Recently while at the LHS I noticed a piece of rolling stock with cleaning device attached to the bottom and I thought wow what a great way to clean your track while operating. My first question is how practical and affective are these ? 2) Is there one model better than another (if the answer to 1 is yes) 3) Are there better solutions ? 4) Where can one go to get the most bang for there buck for this type of device ? PS currently covered in remodeling dust even with attempts to seal off the area under construction.
They work. Some better than others. You can spend $20-$200 on one. You can also make one John Allen style out of an old box car. I had an old one that looked like a wooden MOW caboose/water tanker. It had a felt type pad on the bottom. You filled the tank with cleaning fluid and towed it around. Wish I could find another one.
Sorry about this kind of answer ,but, theres gotta be about a thousand posts on this subject, please try using search to see what comes up then ask more specific questions.
Thanks for the info. Good luck finding the “old cleaner”
And there has to be about a 1000 posts telling people to try searching a subject before posting a question. [(-D] Funny, more people are interested in posting in idiotic threads then they are talking about track cleaning cars, go figure.
HEY GUYS!! Take it easy on the newcommer. He might not know how to search the topics yet. Looks like he joined less than a month ago. Let’s welcome him first, then rake him over the coals. Those felt pad cleaners are as good as any other (in my opinion) For REALLY dirty track I use a piece of FIBERGLASS window screen on top of the pad. These are the best "Bang for the buck. You can use 2 together…first one wet the other dry.
PS… WELCOME Jerry
Thanks for the grace period. Geez. You are correct I did not know there is a way to search topics such as this . Would you mind pointing out how this might be done ?
Rake him over the coals.[(-D]
Bottom right of the screen below the posts is a search box. It doesn’t work that well but next time you get scoulded you can say “BACK OFF! I DID try it!”[(-D]
Boy! I guess I stuck my foot in it. Funny how a simple attempt to say," look here for the answer", turns into a scolding. By the way yougottawanna, while your’e looking ,look up the word gleem, there’s not much in trackcleaning.
Yes I have a track cleaner and it works great most times I’ll use laquer thinner for the cleaning solution 
Loather while I’m asking and you seem to be in the mood to answer where the heck is the spell check. I am wearing Websters out. Also what is an Avatar ?
Isnt that a bit strong smelling in the room ?
No offense taking.Thanks for the info.
Yes it can be generally what I do is run the track cleaner on all my track and this is generally only done in extreme conditions when I’ve been spending a week or so on scenery and no trains have been running , then I’ll use something like nail poish remover or alchohol .
yougottawanta,
Save your money and don’t buy that track cleaning car from the local hobby shop, especially not if it’s a Walthers caboose or Ribbonrail car. Both of these use a stone under them that can eventually scratch your track and cause it to collect even more dirt. The stones quickly clog up with goo and just spread it around instead of removing it.
The most effective and longest lasting track cleaning method is the use of a metal polish and elbow grease. Flitz, Nevr-Dull Magic Wadding Polish, Mother’s Mag Wheel Cleaner, Maas, and many others are available from Wal-mart, K-mart, and automotive supply stores.
The second most effective and long lasting method I have found is the CMX Clean Machine from Tony’s Train Exchange (http://www.tonystrains.com) filled with lacquer thinner. Because this device dispenses the thinner in minute quantities as it is pulled or pushed around your layout the smell is not too bad, but a well ventilated area is highly recommended because of the risk of explosive fumes building up.
Yes thats what mine is as you will notice the resemblance 
yougottawantthis-For spell check, download the “Google tool bar” (just Google it). It adds a bar under your IE address bar on your screen. Doesn’t take up too much room. It adds a Google search box, some other useful tools and a spell checker that let’s you spell check any dialog box your typing in. It didn’t load me up with any spyware when I installed it.
It may ask you if want to install some other software at the same time. (Firefox) Just click no if you don’t want those too.
yeah so, maybe this has only been up 200 times LOL…
I have found that most track cleaners only scratch the track causing permanant damage and that RAILZIP is the best thing since Kato and Atlas broke from each other and started producing higher than high quality running engines. Just apply a little in one spot, run an engine back and forth and you get not only clean track but protection from corrosion for about 3 months. I have resurrected track not used in over a year at our club in minutes by doing this.
Thanks all for the tips. Cacole thanks for the web site and tips. Elbow grease . I was afraid some one was going to say that [sigh].I will try your suggestions.
I’ve made my own track cleaner, here’s a video with my Track Cleaning Transfer Caboose.
http://www.westportterminal.de/video/TCTC.wmv
Wolfgang