Garden Railway Forum

Hi

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on winter storage, i have 4 LGB locos, DCC powered. They currently reside in sidings out of the way under the garage benches.

This is my first winter with the railway in the garden so wondering if they'll be OK or do they need moving into the house?

The garage is really dry (for a garage) so i suppose the only issue would be the temperature, North East coast of the UK so it's not going to be arctic but can get down to minus 5 c.

Ideally id like to leave them where they are as might be able to get a couple of runs out of them over the winter once i clear all of the leaves up.

Steven,

I've been keeping all my LGB locos in a dry unheated garage for over twenty years, and I have had only one come to grief, as follows:
It was converted to battery power, and when a water pipe burst one winter, the spray filled the plastic box it was in, thoroughly soaking the mechanism. By the time I found it, the battery had electroplated one of the on-off switch terminals onto the other.
Moral obvious.

Temperature should not be a problem, although it can mess up batteries.
As long as the drop and warm up are gradual things should be okay.

Moisture is the big problem, I would have thought that LGB as designed to work outside should be more resistant than most.

It might be worth noting possible problems with condensation in electrics, particularly if things are brought in from a cold area to a warm one. (Just ask anyone who wears glasses)

Condensation can also be a problem in a garage if you decide to heat it.

My last lock up was well insulated (2 inch foam board on the ceiling) but I still had a problem with condensation when  I heated it.  

I think you have hit the nail on the head with 'Dry for a Garage'  this might be on the same lines as 'Honest for a politician'.

Just had a thought,

If the locos are in boxes, it wouldn't hurt to stuff a load of silica gel bags around them.

Big Jim:121289 wrote:Just had a thought,

If the locos are in boxes, it wouldn't hurt to stuff a load of silica gel bags around them.

That would be my thinking as well. I have heard of cases where DCC electronic circuitry has been adversely affected by environments such as a cold garage. I assume some sort of chemical reaction can occur when condensation settles on the circuit board. Quite expensive to replace.

Rik

Thanks for all of the suggestions, i think these are going to end up being brought in and put in storage crates under the stairs with a couple of those silica bags in them - saves spending the cash on some new DCC chips in the spring.

Hi all.
I used to keep my woodwork tools in a toolbox in an unheated garage but after winter a Stanley saw and record smoothing plane both showed a thin misting of rust. They now all reside under the stairs .
David

ge_rik:121293 wrote:That would be my thinking as well. I have heard of cases where DCC electronic circuitry has been adversely affected by environments such as a cold garage.

What's this 'ere DCC??

My question too, Brian! I still lovingly practice the rugger tackle method of locomotive control when my 'Millie' decides it is an InterCity 125. The electrickery involved in radio control is a bit much for me.

Peter in AZ

IrishPeter:121378 wrote:My question too, Brian!  I still lovingly practice the rugger tackle method of locomotive control when my 'Millie' decides it is an InterCity 125.  The electrickery involved in radio control is a bit much for me.

Peter in AZ

what could possibly go wrong with all of this!....

stevenfitch:121382 wrote:

what could possibly go wrong with all of this!....

Just add water!!!!!

Never mind water,

Just look at it in a funny way.

Just a thought. I keep my non loco stock in plastic boxes in the garage but my locos are kept in the house more for security than anything else.
The garage may be more easily broken into than my house and the locos are more difficult to replace.

That's my approach too! Better security and less corrosion - double win