had to wear a coat - which was fun, considering access was via a 2x2 hatch set high in the wall of the upstairs bedroom. After I moved out, stuff I didn't take stayed up there for years, not even coming out in Fall/Winter.
Some extra cork roadbed didn't take kindly to that, and crumbled to bits. Some of the cardboard boxes the trains came in were chewed by mice. Rubber traction tires have disintegrated. But stuff I retrieved still ran. And were generally not warped or deformed in any way. That's after YEARS of storage like this - most of the locos and rolling stock were late 60's/early 70's vintage, and it was around 2000 when I collected and sorted through most of it and sold off what I didn't want and kept the most nostalgic pieces.
So a few months - you'll be fine.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
SeeYou190 RailEagle Tempatures ranged from 20-80 degrees with little humidty Should I expect any problems when I start using them again? Most likely there won't be any problems, but only one way to find out...
RailEagle Tempatures ranged from 20-80 degrees with little humidty Should I expect any problems when I start using them again?
Most likely there won't be any problems, but only one way to find out...
Rich
Alton Junction
RailEagleTempatures ranged from 20-80 degrees with little humidty Should I expect any problems when I start using them again?
Please let us know what happens.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
My N scale was in a room for maybe five + years with temps. from 30* to 65* in winter then up in the 90* in summer. Not packed up but on a DC layout. They still run good. Mostly Atlas GP's and Trainmasters, Life Like SW1500 and I do not remember the brand of an ABBA FA2 set. Now I have to go look to see what brand the FA's are.
OK, the FA2 are Life Like. I also found a Kato SD45 and a Bachmann 44 tonner.
You only did a month. How long do you think your trains were in a shipping container coming from China or Japan then sat in a warehouse till their second to last journey to your house.
Another thing, I'd say 99% of my N scale Locos. and rolling stock came in plastic boxs not cardboard, cardboard draws moisture, plastic will not.
Now, where is the power pack? Hook up some track, plug in the pack, sit back and run trains.
Long story short, I accidentally stored a couple of my N scale locomotives in a non climate controlled storaged unit for about a month. Tempatures ranged from 20-80 degrees with little humidty Should I expect any problems when I start using them again?
Thanks.