Do most model railroaders really have that much trouble with dirty track and/or wheels? My layout is a medium size around the walls type in my basement. Walls are finished drywall and there is a suspended ceiling with overhead fluorescent lighting. The floor is unpainted concrete and there are no windows in the room nor any furnace outlets. This room is dedicated to the layout, although there’s lots of general household stuff stored under it and the single door to the room is usually kept open. Other rooms in the basement include a modelling workshop, recroom, and a laundry, so there’s a fair bit of incidental traffic in the area.
When I painted the track, I cleaned the railheads. When I installed ballast or built scenery near the track, I cleaned the railheads. When I needed to do layout work, like sawing lumber or plaster work, I vacuumed the track if required. But other than those occasions, I just run trains. The rail is not quite as shiny as when it has just been cleaned, but it is shiny. If you run your finger along the rail, you will get a black mark on your finger. But the trains run: no stutter, no stalling, no problem. I run D.C. and most of my locos are equipped with good quality can motors and all are well maintained. The only one that needs its wheels cleaned regularly is a 50 year old cast zinc steamer with brass wheels and an open frame motor. Most of my freight cars have the wheels that they came with, unless they are out-of-round or otherwise damaged, in which case they are replaced. The few cars that I have with brass wheels seem to attract more dirt and I have had to clean a couple of these. However, these are cars that are over 30 years old. I have an increasing number of cars with Proto2000 type metal wheels, and these have not been a problem, although they don’t have a great deal of mileage on them yet. I also have a number of cars, mostly scratchbuilt or highly modified cars, that have Kadee trucks and wheels. These cars are in the general mix of freight car
Hi Wayne.
I personaly had a terrable time with plastic wheels, changed them out with Protos. I also noticed black stuff starting to appear on the track after I installed Kadees wheel sets .Inspecting the wheel set of the Kadees i noticed they were shiney only where the tread wore on the track, i used a soft wire tool in the Dremel and removed the black off of the wheel treads. Also Maas the track and dont really have any more problems, other then a PK2 S1 of which needs wheel cleaning after about 6 to 8 hours running.
Dont sound like your having that much of a problem with track cleaning. But I would suggest, as you can afford it…change to steel wheels. I use to have to clean track 1 or 2 times a month, now its 1 or 2 times a year.
Take care…John
In short, we are all victims of oxidation degradation, one of the negatiive characteristics of metal, more so with brass than NS tracks.
Oxidation is the formation of a coating on the track, too thin to see, but thick enough to inhibit electrical contact.
It can’t be eliminated.
There’s are all sorts of factors that contribute to dirty track, oxidation being the primary reason.
Plastic wheels have additives that over time transfer onto track.
The KDs wheel coating also wears off but transfer onto the the rail head.
You have many product choices & procedures to clean up & reduce but never eliminate.
I went to Proto’s and don’t regret it. I have a “brigt boy track eraser”, CMX track cleaner and use rubbing alcohol in it and a use a spruce 2x4 bloc to “shine the rail”. regular cleaning is a must.
Fergie
Since I went to using the metal polish, cleaning is NOT a must . It is a distant thing in the PAST!
Hopefully everyone will try the metal polish as it eliminates track cleaning period! Otherwise you can waste YOUR model railroading time on a real productive project CLEANING your track Again and Again and Again!
Your choice!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
You folks ever heard of a product called FLITZ. You can buy it from Micro mark.for i think about ten bucks. Just get your self a clean rag,dab a we bit on the rag and wipe down the rails. This stuff will not tarni***he rails and it protects the rails againest oxidation.Also cleans just about any metal.
Patrick
Wayne,You just learn the simple fact that the majority of modeler railroaders has known for years and that is one doesn’t need to consistently clean track as is the popular belief.
Now contrary to the popular belief using metal wheels isn’t a must nor is plastic wheels a filthy word…I use both with the respected results my cars roll freely and every now and then my track needs clean.I use Radio Shacks Channel Turner Cleaner and clean track twice a year…Also there is nothing wrong with using a bright boy for track cleaning…Both clubs I am a member of and the majority of the modelers I know still uses a bright boy without any ill affects.
BTW…One doesn’t need to use ANY CHEMICALS to clean track…All you need is elbow grease and a bright boy.After all this simple system has work and still works quite well and not to mention with less risk of health hazards for you and your family.
I don’t have much problems yet,but the cars I’ve changed to steel wheels move better and so far no cleaning problems,I’ts going to take a while to get all the cars converted,but I’ll get er done.just like stated clean the black of the KD wheels.!!
JIM
I echo Jim’s remarks. My trains have run for an average of 80 minutes a week for over 35 weeks now, and I have yet to clean my track. I just cleaned my ‘water’ for the first time this morning…it did need the dust wiped off. So, the air is not prisitine in my basement.
I have also changed the vast majority of wheels sets to P2K or Kaydee, but at least one box car still has plastic. So far, no problems. When I do break down and clean the track for the first time, I will resort to a Bright Boy first. If that doesn’t do a good job (I have a suspicion that the Bright Boy leaves an organic residue on the surfaces), I’ll get a metal polish for mag wheels.
MR January 2003 along with MAAS which is about half the price. I have both.
MAAS/FLITZ layed off my Centerline & Tonys clean machine.
The best way to clean the track is run your trains. Occationally, I use some rubbing alcohol and a shop towel to wipe the rails down and to clean the wheels.
Nick Brodar
It’s reassuring to know that there are others out there who don’t have too much of a problem with dirty wheels or track. Other than the times noted in the original post, I’ve done no track cleaning in over ten years. If the problem ever arises, however, I’ll try the Maas or Flitz treatment.
Thanks to everyone for your comments.
Wayne
Hmmmm…FLITZ huh?? Ok, I see it on page 46 of the Fall 2005 catelog I just got in the mail last week. Might have to give it a try. $11.00 for 50 gram tube!!! Wow!
Save your money and just buy Mothers Mag Wheel Cleaner/Polish at Wal-Mart for about $3.00.
You do NOT have to use the expensive stuff.
The places that sell the Flitz and say it is just for cleaning model track are just taking the modelers for a ride.
Maybe I should repackage Mother Mag Wheel Polish and sell it for $20.00 bucks and make a killing!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
Walthers’ doesn’t work for nothing. Sells for $7.50 at hardware stores & Home Depot but twice
the $3.50 MAAS at Wal-Mart.
Try the MAAS. I will guarantee it and if you can’t get it I will ship a tube to you.
That same Flitz is advertized in the gunsmithing stuff to poli***he chambers. Same stuff, mutliple uses.
Mark in Utah
My layout is in my shop up here in the Pacific NorthWet. I run metal wheels. The only time I had to clean is when my son thought the track should be waxed which he obliged with a candle stub. Mutter, mutter. What the devil got into his double helix?
on my garden railway i had to clean the rails about evry other day! for that i had to use an abrasive pad. for indoor layouts, i find the dirt tends to have a more greasy feel and so i use thick cardboard and elbow grease. i would not want to use polish or other chemicals on the track. it may be ok for running metal wheeld stock and the rails, but what happens to the ties/sleepers over time. i would stick to cardboard.
Peter
Why is everybody so fired up on oiling their track with chemicals? Come on guys you might be adding to the cause.
Sounds like a pretty good system there Wayne! No fancy track cleaners. Whenever I do anything near mine, I clean the track too. Keeps things going good.