Greetings from Semafore. It’s been some time since I posted threads. About two or three years?
I’ve noticed some recent activity regarding the GLEAM method I began back in '06. I think it’s great modelers are still trying things out. My main curiosity is how many have tried? BTW the best lead is a search for ‘gleam’ in the forum search box.
I’m a believer Richard. After one initial test section on my SOL RR I’ve now completed gleaming all the rails. I am totally satisfied with the results- well worth the effort. Roy
Count me in. I was so impressed with it that I’ve been suggesting it to others since I first tried it back in 2006.
Same as the above. I’ve even lifted ‘gleamed’ flex track and re-laid it WITHOUT repeating the full treatment - and the only cleaning it needs is an occasional vacuuming to remove construction debris.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Hello, Richard Breton.
I had been plagued with poor running trains and lots of stalling all over my layout. My layout sits idle for long periods of time. I had to resort to cleaning the rails every time I wanted to run trains or show off the layout to visitors.
I tested the Gleam method on a short section of track on my little layout over two years ago. It was so immediately successful that I Gleamed the entire layout. Took about 3 days, even though the layout is small. Since then, I have yet to clean the track!
I have promoted the virtues of the Gleam method on almost every rail forum there is. It is a fantastic process that really works.
Several years ago, I built a small N scale circle layout that fits within my artificial Christmas tree. When setting it up in 2008, I Gleamed the circle of track. The real test came this past Christmas. I took the layout out of storage, set it up in the tree, placed a train on the tracks and it ran perfectly thoughout the entire Christmas season! A FULL YEAR in storage and not ONE stall or hesitation! Just can’t beat a system that works so well!
I have been a very vocal advocate of the Gleam method. I have always felt bad about not being able to give credit to the person who invented the process. Did you come up with the Gleam method or did you learn of it through someone else? I’d really like to give credit where it is due.
Since I was a boy, I too was plagued by this mundane chore. The solace was that whether a beginner, novice, or master, on this playing field we were all equal. So I was like,“How can I model more and track clean less?”
LIfe went along, the hobby was stowed but not forgotten. 25 years later, my interest resurfaced. And so did this plague. I joined the Deerfield Beach Railroad Museum. SFRM.ORG which has a few running displays.
One nite I was reconditioning the frets on a guitar. I came up with this method. I suddenly realized that NS rails are of similar material, so I tried it on the track. BAM! Then I began the research of how it works, and on the relationship between the prototype and model rails. I used the museum’s displays as guinnea pigs. As time progressed, the benefits of long-term virtually maintenance-free operation was evident. Do it once at a very inexpensive investment, get some exercise, bond with the track, as it is the very essence and foundation to smooth model train operation: seamless electrical continuity.
It seems to me that it condenses a lot of future track cleanings into one application. To furthur the debate, if only all clean wheels first touch the just gleamed rails, the time factor increases exponentially. no dirt from ‘contamitrains’. and by riding on a contoured rail, the wheels have an increased effective electrical contact, reducing the carbon flux created by the continueous ‘micro-arcing’ that goes on as the trains rolls along.
I am not a lab tech, just applying the laws of physics. Flat railheads give only a miniscule contact area because the wheel is riding only on the inside edges. That’s why I contour them. Another aspect is that the inner faces of the railhead also provides contact area on the flanges. I do this area
I’m sold on “gleam” completely. Did it on my new hand laid track two years ago and haven’t need to do it since. Only redid a siding which I had gotten some paint and glue on in reconstruction. I dust the rail every now and then.
Hal