I took about 10 years off from Model Railroading. I would like to start my old
layout up again. It is “N” scale and I have it bulid with Atlas track, remote switches, and I have is set-up in (10) separate DC blocks. Whats the best way
to clean it up and so I can get the trains rolling again, Can the track be cleaned after setting that long or is it better to start over?
use a “bright boy” to clean your tracks…(it looks like a pencil eraser and you can get them from a good LHS or off the internet that sells train supplies)…also you may want to strip down and oil all your locomotives…clean the parts in alcohol and add a couple of drops of oil to the gears…I use wahl’s clipper oil for a lubricant…chuck
[#welcome]
Here’s what I would do… First vacuum the layout off… A shop vac or other with a stocking (or similar) over the hose end to catch any loose parts from going into the vacuum. Then make sure your wiring is all still in tact. Feeders connected, etc. To actually clean the track, I would give it a good wipe down with alcohol Followed by a polishing treatment. That is, a metal polish of choice (I use Blue Magic Wheel Polish), applied to the rails. Use a piece of cork roadbed material, smear some of the polish on it, and rub away… A piece of masonite may also work. I use a piece of homasote but it tends to leave fuzzies in the rail joints as the homasote begins to break down… Then clean up your loco wheels with a similar treatment. Power it all up, run your trains, and take care of any problems that have occured during storage.
That’s the cheap way of getting back to it… The expensive way is to go out and buy new stuff (sometimes more fun than the layouts [:D]). Look at the technologies that have emerged and come into thier own in the last several years (DCC for instance). The forums here are full of a lot of great information (full of some other stuff too [}:)]) and for the most part, a good search of the content will get you the info you are looking for. If not, Ask…
Good luck.
im using tracks from the 80’s they still work as well as my new track. Use aclocal or a bright boy.
Thanks for the quick replys.
no problem any help you need we can provide.
[#welcome][#welcome][#welcome][#welcome][#welcome][#welcome][#welcome] to the forum!! Definetly go to your LHS (if avalabaile and check out the new products. You might want to change your couplers from rapidos to knuckles. Good luck and keep us up to speed so we can help your on your journey back into the Worlds Greatest Hobby!! Tim