I’ve gleamed my tracks a few years ago, then went on a period of inactivity in the hobby. When I started running trains again a few weeks ago, all I needed to do was vacuum the dust off (or use those new Woodland Scenics “Dust Monkey” truck attachments, and run over any stubborn areas with a piece of spare cork roadbed.
No spraying anything, no chemicals, no Bright Boys, the trains ran just fine.
I use 600 and then 1200 grit sandpaper though.
I wonder, though, if you can just use a Bright Boy instead of the coarser grade sandpaper, then use the finer sandpaper, then burnish, whether that gets you the same result. I think the operative process is the burnishing.