I have only one loco that can pull my CMX around my level oval. That is my loyal FP7 from Intermountain. Neither of my Bachmann 3 truck Shays can move it more than a few feet. The CMX is filled with isopropyl alcohol for the cleaning passes.
Are my Shays that short on tractive effort?
Is my choice of alcohol causing too much drag?
Bruce in Winnipeg
We use 3 Kato C44-9W engines to pull the CMX on our HO scale club layout – it is definitely hard to pull, especially when the pad is wet. We use lacquer thinner, but any liquid on the pad increases the drag on it.
There’s no better track cleaning car, though.
I use 2 P2K SD60s to pull mine. I agree, they need a bit of horsepower to drag them around but it is worth the effort.
I have to consist together two subway motors to pull my CMX through the subway tunnels. Because of low clearance down there, these are the only powered units I have which can do the job.
I think that using lacquer thinner as the solvent, rather than alcohol, makes pulling the CMX a bit easier. It’s also a more effective cleaner. Try to do it when you can ventilate the room, but with a light flow you’ll hardly notice the odor.
I use 3 Proto GP9’s to pull mine around my layout. One just won’t do it.
Nope! I have to double head with a USRA 2-6-6-2 and a Connie or Mike to do mine, especially with the 2% grades on the SLOW. Don’t mind as it gives me a chance to double-head. I also use a car with a magnet ahead of the train to pick up any stray bits of metal that may have found its way there. The car has some serious drag, but does a good job!
If you use lacquer thinner be aware that it will melt anything made of plastic on contact, ties, details, etc… Please don’t ask me how I know. I’d stick with the alcohol. Try to get 90% for the job if you can find it.
Great track cleaning car!
73
I use lacquer thinner in mine and down at the club. Just set the ‘drip rate’ and you will not notice the smell. If the drip rate is too fast, you could build up a ‘puddle’ when the car is stopped and melt some ties. If you can smell it from across the room, it is set to fast!
Lacquer thinner really ‘cuts’ through the crud. I use my CMX with a Masonite pad track cleaning car(and a P2K GP9 on each end). This combination really works good. I have converted the Masonite pad so that it has some 150 mesh ‘drywall screen’ glued to it - sort of ‘self cleaning’.
Jim
Have a dedicated work train consisting of a CMX which has the wet pad, a gondola holding track material and then a second CMX with a dry pad. The train is pulled by two Kato GP35’s, which do just fine pulling it through three decks including helix’s.
Bob