The Heating Season?

On Page 46 and 47 of the July issue, Pelle Soeborg’s mentions laying track during the “heating season”. I’m assuming this is a European reference to Spring and Summer? Or did he mean something else?

He probably means Wintertime, when you have to use a heater in your house.

Ahh…them Europeans using their “fancy talk” to confuse us simple-worded Americans.[:D]

Naa…Who said that?

In Minnesota the heating season is September - June. I’m quite certain that July and August are the only months I’ve never run the furnace.

I took it to mean heating season was when you had to use your heater… winter.

We were still using the wood stove this past month. Man this has to be the worst spring I’ve seen! According to my Dad the last time he saw a spring tlike this was back in 47’.

It will be interesting to see what effect the warmer and more humid weather will do to my newly ballasted track (cringe).

Spring? Did you say spring Fergie? Man, it’s been in the high 80’s and middle 90’s here for the past three weeks or so and no rain to speak of. Grass has even quit growing so only have to mow a few weeds. Turn your big fan on and blow some of that cool air or way!!! I’ve got plenty of wood to burn. [(-D][(-D][(-D]

Don’t ya just hate people who are full of HOT air! (LOL)

I’ll even send ya some rain to quell your thirst.

“Heating Season” sounds like a dodgy translation from another language to me - the Fleischmann catalogue usually has a few interesting ones like this. I’ve never heard it used over here, so I’d guess it to be a direct translation from whatever language the original book was written in. Phrases like this often don’t work if directly translated.

Heating and air conditioning people commonly refer to the “heating season” and “cooling season” in their trade. It’s not as uncommon as some think.

Are you talking about laying prototype track, or a time of year when modelers stay in to lay track?

If we’re talking prototype, that would have been in the spring and summer–in winter the ground freezes and makes it much more difficult to lay track, and historically tracklaying gangs took the winter off and started up again in spring.

If we’re talking model railroader, I suppose that in colder climes folks start working on their model railroads in winter months when it’s too cold to do outdoor things anymore.

Fergie,

Do you use a dehumidifier? My trains are in the basement so when the furnace goes off in the spring, the dehumidifier comes on. So far, I have not had any problems with the track (all on homasote).

Tom