Storing Train Sets

Sean,

I'm more concerned about where you're storing them.  Garages aren't climate controlled generally.  Is yours?  Are you in a desert/dry climate?  In that case, maybe the garage would be okay.  The relative humidity in the midwest (US) is really high especially in the summer months.  That would cause big problems for metal.

When one thinks about it, these things have often been stored in conditions with extreme temp swings and in all parts of the country. For instance, my father's trains from the 40's have been in an upper Michigan farm attic. From -30 to 100+ in old cardboard boxes. They are just fine. While I admit climate control is great, I don't think it's a deal breaker if you don't have it. I hope not, I have a massive amount waiting in what some of you guys would probably cringe at. But they are doing fine. I guess I'd probably worry about modern electronics more. 

Sean

Since you have Lionel Sets, keep storing them in the Lionel boxes. Contrary to Rattler21, the new trains with wicked smoke units the manufacturers all suggest putting in a few drops of smoke fluid to keep the wicks moist and from drying out when storing them. I suggest you store the boxes so the engine is in an upright position so as the smoke fluid does not run out. Hope this helps

The best place to store them is at my house. It is climate controlled and they can be test run on a regular basis. AND, free of charge for storage and test runs.

MikeH posted:

Sean,

I'm more concerned about where you're storing them.  Garages aren't climate controlled generally.  Is yours?  Are you in a desert/dry climate?  In that case, maybe the garage would be okay.  The relative humidity in the midwest (US) is really high especially in the summer months.  That would cause big problems for metal.

Thanks Mike - my garage is insulated with fairly decent climate control. Of course most heating and cooling is what comes through the door from the laundry room. It stays okay year round, but I do have a small heater for the dead of winter.

L.I.TRAIN posted:

Sean

Since you have Lionel Sets, keep storing them in the Lionel boxes. Contrary to Rattler21, the new trains with wicked smoke units the manufacturers all suggest putting in a few drops of smoke fluid to keep the wicks moist and from drying out when storing them. I suggest you store the boxes so the engine is in an upright position so as the smoke fluid does not run out. Hope this helps

Thanks Steve - right now I have some train sets stored both ways. Most are on their sides like you see in the hobby shops. That would keep the locomotives in the upright position.

I do have some that are laying flat on top of cabinets due to space constraints. I will see about adding some more shelving to correct that.

MattR posted:

When one thinks about it, these things have often been stored in conditions with extreme temp swings and in all parts of the country. For instance, my father's trains from the 40's have been in an upper Michigan farm attic. From -30 to 100+ in old cardboard boxes. They are just fine. While I admit climate control is great, I don't think it's a deal breaker if you don't have it. I hope not, I have a massive amount waiting in what some of you guys would probably cringe at. But they are doing fine. I guess I'd probably worry about modern electronics more. 

Matt - since my garage is insulated and the humidity is fairly low my temperature swings to from about a low of 50 in winter to about 85 in summer. Cooling flows in from the laundry room in summer with the door open and I run a small heater in winter when I'm using it. 

The big doors are not opened much as we have too much crap to ever put cars in there.

rattler21 posted:

Remove all batteries, drain the smoke fluid, do not store with bubble wrap in contact with the toy.   John in Lansing, ILL

Thanks John - the only bubble wrap is around the fastrack.

Geojr posted:

The best place to store them is at my house. It is climate controlled and they can be test run on a regular basis. AND, free of charge for storage and test runs.

Thanks for the offer George but my grandsons might get mad at me! I have our old kitchen table set up in the garage with a train set for every visit.

This month's train set is the Peanuts Halloween Set, of course. By Thanksgiving that will become one of the Christmas Train Sets.

No sets here but loads of individual boxes.  This time around in this home, I am keeping an open joist basement ceiling which permits great amounts of storage spaces for empty and filled boxes in a decent year round environment.

Stay away from damp environments and you’ll be ok. I would store them with the engine on its wheels if possible but I do not think that it matters much.

Sean007 posted:

Thanks Mike - my garage is insulated with fairly decent climate control. Of course most heating and cooling is what comes through the door from the laundry room. 

Not sure it's relevant since you store the train sets in boxes, but I would be wary of humidity from the laundry room, depending on frequency of use, dryer vent maintenance and operable ventilation fan.  May want to purchase an inexpensive hygrometer if you don't already own one to determine if you have an issue.

What, me worry? 

I put mine inside bread loaf wrappers. Seems to keep any moisture and dirt off.