G Scale Model Train Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

What do you do outside on rainy days?

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 29 Posts

Jerry McColgan

· Senior Member
Joined
·
3,227 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
There has been rain off and on the past few days and probably more of the same coming.

I admit to having enjoyed running some trains in a heavy downpour (I don't recommend it for anyone else as there is a significant potential for damage to trains and even some degree of danger if not done properly).

Rather than getting into running trains in the rain I would instead like to ask what everyone does when rain may be imminent or when rain has just ended?

Do you have personal guidelines for when you might risk a train getting wet?

What do you do if your train accidentally gets wet? Very wet?

What if the sun is out but the track etc. is very wet?

Perhaps the worst advice anyone ever gave me was to run new Aristo Heavyweights in the rain to "weather" them. The resulting rust caused me to dump them on eBay and replace them - never to ever be run in the rain. The advice was probably well intentioned and probably from someone who did not mind rust on his coaches.

I don't have any recommendations or advice to offer. I am just curious what others might be doing on rainy days? I never let anything that is not LGB get wet but I have a friend who does everything I do not do - and does it with various brands - with damage he can live with.

Any comments should be taken at face value. Ask the poster if you have any questions about what they are doing.

Just curious.

Jerry
 
#2 ·
To answer the subject line question: "What do you do outside on rainy days"

I get wet.

Actually I like running on rainy days! I have all brass engines (Live Steam) and all plastic cars, so water is not really a problem. I do put the R/C receiver in a plastic bag to TRY to keep it dry, but it is a plastic housing, so I really don't worry too much about it.

My criteria is mainly that it is not too hot, or windy, or storming (hail is not pleasant).

The reasons I like to run in the rain:

1) The neighbors that smoke are not out and I can enjoy being out in FRESH air.
2) When it is cool and raining (high humidity) the steam from the engine is VERY evident and a joy to watch.
3) The neighbors that smoke are not out and I can enjoy being out in FRESH air. (I realize that is the same as reason #1, but it is so important to me that it bears repeating.)
4) The neighborhood kids are not out with their "music" blaring (I use that "music" term loosely).
5) The neighbors that smoke are not out and I can enjoy being out in FRESH air.
 
#3 ·
What do you do outside on rainy days?

What's rain????????

Was that the stuff that used to come from the sky that our "elders" spoke of? Don't know anything about this "rainy day" thing here in California. :)
 
#4 ·
It's raining here in Melbourne, Australia too. Inch and a half on it's way.
'2) When it is cool and raining (high humidity) the steam from the engine is VERY evident and a joy to watch.'
Yeah... Good idea!

Andrew
 
#6 ·
If there is no lightening, I dance in it!:)

Mostly I have a variety of projects and some are saved for the rainy days.
John
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#7 ·
what a question,I had to work in the rain,so playing trains in the rain is a joy,most of the time here in Utah its pretty dry and hot,in the heat I have 2-3 trains (Sparky s)on standby,live steamers run in any weather!My 0 4O lgb with powered tender and six cars I forgot after heavy snowfall to get them of the track after the spring melt they where laying on the side battery dead but the revo did still work ok(new battery)
 
Discussion starter · #8 · (Edited)
Semper Vaporo said:
To answer the subject line question: "What do you do outside on rainy days"

I get wet.

Actually I like running on rainy days! I have all brass engines (Live Steam) and all plastic cars, so water is not really a problem. I do put the R/C receiver in a plastic bag to TRY to keep it dry, but it is a plastic housing, so I really don't worry too much about it.

My criteria is mainly that it is not too hot, or windy, or storming (hail is not pleasant).

The reasons I like to run in the rain:

1) The neighbors that smoke are not out and I can enjoy being out in FRESH air.
2) When it is cool and raining (high humidity) the steam from the engine is VERY evident and a joy to watch.
3) The neighbors that smoke are not out and I can enjoy being out in FRESH air. (I realize that is the same as reason #1, but it is so important to me that it bears repeating.)
4) The neighborhood kids are not out with their "music" blaring (I use that "music" term loosely).
5) The neighbors that smoke are not out and I can enjoy being out in FRESH air.
Click to expand...
Live Steam in the Rain?

I have to admit - that never occurred to me!

Neighbors? I could fire a 30-06 in any direction and not worry about hitting anyone - and no one would care. :)

Emphysema cured my wife's smoking - perhaps your neighbors will change their wicked ways. The air is definitely cleaner here now. It only took 45 years to happen. :(

I guess my Aristo LS Mike would be safe too?

What about coaches? My Aristo LS PRR Mike normally pulls 6 PRR Heavyweights that would be destroyed by rain and my Aristo & Bachmann metal wheels would rust (LGB metal wheels would not rust but $$$).

Your comments opened my eyes & brightened my day.

Thanks,

Jerry

Now what was my Steamaholics number? :eek:
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
lotsasteam said:
what a question,I had to work in the rain,so playing trains in the rain is a joy,most of the time here in Utah its pretty dry and hot,in the heat I have 2-3 trains (Sparky s)on standby,live steamers run in any weather!My 0 4O lgb with powered tender and six cars I forgot after heavy snowfall to get them of the track after the spring melt they where laying on the side battery dead but the revo did still work ok(new battery)
Click to expand...
LGB 0-4-0 with powered tender and six cars - a.k.a. my "Rain Train" (track power of course :p).
 
#16 ·
Jerry McColgan said:
I thought California was supposed to be the perfect place to live - what happened? ;)
Click to expand...
Hey Jerry,

IMHO California IS the perfect place to live. It's the politicians in Sacramento that irritate me. AND with this drought (which is very real BTW) is discussed up there, the water is mostly stored in Northern California and we here in So. Cal. don't get THAT water. You would not believe the amount of water used in the high-rent areas of Brentwood and Beverly Hills with 5 acre and 10 acre estates, using more water in a week that the moderate sized home uses in a year! Of course there are fines, but these folks just pay it and continue to water their plush landscapes.

All the scientists were predicting a very wet winter here with a super El Nino, but it never happened. After Mulholland built the water system here in the late twenties and early thirties, we had plenty of water. The problem is, we still live in a desert here. It always was. Life styles changed and green lawns and palm trees sprouted up everywhere. We're learning to cope and actually it's not that bad. You just don't waste water anymore.

I'm going back to Ft. Riley, Kansas in a couple of weeks for my 50th Reunion of the 9th Inf Div and to tell you the truth, I'm NOT really looking forward to the humidity there. Fine when I was 22, I could take it. But at 72......NOT so much.
 
#17 ·
Image


"Rain" here in Colorado is typically non-existent or "total deluge complete with marble-sized hail." I took this photo on Tuesday, after just getting the trains brought into the clubhouse before the skies opened up.

So, consider me part of the "watch from the comfort of the indoors" crowd.

Later,

K
 

Attachments

1 - 20 of 29 Posts
About this Discussion
28 Replies
10 Participants
Last post:
Jerry McColgan
G Scale Model Train Forum
posts
460K
members
32K
Since
2007
A forum community dedicated to G scale model train owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about collections, displays, models, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Live Steam General G Scale Discussions Beginner's Forum Model Making Track, Trestles, Bridges and Roadbed