Q: I have Marx and Lionel trains and accessories, both old and new. How do I store them so that my daughters and I can enjoy them when we move to a new home with more space? My house has just two levels and three bedrooms. We live in Maryland and the temperature and humidity can vary considerably. Can I store them in the attic with the various temperature changes? Right now, the trains are in boxes under my bed and in my closet, but my wife is tired of moving the boxes to get a different pair of shoes. – E-mail from TFK
A: In the event storing the trains in the living areas of your home is not an option, I would suggest you place a desiccant, or drying agent, in with each train component to help absorb moisture. I’d also make sure the locomotives and any other component with metal parts are properly lubricated and wiped down with an oil-soaked cloth to inhibit the formation of rust. I’ve come across trains that were thoroughly corroded except where the gears and axles were coated with a lubricant.
