A question about temperature and model locomotives

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’m just wanting to know if I need to leave a model locomotive in my car when outside temperature is between 10-15 degrees, would it do any damage to it? I guess the same could be asked if you had one delivered mail order or parcel post and it too had to set outside for 4 to 6 hours, would the lube oil freeze or plastic be damaged?

Thanks,Ralph

2

I don’t think there would be a problem. However, I think I would let the loco warm up before trying to run it, as the gear lube could be cold and hard for the motor to turn it until warmed up.

Good luck,

Richad

3

+1 for what Cowman said… just let it “thaw” before use.

Happy RR’ing!

Duane

4

Agree X3. Even when sitting inside at room temp, my brass tends to be a little stiff and definitely runs better after it’s run some.

Depending on how it’s assembled, you probably want to avoid such repeated wide excursions in temps. The back and forth of contraction and expansion can loosen glue joints. I’ve heard some people even pop an item in the freezer at home to help break CA glue joints loose with minimal damage.

5

The lube could be the last thing to warm up, so give it extra time or it could put strain on the moving parts.

6

Well, it is -1 degrees here in Minnesota. I left a pair of Atlas Genset engines in the car - I can ‘test’ them for you! If you take them inside, and remove them from the boxes, they should be thawed out in about 30 minutes. I have had eBay purchases take the slow boat(USPS) and never had a problem! Once they are to room temp, the gear lube should be soft…

Jim

7

Thanks to all of you! I thought it would be ok, but that’s what is great about the forum, it helps take the guess work out! And Jim, it’s your -1 thats headed our way but the friction of the speed at which it’s moving will warm it up a few degrees.

Thanks again, Ralph

8

The temperature in our clubhouse sometimes gets down into the upper 30s in the Winterime, and close to 100 in the Summertime, because the heat or air conditioning is not turned on unless members are present.

None of our locomotives seem to have suffered any damage from long term exposure to such temperatre swings.

9

I’ve had Athearn BB and the like exposed to -40F with no problems. Let them warm up in the box to control condensation before running.

10

Jim must be in SOUTHERN Minnesota. It’s -20 here in NE Minnesota.

11

Lots of good responses and advice, thank you everyone!

Ralph

12

YUP - Rochester is in the ‘Sunny South’ of Minnesota!

Jim

13

Hi,

Today’s locos have some significant electronics implanted in them. The possibility of condensation on boards, etc., could occur in going from cold to warm and potentially do damage when fired up. Anyway, just another reason to let the loco acclimate to its new environment.

14

Good point, hadn’t thought of that. Probably a bigger issue for the larger scales, too, as it takes longer for an O scale something to warm up than Z scale.

15

This morning it was -20. Where I live right now we have very little snow. I usually bank the house with snow when it finally arrives. Because there is no snow the temperature in my basement, where the layout is located, was about 48 degrees. My locomotives were very slow to get moving this morning. So, I can attest to it being fact that they do like it warmer.