For the first time in a while I am cleaning my layout. It hasnt run in some time because of some personal issues and a certian amount of my concentration on scenicking.
when I run a finger over it, there is a black streak on my finger which indicates that there is dirt and gime and gunk and who knows what else. So, I open the windows, get out some lint free cloth, pull on some gloves and use acetone or lacquer thinner to scrub and rub and scrub etc. After several swipes I run a finger over the track that I worked onand there is not black streak, but a little more work with the acetone cloth reveals some faint black. Is the track really clean eonough for DCC or does it have to be cleaned to the point where nothing comes off with the solvent application?
Yes, it is, otherwise I’d never get to run trains.
That would definitely be better, the old saying “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” does apply in this case.
Ffolkes have their preferred methods of track cleaning, and it depends also on the environment in which the layout is located, but I’m a big fan of, and would recommend, the “John Allen” track cleaning cars.
When is track clean? Dunno…Haven’t clean track since last November but,my layout is operated Monday-Friday and Saturday as needed. My wee crew and office staff enjoys weekends and holidays off.
I’ve also un-mothballed my railroad. Because it’s in a moisture-controlled (but not necessarily dry) basement, I’ve had to scrub it all down. I used the triple whammy of Bright Boy, followed by denatured alcohol, followed by contact cleaner to prevent arcing and oxidation. Finally, followed by a committment to run 'em regularly.
I find it amusing that every hobby has topics that always generate a lot of emotional web traffic. Cars have motor oil, bikes have chain lube and helmets, everybody had nutritional supplements. Now I find that model railroading has track cleaning. Fun stuff.
I have given up on trying to pass the white glove test. If the trains run, and respondes to comands, its clean enuff. My sound equiped units will tell me if cleaning is needed.
There are two activities which I absolutely hate, ballasting and cleaning track. I have made my peace with ballasting by approaching it as an exercise in Zen. Besides, at some point ballasting is over and done. Track cleaning…nope.
I have all but given up on trying to attain clean track.
I can wipe down a short stretch of track with denatured alcohol on a white cloth, several times back and forth, and then still find a black streak on the white cloth.
I used to blame plastic wheels, but I long ago placed metal wheels on everything. I still get globs of black gunk on the wheels of rolling stock.
What exactly is that black gunk? Lots of opinions on that on this forum. But, no one has ever definitively concluded exactly what it is. Someone ought to do a chemical analysis.
I really dont care what the black gunk is…I just want to know the easiest way to get it cleaned off the track. After doing some research, online of course, I have settle on acetone or lacquer thinner. Intuitively, I am not a fan of abrasives.
Mike,The article also covered the scratches made by a bright boy since they had to zoom a microscope 10x to see these micro scratches that’s the main reason I remember the article. Overall it was a good article on what causes dirty track besides plastic wheels. If I had bet the farm I would have lost it because I was sure it was in the 90s.
I do recall the article appeared around the same time CMX released their track cleaning car and was more then likely a coincidence.
I’ll look around some more, Larry. I’ve come across a few threads from this forum, from the past. Reading post from departed members like Batman and Jeff W.
I also found this, from Dick Webster, from Centerline products, mentioning the electrical contact with different metals on the NS track.
As mentioned in another thread on this topic, from not too long ago, just use what works for you, and if your trains are running good, your doing the right thing. I don’t think any method will pass the white glove test, and I don’t think that it’s necessary.
Mike,Its not necessary or I would be in deep kimchi since I haven’t clean track since last November. I used my Bachmann DCC/Sound S4 this morning and had no issues.
What Dick Webster wrote is a good informative read…
The black crud is 100% nickel oxide caused by microscopic electrical arcs from nanosecond losses of power. These electrical arcs burn a small microscopic oxide dot on the rail that causes even faster corrosion because of the electricity. I’m no rocket scientist I just remember reading the article. I think that’s why guys were using No Ox ID Especial because it’s conductive and prevents these arcs from happening in the first place. Disclamor I am in no way affiliated with Sanchem company. Al