I know this had been a beat up topic in the past but I need to ask because I cant seem to get search to work. I keep hearing about polishing the rails but how do you do this. I have tried this and seem to make a big mess. How much polish is needed and what method do you put it on the rails without getting it all over the ties and switch points?
Very little polish is neededand using a paste type polish also helps. I use chunks of cork roadbed as an applicator. Take a SMALL dab of polish and spread it out THINLY on the cork. Rub the rails with the cork until polished. Wipe off the rails with a cloth.
Using just a small amount of polish at a time, eliminates getting polish on the ties and other places you want to keep clean.
Track cleaning, you gotta love it.
Tilden
Rail Creme, a little dab’ll do ya,
Rail Creme, all the guys will stare
Rail Creme, the gals will pursue yaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Just rub a little on your…(cough) …rails.
*With apologies…[:D]
Metal polish can also be bought in stick form. Like you would use for a bench grinder buffing wheel. It comes in different grits and doesn’t make a mess like liquids. I just wipe the bar down the tops of the rails and buff with a piece of cork.
One of the easy ways is to use a piece of Masonite (rough side down) and epoxy two brass tubes to the top so they are vertical when the masonite is sitting in the rails. Then drill two holes in the bottom of an old box car and epoxy two brass tubes into the bottom of it so the two on the masonite can ride up and down in them. Be sure to sand a bevel on each end of the block so it doesn’t catch on anything and let it run. If you want you make it a little more complicated so you can remove the masonite from the Brass tubes so you can reuse the set up.
Thank you for your ideas, I will try them.