After running my new engines on fastrak, there seems to be a black residue, like fresh ink, that settles on the rails. When I handle the track, take it apart, and such, I get this stuff on me and it stains my hands, soap and water barely takes it off. However if I take a paper towel or cloth and run it across the rails, it removes this residue fairly easily, which is good. But I have to do this every time after running sessions.
My questions are, what is it? And will a build up of this stuff be harmful to my engines or affect operations? Its a pain to clean all this track every time.
If your using steam engines, or diesels with smoke, its a residue from the smoke. Could also be excess oil from over lubricating. This is a normal occurance. Occasionally wipe down your track with a rag, old tee shirt. You could dampen it with 90% rubbing alcohol, GooGone, mineral spirits to loosen the gunk. You may also notice a buildup on wheels, this also needs to be removed. If too much buildup electrical contact suffers and leads to frustration.
Some of it is smoke fluid, some of it is grease/lube, most of it is the oxidation of the tin plating on the track. Tin oxide does conduct electricity, it is med/dark grey in color and it is slippery.
The dirt on the surface of your track is called galling. The definition is....
Galling, is: “a form of surface damage arising between sliding solids, distinguished by microscopic, usually localized, roughening and creation of protrusions (i.e., lumps) above the original surface”. In other words galling is material transfer from one metallic surface to another caused by movement.
I remember this from my metal technology classes in college.
Cleans up easy with goo gone, denatured alcohol.
laz57
I have tried trackcleaner cars and more trackcleaner cars and they do not work as well as a rag with denatured alcohol [as the oothers have said]. Some places I have to push it through tunnels with a stick. Have not tried the Swifter floor cleaning thing. The swiviling bottom might work great. HUMM
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
A mini swiffer wet jet may just be the ultimate track cleaner!
I like an old cotton T shirt with isopropyl alcohol but that's fine for stuff you can easily reach. Another good product for non abrasive/non liquid cleaning are those microfiber clothes. These work well and you can just toss em in the wash when they get too grungy.
Did you put smoke fluid in it? I think the smoke oil prob got on the track
I use a sponge to clean it off and wipe the wheels on the locomotive.
Just noticed after posting a response... wow this is an old thread I feel a little silly for not noticing that before trying to respond to the initial topic.-Ellie
"Unless bought from a known and trusted dealer who can vouch otherwise, assume every train for sale requires servicing before use"
Leverettrailfan Just noticed after posting a response... wow this is an old thread I feel a little silly for not noticing that before trying to respond to the initial topic.-Ellie
Yeah, I saw the thread this morning! "Where did THIS come from?" I asked myself.
Just to add to the "possibles" a lot of the goob on the tracks comes from traction tire rub-offs. Another reason I dislike traction tires.
Anyway, you can clean it off with some rubbing alcohol, DO NOT use "Goo Gone" unless you chase it with a rag with alcohol on it! "Goo Gone" will attack traction tires and just make things worse!
If the goob is really bad I'll start with a Scotch-Brite pad and then an alcohol soaked rag or shop towel.
Since I've got a small layout with no grades and can't run super-long consists anyway when the traction tires on my engines wear out if the engine doesn't miss them I leave them off.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month