I have a train collection consisting mostly of MTH O-gauge, all in boxes. Is it reasonable to store the collection in a garage without heat or AC? I live in Saint Clair Shores, MI, an eastern suburb of Detroit.
611fan - Welcome to Trains.com! [C):-)]
A few questions for you:
- When you say “all in boxes”: Do you mean each in their original box? Or, do you mean all lumped together loosely in a single box?
- Are locomotives included in the collection and will be stored in the garage, too?
- How warm or how cold does it get in your garage?
As long as they are protected well and out of extreme heat and cold and dust, storing your rolling stock should be fine. However, given the hardening and/or breakdown of lubricants in severe conditions, I would move any locomotives inside, where they would not be exposed to the wide swings of temperatures.
Tom
Almost everything is in original boxes. Unfortunately, in SE MI, there may be extremes of temperature. Sounds like I may have to put the collection in climate-controlled storage.
I live in Dallas Tx. We have temps from the single digits to 110F. When I got married I actually forgot about my trains for a while and my mother put them in an aluminum lawn shed to get them out of the house. Several years later when I bought a house she called and asked if I still wanted them or she was going to get rid of them. I came over and everything was intact! Granted most of it was Athearn Blue Box stuff but everything worked and no problems at all. When I moved from Oklahoma back to Dallas I put most everything in a stor-all place. non temp controlled. It was snowing outside. I am still taking things out 2 years later and all is good except a few chemicals I use. I have been using plastic tubs for years because of less interaction with rodents and bugs. The seal fairly well and are decently strong. Inside the house I use Train storage boxes that are card board and stor them under my layout.
RMax
I have stored my trains in plastic file folder tubs, padded with thin extruded foam (fan-fold underlayment.) So far, the worst I’ve had to contend with have been some gummy lubricant.
My layout space is a non-climate-controlled garage, and most of my rolling stock lives there permanently. The 100 degree temperature swings and nonexistent humidity don’t seem to have any ill effects on metals and plastics. I do inspect and lubricate on a scheduled basis - preventive maintenance seems to work,
As for boxes, most of those the cars and locomotives came in have long since found a home in various landfills.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I stored mine in metal storage trunks in 1968, in a garage and storage buildings in northern Ca, opened in 2003, no problems at all, except I change to metal wheel and the kadees worked like a charm.