3-Rail Railroading in a FL garage?

Based on my experiences in South Florida, if it was me, I'd go full insulation, preferably closed cell foam insulation. Much more efficient & adds rigidity to the structure.  Mice love to nest in that fiberglass stuff. Also A/C for sure. Say from April/ May through to October it is hot & muggy. April through to June it's rainy season. June through November is hurricane season which could mean any number of tropical storms. All of which means moisture.  

For water lines, I would highly recommend copper. I install kitchens in multi million dollar homes. They all use copper. That plastic tubing may be cheaper but will eventually burst inside a wall & cause water damage.

Scott D. posted:

Hello, Everyone,

I am both new to the forum and new to modern O-gauge trains. My wife and I are contemplating a move to central FL to a home we would have custom built. In the central FL home we are contemplating, the only place available to run trains, at least O-gauge trains, would be the garage. Never having lived, full time, in FL, I have not much more than a vague idea of what could be done to run trains in a garage. Can anyone advise me:

(1) Is it possible, or even advisable, to run O-gauge trains in a garage in central FL?

(2) If the answer to (1) is "yes", and given the home is not yet built, what accommodations need to be made for the trains? Do I need to plan for A/C? Or can the trains survive the summer without A/C and without incurring damage (heat, condensing moisture, mildew, etc.)?

(3) What questions have I not asked that I should have asked?

Any help from our FL members would be greatly appreciated.

Scott D.

Scott,

My thread from 2017 when I was moving should provide you with some guidance.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...e-humidity-real-trax

A/C is a must at the minimum.  If you have never lived here all year around, you can't believe how hot and humid it gets, especially from May through October.  Don't solder your rail joints either.  The summer heat is the price we pay for the rest of the year.  I don't think a dehumidifier is necessary if you have a/c but other knowledgeable forum participants might want to chime in.  Living here gets some getting used to (both good and bad).  I live just south of the Space Center in a sleepy little town, but the growth is just unbelievable.  RoundhouseSouth in  Port Orange (near Daytona), Colonial Photo in Orlando, Zitnik Trains and H &R Trains in Pinellas Park, (St. Pete) are highly recommended.  Get my info from my profile and e-mail me when you get here.  

Where are you moving? If you are coming to the Sarasota Bradenton area come visit our train club, RealRail.  You can run trains whenever you want.

Hi! And welcome to the forum! You find much information here! Central Florida: you dont say exactly where...... Central Fl. is big and a lot of open space. Community or rural, they have it all! If you're getting a big piece of land, build a separate building. If not and only the garage, have it finished with insulation and sheet rock. Any AC will work overtime if only bare block walls. I would install a small but high efficient 2 part AC unit just for the garage. Seperate thermostat equals less money spent on cooling. Make sure you get the best hurricane garage door you can afford!! I agree to do all your plumbing in copper. Also give thought to impact windows. You may not be living near the coast, but it doesnt mean you're safe from the wind. Good luck with your future!! (I've been doing construction in South Florida for 30+ years)

This may sound like a dumb question, but if you are having a house custom built, why limit yourself to using the garage for your trains?

If none of the bedrooms are big enough, why not build a house with a bonus room, like maybe a finished room over garage (FROG).  If you are not into formal dining (my wife and I aren't) you could also convert a dining room into other uses, like trains or crafts.

I have a couple of great storage cabinets and have moved to a carpet layout in our rental home (sold our last home of 25 years, six months ago).  So, I'm thinking I may not even have a permanent layout in my next house (2 - 3 years). 

Jim

To everyone who's responded, so far, thank you! Several of you asked for our specific future location. We're moving to The Villages, so when I said "Central FL", I meant roughly the middle of nowhere Thanks so much for the referrals to train shops, train clubs and offers to visit. I am now looking forward to joining what seems to be an active O Gauge community in FL. If anyone has recommendations for suppliers of hurricane garage doors and impact windows or any other construction tips, I'd love to have them!

I live on the Gulf Coast, a native, in a virtually identical climate - maybe wetter. People here have model RR's in the garage quite often. You must have A/C; insulate the garage door; if not, get another hobby or move to Colorado.

Otherwise, contrary to some beliefs, humidity is not fatal, nor will it come and attack you.

I personally have a separate RR building; small window unit A/C and insulation (except under the floor; the building is built on piers, about 1.5 ft high; common here, good for a breeze/summer heat dissipation). My trains - TMCC and so on - are fine, run fine, some are 20+ years old. I do not run a de-humidifier. I run the A/C only when I'm in the building.

I'll take our "natural" humidity to that found in some Northern basements any time. And - no sump pump!

As I wrote on another post, almost same question but Real Trax. Were friend had and used only Fast Track in 7 years running, no AC or humidifier, never had a problem.

Little Giant posted:

Hi! And welcome to the forum! You find much information here! Central Florida: you dont say exactly where...... Central Fl. is big and a lot of open space. Community or rural, they have it all! If you're getting a big piece of land, build a separate building. If not and only the garage, have it finished with insulation and sheet rock. Any AC will work overtime if only bare block walls. I would install a small but high efficient 2 part AC unit just for the garage. Seperate thermostat equals less money spent on cooling. Make sure you get the best hurricane garage door you can afford!! I agree to do all your plumbing in copper. Also give thought to impact windows. You may not be living near the coast, but it doesnt mean you're safe from the wind. Good luck with your future!! (I've been doing construction in South Florida for 30+ years)

Thanks for responding to my query. You raise a good question re: a room over the garage. The floor plan does not allow for one, as currently drawn, but it would definitely be a question worth asking. A 400 sq ft room would cost in the neighborhood of an additional $10k-$15k, if added at ground level. I do not know what the cost would be to resize and strengthen the trusses over the garage to support the additional weight and to add a staircase. I’ll add this to our list of questions to the builder.

As for converting the dining room…your spouse is more tolerant of trains than mine…

Thanks and regards,

Scott D.

Retirement communities, like The Villages, aren't for everyone, but my folks moved there in 1999 and absolutely loved living there.  My Dad passed away two years ago, but my Mom I don't think will ever move. 

Another option to the garage, might be the lanai (sun room). These rooms are often finished and heated/cooled.  Villagers loved their lanais, and my Dad ALWAYS drank his morning coffee and did the daily crossword on theirs.

In the Villages, I would opt for a room at ground level instead of a room over the garage.  Much easier to sell the house if y'all ever decide to do this.

I have never been to one of their events, but The Villages does have a model train club, with subgroups for each of the 7 scales, including O.

Jim

 A question for you Florida guys. At one time there was a highly detailed 3 rail layout being built in Tarpon Springs in a Quonset hut. While visiting friends we drove by it a few times. Fox in Florida had a morning show that featured it. It was being built in the hut. But when completed it was going to be displayed elsewhere. The modeling shown was highly detailed. Just wondering if anybody knows what became of it.

 Doug N.  I visit Bradenton a couple times in the winter months. I’ve been by Real Rails a few times and have been meaning to check it out. It’s on the  to do list for next year.

You’re going to want AC.  I live just north of Tampa and I just built a climate-controlled train room in my pole barn.  Without AC, any exposed ferrous metal will rust; it’s just a question of how quickly.  I’ve had track rust while sitting in boxes with desiccant before I built the new room.  If you can get it, a second AC zone would be best.  Trains are perfectly happy at 80 degrees as long as the air is dry.  I used a ductless mini split just for my train room.

You’re going to love the Villages.  They have about a half dozen model railway clubs, including O, and they put on two good swap meets and two layout shows each year.  I always go to those shows.  They’re some of the better ones in FL.

Have AC installed in the garage.   I had a separate vent added to the inside air system.  No problem.   Also, have the electric for the layout run before you start building the layout.   I live in South Florida and have never had a problem with humid air. 

Dave_C posted:

  Doug N.  I visit Bradenton a couple times in the winter months. I’ve been by Real Rails a few times and have been meaning to check it out. It’s on the  to do list for next year.

Dave come see us.  We are building a new O’Gauge layout and also have a nice HO layout.  If you are a snowbird, we offer seasonal memberships also, but come for a visit. (Do I sound like the membership director, I should 😀)

Amfleet25124 posted:

Scott D. posted:

Hello, Everyone,

I am both new to the forum and new to modern O-gauge trains. My wife and I are contemplating a move to central FL to a home we would have custom built. In the central FL home we are contemplating, the only place available to run trains, at least O-gauge trains, would be the garage. Never having lived, full time, in FL, I have not much more than a vague idea of what could be done to run trains in a garage. Can anyone advise me:

(1) Is it possible, or even advisable, to run O-gauge trains in a garage in central FL?

(2) If the answer to (1) is "yes", and given the home is not yet built, what accommodations need to be made for the trains? Do I need to plan for A/C? Or can the trains survive the summer without A/C and without incurring damage (heat, condensing moisture, mildew, etc.)?

(3) What questions have I not asked that I should have asked?

Any help from our FL members would be greatly appreciated.

Scott D.

Scott,

My thread from 2017 when I was moving should provide you with some guidance.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...e-humidity-real-trax

 

Kevin,

 I didn't see what the outcome was in your situation. Did you built a layout yet, if so where and how did it work out?

 I hope to retire in 2-3 years. Ocala Fl. and Upstate New York are on the short list if we move, Upstate NY is probably most likely. 

Tom 

Hi and welcome, you`ll have a lot of fun here, my wife and i moved to Cypress Lakes in Lakeland, a 55 plus community, don`t have a garage but had the house built with an extra room just for my trains, if you have a spare bedroom that won`t be used, you can put your layout there, if not possible, then a the garage with A/C plus an extra couple of  outlets to power it up before you build the layout, good luck which ever way you go, Phil

There have been a lot of references to AC as a must have.  My family moved to Fort Meyers area 20 years ago.  We moved in our new home in the middle of summer.  A lot of the things off the truck were put in the garage. The heat and humidity was so brutal, you literally could not spend much more than a 1/2 hour before having to go inside.

It is most common to see cars in the driveways until the weather breaks in the fall. I've seen people who put pool tables in their garage.  The wood warps and degrades.  Your benchwork is also a major consideration. 

I asked people, when do you get cold fronts to get a break in the weather.  After they picked themselves off the floor after laughing at me, the responded "after Thanksgiving".  Boy were they spot on.  From Easter until Thanksgiving it is consistently hot and humid.  In the Ocala area where you are moving, it also can go below freezing in deep winter.  

Scott, the most important issue is your personal health and enjoyment.  The trains can handle heat and humidity better than the human body.  Buy the insulation and AC for YOU!  Your trains will benefit in the process.  You guest and you will stay longer running your trains, instead of bee lining to the inside to cool down.  Just my opinion, and I'm sticking with it.

I hope the advice here is an affirmation of your intention to insulate and AC.  It is literally a no brainer.  Condition your environment.  Welcome to Florida.  Send me an email and I will explain the loofas and the meaning of the colors that people display on their golf carts.

MNCW posted:

Amfleet25124 posted:

Scott D. posted:

Hello, Everyone,

I am both new to the forum and new to modern O-gauge trains. My wife and I are contemplating a move to central FL to a home we would have custom built. In the central FL home we are contemplating, the only place available to run trains, at least O-gauge trains, would be the garage. Never having lived, full time, in FL, I have not much more than a vague idea of what could be done to run trains in a garage. Can anyone advise me:

(1) Is it possible, or even advisable, to run O-gauge trains in a garage in central FL?

(2) If the answer to (1) is "yes", and given the home is not yet built, what accommodations need to be made for the trains? Do I need to plan for A/C? Or can the trains survive the summer without A/C and without incurring damage (heat, condensing moisture, mildew, etc.)?

(3) What questions have I not asked that I should have asked?

Any help from our FL members would be greatly appreciated.

Scott D.

Scott,

My thread from 2017 when I was moving should provide you with some guidance.

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...e-humidity-real-trax

 

Kevin,

 I didn't see what the outcome was in your situation. Did you built a layout yet, if so where and how did it work out?

 I hope to retire in 2-3 years. Ocala Fl. and Upstate New York are on the short list if we move, Upstate NY is probably most likely. 

Tom 

Tom,

The first floor garage in the townhouse was used for motor vehicles and I squeezed a 52x100 table in the living room on the second floor where I dabbled around in temporary O, HO, and N layouts along with my regular Halloween  and Christmas  ones.

We since moved to a downtown hi-rise apartment, which is not conducive to model trains or model planes - power tools, saw dust, paint spray residue, etc. are a no go  - so right now all I have is 2x8 display area adjacent to the kitchen.  I did run a small HO Inglenook Sidings switching layout for a while though.  Other than that, 99% of my train running time has been at the two train clubs that I'm a member of. Downtown hi-rise living isn't all it's cracked up to be, so we're currently looking at moving again, preferably to a single-family house with a yard, etc.