I’ll be moving to Mesa, AZ in a few weeks and I’ve heard that it’s a good area for MRR people, could this possibly be true?
Well, it is a dry heat!
Once wood dries out, it doesn’t generally swell up again.
There are a few decent train shops in the area.
It’s rarely too cold!
Why?
Seriously, you will not find the “Valley of the Sun”, as this area is popularly labelled, a “hotbed” of model railroading activity and, like Florida, you are going to find basements few and far between. Tucson, for reasons far beyond my comprehension, seems to have a more dynamic model railroading activity than does the Phoenix metropolitan area. Temps are usually between a hundred and a hundred and ten degrees from June through September; the earliest it has ever hit triple digits is March 22nd, 1988 but that was an anomalie and the normal date – whatever that means – for hitting 100 degrees for the first time is somewhere in the vicinity of May 20th; one hundred degree temps for the month of October are rare. It is rare for the temperature to not reach at least seventy degrees in December, January, and February.
Model railroads in this area are usually located in either a spare bedroom or in the “Family” room although there are a few layouts located in stand alone structures. Garages generally get very, very hot in the summertime so, if that is where you elect to locate your layout then you can expect to pretty well confine your layout activity to the months of October through April. What do you do in the other five months of the year? well you paint, superdetail, repair, build structures, etc, etc, and so forth.
Unless something got past me in the dark it’s been a great number of moons since the last traveling swapmeet came to Phoenix. The Arizona Division/Pacific Southwest Region/National Model Railroad Association has three meets during the year – November in Tucson, March in Phoenix, June or July in the north country – Sedona or Flagstaff. The Scottsdale Railroad Park sponsors a two day event called Railfair in October – after it has cooled off just a bit; there is another railroad theme park at 43rd AVENUE and Pinnacle Peak Road in the fa
I have somewhat similar temps here, but the humidity often exceeds the heat index! I hate the humidity more every year, so I’m goona try the opposite extreme. We have a real lack of quality Hobby shops here (I’m from Chicago originally, so I’m spoiled.) and railfanning takes real tenacity. I just look forward to being close to my son and I hope to join a Free-Mo group. I don’t have a layout here either so I won’t be missing that…
Neutrino:
You’re moving to dry heat. Which means dust. Which means, if you do decide to build a model railroad, make sure that your Hand-Vac and you become Very Best Friends, LOL! Believe me, I know. It extends all the way up here into Northern California. So, for that matter, do the summer temperatures.
Arizona is a very neat state. Hope you enjoy it there. And if it gets too hot at times, take a trip north to Flagstaff. You won’t believe you’re in the same state. Big mountains and lots of pine trees. About 8,000 feet high. Great area. And it’s on the BNSF ‘Transcon’, so there’s between 30-60 trains on a good day. [:P]
Tom [:)]
Tom - Yes Northern AZ is almost like Wisconsin to a Midwesterner! I spent some time in Flagstaff back in 1974. It is beautiful up there for sure.
Congrats on the move there!! I went to that state on numerous occasions—always enjoyed it–[tup]
I just got back form some vacation time in AZ and had a blast, lots to do and see.
There are of course two excellent MRR suppliers in the state. www.litchfieldstation.com is IMO one of the best DCC vendors in the entire US. Also there is the fantastic Arizona Rock a Mineral Company, who have supplied all the ballast for my RR here illinois.
… I have only one at home…[swg]
R.T.POTEET - you made my day!
Why stop there? Keep going and come to RIverside CA. It only gets over 100 in extreme summers (2006) and the humidity is not to bad. Plus we are close to LA, San DIego, Orange County, Big Bear and lake Arrowhead. Most in less than 90minute mostly because of traffic.
At any rate I hope all goes well for you in your new location.
I’d love to move back to Cali, I lived in Ventura for two years back in the early 70’s (That’s how I spent a few days in Flagstaff.) and loved the whole west coast thing, but my son who I haven’t seen but twice in the last 12 years, owns a home in Mesa and it’s a chance to finally spend quality time with him since I just retired and HATE this State im in now…
Thanks for all the good wishes!
Welcome to sunny Arizona, Jerry. Your are gonna love it here.
I moved to Mesa from Oakbrook, IL in 1984, just 25 years ago come November 1. Have lived in Sunny Scottsdale, AZ for 20 years, and love it. As you have probably heard it is a dry heat, normally when it is 110 the humidity is only 8 to 14 percent. Believe me a lot more comfortable than the summer I spent in St. Louis at 100 degrees plus and 98 percent humidity.
I have insulated and air conditioned my garage with window air condidtioners so have a nice 20 x 24 foot railroad room.
You will be happy to learn that the real estate market is offering some great bargains due to the wonderful recession we are having. I am a licensed Realtor and just did a search for a man from Alberta, Canada and found 15 homes in the Mesa/Gilbert area with a swimming pool and a two car garage for under $250,000. The IRS is offering a first time buyers credit of $8,000 if puchased before 10/30/2009 to boot if you qualify.
So come on over, you’ll never look back.
Oak Brook huh? Strictly uppa class! We moved from Glenn Ellyn to Kissimmee 13 years ago and I’m looking forward to the “Dry Heat”. My son loves it there too and can’t stand the humidity here either.
I’m looking forward to meeting all you guys at some time in the future… A nice warm, but dry welcome.
Welcome to Arizona!
If you ever venture southward, come to Sierra Vista, altitude 6,000 feet, where it’s much cooler in the summertime than Tucson or Phoenix.
We don’t have a single hobby shop here, but we do have the only model railroad club in Cochise County.
You can visit us on-line at http://members.cox.net/cacole2
Sierra Vista sounds interesting. I’m going to have to get down there and check it out. I see Tombstone is nearby too, cool! Er, I mean hot…
Welcome to Arizona. I am a Chandler resident since 1980. Before that I was raised in Park Forest, South of Chicago. I am building a HO layout in a spare 12x12 bedroom. I also have a Air conditioned garage but I really need to use it as a workshop so the trains stay inside where there are no dust problems. Also the layout is temperature stable.
I have traveled quite a bit in the summer but I can’t ever get back to the dry heat quick enough.
Look us up when you get settled in. Roys Train World is a good store as is Mesa Models on the East side. As previously stated Litchfield Station is great for DCC parts and advise. There also are several clubs in the Phoenix area.
Joe
Arizona Central Shops
Wrong.