I know this subject has come up before with the CMX version being touted as one of the better ones. I would like to know if anyone owns and uses the Atlas track cleaning machine which polishes, applies liquid and vacuums. What once required a number of different units is now done by one. Here is a list of different track cleaning cars that I have found:
Of course then there is the abrasive pads that get mounted under the vehicle. These are either commercially available or home made.
So my question is who has one of those vacuum cleaners and how do you like it and what are your experiences with it? I do believe that in the liquid applied track cleaners the CMX is the best available, but if you believe otherwise please comment.
As far as I’m concerned, the CMX and a vaccum are too different things a Cleaner le CMX is gonna push bigger stuff around while cleaning the actual, and a vacuum will miss the small stuff in the rail but pull up loose scenery that can gum up gearing. If you’ve got the horspower, I’d run a vacuum first, then the CMX type cleaner.
As far as the Atlas car, I think it does everything, but not sll at once
I too am intrigued by the new Atlas track cleaner and will be following posts with interest. I am trying to decide whether to get one or go with the Centerline product. They both involve a sizable “investment.” I have been using the home-made pads dragged under box cars [brightboy, iso-propanol, polish] but am wondering if these commercial things would be more efficient.
I was looking at the Atlas track cleaning car last week, my LHS just got them in. I really can’t see how it will perform better then my CMX Clean Machine. It really doesn’t look like its built very well compared to the Clean Machine. I honestly didn’t know it vacuumed, lol. Every few months I run my "magnet"car, its just a cheap Athearn car that I stuck a rare earth magnet under. You would be surprised what it picks up.
thank you for all of the replies.[:)] I too am very curious to see how the atlas rail cleaning car will work. The part that interests me the most is the vacuum aspect. The LUX model is according to some other forums a very good unit. The question I have for Mr Dudler is how effective is the vacuum from the car?
The Atlas unit does everything in different stages. Yes it is a very interesting design and I have ordered one from my favourite retailer. Being in the process of building a new multi-level layout will create an interesting set of challenges for the car.
Basically, the idea going through my mind is to create a track cleaning train. First comes a Well Car with a number of rare earth magnets to pick up any metal. This is followed by a couple (or more) of box cars with pads underneath to start the rail cleaning process. This is then followed by the Atlas vacuum to suck up any loose debris which is then followed by the CMX clean machine. The hope is that if one puts together a train such as mentioned above it will be easy to keep the tracks and wheels clean.
I have one and have installed a DCC decoder. You can controls the cleaning motor. The more you turn up the throttle the faster it spins on the rails. In vacuum mode, then the throttle increases suction. The unit does work with the three step process but i think using the five finger cleaner system is just as good. Though i think it is made to be fun. It a real MOW car for your MRR layout. You can add alcohol to the tank on the top of the car to clean the track with a pad rubbing on the track. It works but I used pads quick and got to order more. Also when I vacuumed and the compartment had pick up more than you might think. I found loose ballast and foam. Looks good with a PCM UP SD7 pushing it.
GTX, if you had a do over would you still buy one?
I went Digitrax about a month ago and just cannot keep the track clean, or should I say engine wheels clean. I now run a Digitrax SEB with a DB 150 with 5 amps. I was running a Bachmann E-Z with a MRC Power Station 8 that had 8 amps.
With the old DCC system I clean the engine wheels about ever 20 hours of run time if that. Now it is about ever 2 hours with the Digitrax.
The Atlas car rather intrigues me because it is a multi-task cleaner. On my garage layout here in California, it’s impossible to use ‘wet’ cleaning on the rails because of the fine pollen buildup here in the Central Valley during summer–solvent track cleaners simply turn the pollen on the rails into a mush. So cleaning the track generally consists of vacuuming up whatever pollen has settled in between operating sessions, then dry-polishing the rails. With the Atlas car, it seems that I could do both–dry polish then run the vacuum.
I’d be very interested in hearing from anyone who has purchased the car.
My club has a CMX “Clean Machine” brass tank car. It is, IMHO, the best liquid applicator car on the market. The fluid tank is quite large and lasts a long, long time when set at the proper drip rate. The control valve gives one very fine control, and the use of upholstery cloth is a good choice as it resists wear and tear while also wicking the liquid. The cleaning pad area is nice and heavy without being rigid, and the snaps for the cloth strip make it easy to swap it out.
We use mineral spirits, which work well without damaging the plastic track or paint. We tried alcohol but it didn’t clean the track well enough, and we tried laquer thinner but it was a little too aggresive and would strip paint off the rails and/or ties…and not to mention the smell. [:)]
The club has also recently tried out the new Atlas track cleaning car with a Digitrax DZ125 decoder. The vacuum is rather suprising in what it picks up. I was expecting a rather weak vacuum that made a lot of noise and accomplished little, but I was delightfully surprised at how well it worked. We’ve only run it a short distance on our test track, but it picked up a lot of dust as well as wire insulation from decoder installations. I am a little concerned at what kind of scenery we’ll pick up (ballast, g
Paul, has your club tried the track cleaner on the layout it self? It is hard to vacuum my bench, there is around 25 feet of tunnels. Keeping the engines wheels clean was not a problem till I switched to a Digitrax SEB?
Ken,
No, we haven’t tried out the vacuum yet on the club layout proper. I only get to the club on Mondays and Thursdays, and this past Thursday we had a kit-building clinic that occupied all our time. Sorry, I’ll try to test out the Atlas car next week.
The Atlas track cleaner car is DCC ready, and has an 8-pin socket. I removed the dummy plug, and inserted a Digitrax DZ125 decoder with the 8-pin plug on the wire harness. I was able to tuck the decoder under the PCB, so it was out of the way.
To get at the plug, you have to remove the inside axle on the truck below it to remove the truck (be careful of the little contact springs on top of the truck). Then there’s two outer screws under where the truck was that need removed. Once that’s done, the top hood comes off, exposing the wet “tank”, the motor, the switch, and the PCB with the 8-pin plug.
This car comes with Kadees, BTW, mounted in NEM-type coupler boxes (it is a UK car, after all).
