track cleaning car

[PostwarMan07]

Lionel sells their track cleaning car for 150.00 and the postwar one seems to sell for about the same.  Im looking for something cheaper and more realistic.  I know Ive seen HO scale kits to put on a car that goes around the track.  When the cleaning pad is dirty you can change it with a new one like a swiffer mop.  Are there kits like this in O scale?  I have a K line M of W boxcar that would be a perfect track cleaning car.

[crip]

John,

There's a how to article on the subscriber only section of CTT on this website. Looks fairly simple to build.

Mark

[Jumijo]

I read recently that the popular Trackman cleaning car will not be offered for at least 6 months due to a fire that destroyed the factory that makes them. Many people raved about that car.

A lot of people make track cleaning cars out of boxcars by screwing a cleaning pad to the bottom of the frame. I just wipe the rails down with a rag soaked in isopropol alcohol. That way I'm able to clean the sides of the rails as well.

Jim 

[Buckeye Riveter]

Lionel sells their track cleaning car for 150.00 and the postwar one seems to sell for about the same.  Im looking for something cheaper and more realistic.  I know Ive seen HO scale kits to put on a car that goes around the track.  When the cleaning pad is dirty you can change it with a new one like a swiffer mop.  Are there kits like this in O scale?  I have a K line M of W boxcar that would be a perfect track cleaning car.

John...I have a Centerline Track Cleaning Car. It is not realistic, but it does the job.  This last fall when I attended the train show at Berea, an exhibitor had made his own track cleaning car based upon the Centerline Car.  He had taken a Lionel Gondola Car and cut a rectangular hole in the bottom of the car and then cut paint rollers to drop into the hole, similar to Centerline's method.  I believe he put a wooden dowel in the center of the paint roller to give it additional weight.  He also added weights to the car to keep it on the track.

I use Goo Gone for my first pass with the track cleaning car and then use a dry roller to wipe off the residual.  (Goo Gone was recommended to me by the LHS and I use it for both the inside and outside layouts.)

If I were building my own, I would make two cars; one to wash and one to dry.  I also would try to wrap a dowel with Scotch Brite for the hard to remove grim.    You can buy very cheaply coil steel covers for the Lionel Gondolas which could be slightly modified to hide the paint roller.

Lionel MPC era gondola cars can be found at swap meets for less than $10 each. I bought three for $15.

[kehoesj]

Here is another cleaning car that our club highly recommends.. visit our club web page, and click on R&L Lines information -  www.NEWOGAUGERS.ORG. 

[cnw1995]

I made my own car out of a flat (weighted with wood blocks) that I drilled two two screws through. I put a 'Scotchguard' pad or two on the bottom to snag on the end of the screws.  The pads then cover the rails. Then I drag it around the track with an engine. It works.

[PostwarMan07]

thanks guys.  I like the ideas so far. 

Buckeye,  Im definately going to have 2 pads (wet and dry).  Hopefully I can fit both in the short M of W boxcar.

kehoesj, Great layout and track cleaning car.  I noticed what looked like an extended lionel signal bridge.  Is that the 450?

[ezmike]

Jim,

 Sorry to hear about the factory fire. I have one of them and they are pretty good for the money, plus they make each one slightly different, or at least they try.

Mike

[ezmike]

Jim,

 Sorry, I made a mistake, the track cleaning car I have is from Northeast Trains (I think they are up by you). They use a 2 pad system and I'm told make the cars themselves and try to make each one a little different in what they mount onboard. Their price range is decent.

Mike

[Jumijo]

Jim,

 Sorry, I made a mistake, the track cleaning car I have is from Northeast Trains (I think they are up by you). They use a 2 pad system and I'm told make the cars themselves and try to make each one a little different in what they mount onboard. Their price range is decent.

Mike

Another very nice track cleaning car right there!

Jim 

[JPosh]

Dear reader,

ClassicToyTrains.com has instructions, available to subscribers, for building the type of track cleaner you are looking for.

On the Web site it is pictured in the middle column at the center of the home page.

I hope this helps!