Are the track cleaning cars all they're cracked up to be??

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’ve discovered over the weekend that my track needs to be cleaned, only after about an hour of running trains this past week and after cleaning about 5 feet of track with a pencil eraser, I’m wondering about purchasing a track cleaning car, but wondered if they beat good ole’ elbow grease and patience (which I have little of when I can’t run the train!)

Does anybody have any opinions on if they are worth purchasing and if so, which one is a preferred model? I’m modeling HO scale.

Skip

2

Try 91% rubbing alcohol and a clean rag-preferably white and cut into squares.I use old T-shirts.

I also wrap the bottle cap in the rag-this save you from running your fingers over the rail with the rag.Place 2 fingers on the bottle cap as you clean…

3

[:-^]

The LM&E runs a MOW track cleaning train.

It is made up of two Centerline cars, one running wet and one running dry followed by a masonite pad car and then a hopper dragging a weighted piece of leather (rough side down) underneath. That leather kit came from a fellow in Texas, I believe. But can’t remember his name right now. But if you mount it correctly the car will even go backwards through turnouts without any problems.

The wet car runs with either 70% alcohol or Goo-Gone, I really can’t see much difference between the two fluids for the cleaning.

I am very satisfied with the Centerline cars. [swg] I much prefer to run trains than to hand scrub track.[xx(]

Johnboy out…

4

I’ve got a CMX “clean machine” car. It’s one of the high-priced track cleaners, but it does a great job. I tried it with alcohol, which worked OK, but the recommended lacquer thinner works even better.

I have subways, and most of the track is “underground.” So, it’s hard to clean by hand, even with liftoffs making most of the track pretty accessible. I had always planned to use a cleaner car, and when I ran the CMX for the first time I was really happy that my trains started working again down there.

I need to run mine about once every 4 months.

5

I have an older Centerline car on the workbench, bumped by a work train with two CMX track cleaners, one running liquid, then a gondola, then the second CMX running a dry pad. Works great on my 3 deck Santa Fe with a lot of hidden track.

Bob

6

I use a CMX tank car for wet run, a scratch build caboose (like Centerline ) with every other train. And I use a rubber. Best way : running trains!

Wolfgang

7

Are the track cleaning cars all they are cracked up to be? If your talking about the CMX Clean Machine then yes they are. I don’t believe you will find a better car and although they are expensive they are worth every penny. I clean my track about once every 5-6 months and make a work train out of it. I use alcohol in mine, I tried GOO GONE once but it left a film on the rails that I didn’t like.

8

Well, I guess you can’t be too careful nowadays… [swg]

9

Hi,

Sounds like these CMX cars are good. Is there any reason why I should not use one on Unitrack? What is the best stuff to put in them?

Thanks

Paul

10

Skip, I use Trailing track cleaning cars, I have 3 at $13.95 each and work well. I usually run a track cleaning train with one car being pushed and 2 being dragged. I bought them about two years ago and have not touched my bright boy after that.

Cuda Ken

11

Use the “gleam” method described in detail many times in prior threads of the forum… and you hardly ever have to clean track.

Hal

12

I would also recommend the CMX machine. Does an excellent job of cleaning.

I have used both alcohol and the Lacquer Thinner. While the lacquer thinner does an excellent job of cleaning the track, it also does a great job of melting anything plastic that is in the ROW. I am using the Atlas turnouts and flex track and have had no trouble with the ties, but there are plastic guard rails in their turnouts that don’t take to it well… I highly recommend 91% alcohol. It does a good job. I only run the car once every couple months and seldom have any problems with the track.

13

I don’t think I want to “gleam” my track, three decks, a lot of hidden track. I will stick with my two CMX cars.

Bob

14

Sir - Track cleaning cars are a TOOL that can be used in conjunction with “elbow grease”, Good trackwork, careful attention to as clean a layout room as possible and proper routine maintenance of your locos and rolling stock.

Jimmy

15

I still use elbow grease to clean all my track, but the use of a $15 Walthers and a couple home made masonite track cleaning cars has really cut down on the manual cleaning.

16

Bob, I get your point. The three decks and a lot of hidden track would be difficult. Maybe just the easy to reach main lines.

Hal

17

dhs:

I tried to build a “gleaming pad” for my homebuilt slider cars. It had a large flat stainless-steel washer, glued to a thin pad. It didn’t work…somehow, I forgot a certain minor electrical drawback… [:D]

It would have been perfect for a job like this…

18

I highly recommend that you clean your track using the GLEAM method. I did it on mine back in 2005 and haven’t had to do a major cleaning since. Just a quick wipe with a dry cloth is all that’s needed. I do that while running a train by pushing an old IHC track cleaning caboose (dry) ahead of the loco for one trip around the layout the repeat that for the other track. In five minutes the track is clean, and my layout is roughly 8 feet x 10 feet with over 100 feet of track.