Is rust going to be a problem now?

Having lived in Charlotte for 9 years, I recall it wasn't necessarily the heat, but the relative humidity. I'd say "go for it", but in the back of my mind would always be the option of Stainless Steel Gargraves track.

 

Gilly

I live in central NC and use my two car garage for a woodworking shop.  I have always had to fight rust on equipment and mold.  After fighting the issue for many years, I discovered it was worth the cost of a small window as unit to keep the humidity down.

 

A $200 window as unit and about $30 in electricity and rust will not trouble you.  Otherwise, you will constantly be fighting it.

 

Good luck and happy railroading,

Don

Rust is always a problem.  It's your choice whether you decide to fend it off, or let it become your nemesis.  Bob S.

Rust can happen on track on layouts placed in garages or basements but before we complain take a look at real railroad track. The top of the rails on well used routes  stay bright while the sides always rust. Of late I am painting track a dark super flat camo brown so that all the track rail sides have a prototypical look.  If you want the bright toy train track look, Gargraves stainless track may be a solution for you. Otherwise don't worry about it as all track rails rust.

FWIW, the GG stainless does not have the shiny tinplate finish; it's not prototypical

brown/black, but the steel color is a muted gray, sort of a satin finish. Looks better than

the chrome track.

===

Rooms not having any sort of climate control will, of course, let the weather do more

to any equipment inside. I live considerably south of you, near the Gulf, and I do not

think that you will find the Humidity Monster to be all-powerful.

 

Having said that, your garage should have a window-unit A/C installed - for your comfort

as well as machinery care. A space-heater will be nice, too. Just common sense,

really. My shop is tighter than a garage, but the A/C, or heater, is not on when I'm not using it. No rusty heaps.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I recently unboxed my daughter's old train set from 1982 that had been in an un-conditioned attic since about 1984 and I was amazed that there was only a trace of rust on a few pieces of the old O27 track and none on any of the train itself. That's about 30 years up there in extreme cold, heat and humid Midwest summers. The track was just in a box with a lid and the train was wrapped in old sewing pattern paper. I was expecting to find nothing but rust and was really surprised at the lack of it. 

 

In the same house I had a table saw and joiner, each with cast iron tops in the basement which was a fully conditioned space (supply and return ducts) and the tops had rust problems. The old basement was more comfortable than the living space upstairs in both summer and winter. Don't know if it was the difference in metals or what, but the different results between the tools and the trains were sure the opposite of what I had expected. I never thought trains in the attic was a good idea prior to this?

 

You may be in an area of more moisture in the air (closer to ocean), but I might try it and see? I believe I would still recommend trying to get some kind of heat and a/c in there if that is at all possible. Creature comfort (mine) would also be a big concern for me.  

They do sell combination heat and air units that work really well in the NC climate.

I run a couple of dehumidifiers in my basement and it minimizes any rust. I picked these up at yard and estate sales and did not pay over $20 for either one.

 

My personal garage experiences tells me to block off the windows, or at least cover metal from direct sunlight. Direct sunlight warming the air first (and fast), allows condensation to form on the cooler metal.

The best thing is not to open close garage door during the hot and humid summer months I just keep a dehumidifier in there year round. If this is going to be just a train room just put a single door for entering and exiting garage and only opening garage door for taking bigger thing out and in also could  think about putting a heat pump  system witch is A/C & heat for your garage. My layout is in my two car garage and all I use is a dehumidifier but I do not have any direct sunlight in garage at all it's kind of cool in the summer and not to bad in the winter. When it's cold during the winter in my garage I can get away with a space heater when I an in there. Good luck

Yes.  They make a thing called a de-humidifier.  Worthy looking into . . . 

AGREE   with both billy and lee.  get a de-humidifier.  not all that expensive to buy or to run.  use the timer feature.

I spent a number of years doing industrial HVAC work applications. Use a humidistat if you are going to bother, timers don't sense change in temp/humidity, & it wont run if its not needed.

A dehumidifier will keep the humidity down but with our sultry summers in NC, why not also add a comfortable temperature as well.  I used a dehumidifier for three or four years in my garage and while it kept the humidity down, it also made the room hotter.  I also believe that window AC units are more energy efficient than most dehumidifiers.  If I were doing a basement area, I would probably use the dehumidifier because the temperature is usually OK.

 

The 6000 BTU window unit now keeps my two car garage reasonably comfortable and my tools rust free.

 

Good luck on your decision and happy railroading,

Don