How do you clean your track?

[Train Memories]

  I've been using Sanford "EXPO" white board cleaner with great success for years. I use it on my fastrack, but I heard you can use it on tube track too. In fact its used on the computer screens at work in the office where my wife works at the county. This stuff leaves the track so clean that just wiping it a few times and the track actually "sqeaks" clean. I use a folded paper towel to a 4'X4' square, soak it and wipe followed by a clean dry wipe. Try it! They sell it at OFFICE DEPOT and OFFICE MAX. It works for me.                       Reuben

[Jumijo]

That's a great looking track cleaning car, Doug. I've resisted building one for only one reason. I like to clean the sides of the rails, as I have found that they get just as cruddy as the tops. Once a week, I clean all the tracks with 90% isopropyl alchohol and a rag. The rag is always black after cleaning. I have noticed that the tracks don't get nearly as black when I run post war locos. I think the traction tires on the modern stuff accounts for a lot of that.

Clean tracks make for better running and better smoking trains. 

Jim 

[cnw1995]

Wow, where did this thread come from? 2004! Since then, I built a track cleaning car with two weighted scotch-brite pads. Works wonders ... but a simple cloth and 'elbow grease' works too. Here's a rough photo. I've painted it since.

[wchrisyoung]

I use the Trackman 2000 for my primary cleaning.    From time to time I may use a cleaning pad similar to the one the Trackman 2000 has to clean the tough spots.    Once a quarter, I will use cleaning solutions as well.

Chris

[laz 57]

I'm with CRAIG,  Trackman 2000, works great just tow it or push it around layout with engine.  When I'm energenic I will use the denatured alcohol and a rag, I do this about 4 times a year.  With the Trackman about once a month.

laz57

[laz 57]

The Binford angle grinder. Takes care of all your track cleaning needs.

 

LOL PAUL good one.  I still watch reruns of DA TOOL MAN.

laz57

[pbjwilson]

The Binford angle grinder. Takes care of all your track cleaning needs.

[Craignor]

Folks,

I use a Trackman 2000 quarterly to keep the track clean. I pull it behind a loco, and leave it going at about 25 SMPH for about 30 minutes per loop. When done, I get no black on my finger at all.

I like the Trackman 2000 cause it doesnt involve any liquids. (Liquids can be messy and flamable)

[A&Y Ry]

Scotchbrite and in warm weather when I can open windows and run fans----I follow Scotchbrite pads with contact cleaner and clean wiping rags.

[eZAK]

Jerry,
I use the new one more b/c I like the way it looks, it can be put into any part of the train,
and it does a good job.

The older version, fitted with a green scouring pad, is mainly used when I need a deep cleaning.

[brianel027]

Another small disclaimer: I use 027 tubual track with DC current. Most of my engines have been altered to run on straight DC. I notice improved operation no question, BUT the track and loco wheels do get dirtier much quicker.

I use a small dampened sponge with 91% isopropyl alcohol. I also use my primitive, super cheap version of "TMCC": a stick with a hook on one end and a rubber cover on the other end. I can reach the wet sponge all over the layout using my stick; my "Train Manipulator Cleaning Control" stick ... works just fine.

For tougher periodic cleaning, I hand wipe the track using a small disposable cloth and the 91% isopropyl alcohol (the 50% and 71% blends don't work as well!).

[waltrapp]

Small disclaimer first: I only have my layout up for 2 1/2 months so I only clean it twice while it's up and then I REALLY clean it before storing for the off-season. Permanent layout guys may have unique things to consider that I don't.

I have a Trackman 2000 car and it does OK. The thing that I don't get about it is that even if I run it around one of the sets of trackage 15 or 20 times I can still get a small amount of black on my fingers if I rub the track. But it keeps it pretty good. However, I still hand clean with Goo-Gone afterwards once in a while and it would produce a quite dirty rag.

That is until....:
For about the last 5 or 6 years I too have used GOO-GONE to clean the track twice during the running season and once real good before storing. However, after reading so often how it leaves a destructive-to-traction-tires residue behind that should be cleaned up I don't think I'll use it any longer. That may have explained why I have lost traction tires on 4 locos during more recent years.

Too bad cause the stuff cleans really well. I don't particularly care for cleaning track [;)] (MILD understatement!) so having to do the 2nd step to get the residue off just doesn't sound too appealing to me.

Since I dismantle my layout each year and clean before storing, one thing I've started to do recently might be a bit different. I don't know when I first noticed it but after dismantling the track I would notice a ring of black gunk on the pins right where it enters into the hole in the tubular track. I started pulling every pin and wiping them off before storing. I also use pipe cleaners to insert into the holes to clean the gunk out. Yes, kinda nutty, and DEFINITELY TIME CONSUMING, but in my opinion well worth it. Once I saw how much gunk comes off those pins and from inside the track I just couldn't put it away that dirty. What the heck, something to do while I have a beer and mindlessly vegetate in front of the TV. [:D]

Funny thing about this gunk on the pins thing: I only started to notice it when I got my first PS1 engine. But that's also the first year that I started using Goo-Gone. I have been setting up and taking down my layout for 45 years now and have only encountered this very recently.

Since I used to use the liquid track cleaner I think I'll just return to that.

- Walt

[cnw1995]

I wonder where I could find one of these track cleaning cars? Maybe I can make one by gluing a scotchbrite pad to the bottom of a car. I'm presuming like in smaller scales - steel wool is very bad. When you say you use alcohol or Goo Gone, I'm presuming you pour it on a cloth and slide the cloth on the tracks, no?

[Anonymous]

denatured alcohol

[Anonymous]

90% alcohol when I want a track fire.

Really , I use lionel clean fluid and the 50s cleaner car. Haven't got around to getting the newer one. Think it gets around the whole track or most of it. The 50s track cleaner only gets the very top of the rails.

[Anonymous]

Why do you use the new and the old ones at differrent times Pat?

[eZAK]

I now use both Lionel track cleaning cars.
The '50's one & the new one.

I'll use either Lionel track cleaning fluid OR denatured alcohol in the new one.

With the '50's version I'll use the Lionel fluid or run dry with a modified pad made from the green scouring pads.

I'll run the 'new' one once a week and the 'old' once a month, or less, depending on how offten I run trains.

[ben10ben]

Either 91% Isopropanol or Goo Gone followed by 50-70% Isopropanol. The Goo Gone works better, but the extra step required to remove the residue means that I rarely use it.

[lionelsoni]

Scotch-brite scouring pad, used dry.

[cnw1995]

I made the mistake of doing a sort of 'white glove test' of my track - and it's filthy. I used a Bright Boy eraser when I was in N scale. I'm not sure it is the best tool for O27 tubular track. How do you clean your track?