As I stated above when this thread originally started, my post war trains were stored in an attic - without insulation in the crawl space - for 38 years.

When I retreived them, nothing was melted or rusted. Some of the switch controller wiring had the usual brittleness you find in this wiring from this time period. Other than that - no damage.

New Jersey summers are brutally hot and winters get below zero for a stretch of time.

Modern electronics may be more fickle, but as it relates to my own trains, I did a 38 year real time study that specifically addressed your question as it related to post war trains. The results of the study indicate your attic conditions will not negatively impact the condition or performance of trains that don't contain circuit boards.

I'm 55 and I doubt I could duplicate this study with modern trains and be able to report the results.

quote:

I'm 55 and I doubt I could duplicate this study with modern trains and be able to report the results.

i disagree frank ... that takes you to 90 ... what i do agree with is that modern equipment with electronic circuit boards will not survive 35 years in an attic

Not too long ago there was a thread about modern trains getting wet and someone posted that they had a flood that drenched all their modern trains. The gentlemean also stated that he let them dry out and out of 20 something trains, all were salvaged. Thats being said I feel alot more secure in my decision to construct the layout in the attic.