There has got to be an easier way

[Anonymous]

Hello,
I (like many three-railers, I would suspect) spend much of my model railroad time cleaning track and locomotive wheels and pickups. As such I have three questions, and if you could give me advice I would be most appreciative:

1.) I have seen many advertisements for track cleaning cars. Do they work, and is there one you would reccomend?

2.) I have been thinking that I could use rollers to clean the wheels on my locomotives, by leaving one set of drivers unsupported and putting a track cleaning thing-a-bob under it. Is there a particular brand of rollers you would reccomend?

3.) Currently, cleaning the roller-pickups underneath the locomotive (on three rail equipment) is by far the most time consuming process. Is there any quicker way to do it than using the cleaning abrasive to clean off the roller? (Please say yes).

Any help you could provide would be most appreciated.

Sincerely,
Daniel

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't recommend buy the Lionel track cleaning car -- although it looks cool, all that it really is is a flatcar with a cloth attached to the bottom.

Centerline Products (http://www.centerline-products.com/) sells various types of track cleaners. Although they are a little pricey, they perform very well.

[brianel027]

Daniel, I've read that many like the track cleaning car made by Northeast Trains.
I personally use 91% isopropyl alcohol on a paper towel or napkin. Turning locos upside down resting on an egg-carton style foam cushion, using wires with alligator clips I hit one to the roller and another to the ground and clean the wheels. The wheels seem to need more cleaning than the center rollers do.
Once in a while the track gets a good hand cleaning rail by rail. For a maintenance cleaning I use a dampened sponge (with water), ring out the sponge well, and then apply the 91% isopropyl alcohol to the sponge. I have a stick with a hook and a little board attachment that goes into the hook. This is what I use to pu***he sponge over the track with a back and forth wiping motion.
I should note, my layout is a small one versus some of those profiled in the train mags.
I suppose the track cleaning car might still be convenient. There have been articles in the train magazines in the past on making your own cleaning car. I don't know how the wheel roller cleaners work on locomotive wheels - seems I have read something somewhere about that.
But in my experience with the so-called 'round the house cleaning conveniences, nothing seems to work much better than a little elbow grease with the old standby cleaners.

[Anonymous]

Don't know if this will work on 3 rail O well or not but I am tempted to try and am looking for opinions.

What worked for me in my HO days was taking a retangular piece of tempered Masonite ( like peg board without the holes) and glueing two smooth nails 1-1/2 to 2" long to the smooth side of the Masonite. the nails were glued on the long dimension centerline of the Masonite. The masonite was sized to fit between the trucks of a boxcar. My least favorite boxcar would have two holes drilled in the frame to match the nail spacing. the Masonote cleaning pad was placed on the tracks. The boxcar was placed over the nails and this assembly was coupled to an engine and normal consist. The consist was sent over all of the track. The rough side of the Masonite kept the nickel silver HO rails nice and clean. If more weight was desired a small self adhesive wheel weight can be placed between the nails.

Don't know if this will eventually wear away the tin plate or not? Your opinions?

Thanks!
Steven Crawford

[Anonymous]

Personally, I think far too much time and effort is put into this track cleaning business. Like one guy suggested already---Just take a cloth with some rubbing alcohol and another to dry and you're done. I have never seen it fail. If you want to spend time and money, buy the Lionel track cleaning solution. Done.

[Anonymous]

Try these links for a good discussion on track cleaning and track cleaning cars-

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=63160042&f=57660482&m=32510021

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=63160042&f=57660482&m=695005616&r=611009616#611009616

http://ogaugerr.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?q=Y&a=tpc&s=63160042&f=57660482&m=343009056&p=1

Hope it helps,

Rich

[clinchfieldfan]

I use a dremel tool with the nylon brush attachment to clean the wheels and the rollers on my locos with great results.

[Anonymous]

Dear everyone,
Thank you very much for your input. It is most appreciated.

Sincerely,
Daniel

[Anonymous]

Would alcohol work for track that may have oil on it? Such as too much on the wheels that is now coating the track.

[ChiefEagles]

I always used rubbing alcohol on a rag. Now as I have MTH engines, they say over and over, do not use rubbing alcohol but denatured alcohol. So off to the hardware store and I bought a big can. ????????? Maybe some of you guys can explain why MTH says this. Rubber tires???

[willpick]

Chief, from reading the threads on th OGR forum on this subject(MTH reccomending using denatured alcohol) it indeed due to the composition of the "rubber" tires[censored]!! what happens is that the tire soaks up the isopropyl alcohol and swells,thus becoming loose and then falling off[B)].
I still use it to clean the tracks- I just make sure there is no residue left after I clean. I also have 2 Aztec Manufacturing cars with the Cratex rollers that I periodically run in my freight consists, they keep the rails polished.
I'm also in the process of modifying 2 depressed center flatcars to carry a brush around to sweep the debris from the rails[:)]

[ChiefEagles]

Willpick, thanks for the info and that is a great idea [the brush cars]. Think I'll build one of those too. Let us know how it goes [share some detail with us if you do not mind].