Track Cleaning cars

[SNOWSHOE]

Just weighing my options but I plan on either buying a track cleaning car or making one.  What are some of my options.  I plan on using brass track, electric power.  I want to find out what the best way for me to keep the tracks clean without having to clean the track myself.  If anyone has some pictures of there kitbashing cleaning cars that would be great.

[two tone]

Hi Snowshoe, I use an open wagan with cleaning pads fitted under it wagan and pad unit are LGB does a good job. If you have not been running for three months or more then I use a cleaning pad to get the thick of the muck of the rails first In the open wagan I put a bit of ballast to keep wagan on track as the cleaning unit is spring loaded.     Hope this helps

[Mr_Ash]

I use one of those Aristo track cleaning cars (Bobber caboose) but I dont think they do very much I just run it around while I clean sections of track by hand with a rag

LGB sells posts with cleaning pads that can be mounted to most car's, they also have a track cleaning loco for a couple hundred bucks

The aristo caboose cleaning car does okay for cleaning the railhead but its a heavy car and the pad causes alot of drag so its a strain for one of my 4-6-0 Big Haulers to pull it around. also it doesnt do as good when cleaning the track after running the LGB starter train (that engine cant even move the car lol) that engine's pickups leave black marks in the curves that I have to scrub off with a rag!

[kimbrit]

After years of cleaning by hand I can only advise on the LGB cleaning loco, magnificent. After cleaning I run an Aristo bobber caboose cleaner round to lift the residue left by the track cleaner. The loco is expensive but worth every penny, sorry cent!

Cheers,

Kim

[altterrain]

LGB track cleaning locos are nice (our club has one) but big bucks (around $400, I believe) if you can find one. I also use the Aristo car. SanVal makes a similar product (using scotchbrite pads) to the Aristo cleaning block that you stick on your own car.

-Brian 

[DennisB]

I use the LGB cleaning block to get the heavy stuff off and have the LGB footpads that fit under a boxcar. The best thing I did was to put metal wheels on all my rolling stock. Plastic wheels gave me nothing but grief. They were too light, causing derailments, and left a deposit on the rail that the pickup shoes would grab. I would have to say that metal wheels worked best for me. Good luck, Dennis.

[smcgill]

Well you asked!

And the alltime standbye!

For bad leave days!

Just need to make a sweeper car!

[piercedan]

I have found that the track cleaning cars like the Aristo caboose and the LGB pads need a 2 motor train to drag these around.  I use  my LGB engine and powered tender, or my SD-45 to haul the cleaners.  The SD-45 can drag 2 of these!!!!.

 

 

[jerryl]

I have found that the track cleaning cars like the Aristo caboose and the LGB pads need a 2 motor train to drag these around.  I use  my LGB engine and powered tender, or my SD-45 to haul the cleaners.  The SD-45 can drag 2 of these!!!!.

Interesting, My Lehman Porter pulls the Aristo. bobber track cleaner up my 2 1/2% grade.....Jerry

 

[Anonymous]

does anyone know were i can get a track cleaning car?

 

    if so please tell! thanks, Riley

[vsmith]

I also have an Aristo Caboose with a San Val track cleaning block under it, this is basicly the identical setup of the Aristo track cleaning car...I HATE IT!

..nothing but problems, the combo of the spriung journals and the floating cleaning block ment tons of drag that no engine could easliy pull the thing around, finally glued the sprung journals in place, that helped, but it still sucked to pull around, and would snag switches and derail easily. I finally tried the LGB posts with the smaller sprung pads underneith. Even though I had to had weight to the gondola I used, this set up worked far better. Most of my engines can pull the car around.

The biggest Irony is that in order to pull the cleaner the engine needs to be in front, on the dirty track, getting around those first couple laps can be real interesting.

I'm still looking for a nice inexpensive battery powered set up to pull the cleaner around, if not for the indoor, but for the outdoor track once I get that set up.

[Great Western]

I use a pole system very similar to the one shown in Sean McGill's post.

I use a Scotchbrite pad which is kept in place with "Velcro"  It is very cheap to set up and has the advantage of giving you some excercise (watching trains can be quite sedentary)

Save your mega bucks to spend on locos and rolling stock. 

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Snowshoe, since you are just up there in nort joisey (I'm originally form Sout Joisey - Cape May Co.) you should seriously consider going to one of the big shows.   I saw several track cleaning rigs at last year's ECLSTS in York, PA.   

[Coogler Rail Line]

I find that my Arist craft track cleaning car does only a fair job cleaning the trackand hangs up on the track magnets.  I only use it to clean debris off the track.  It seams to just smear the black residue from the plastic wheels.  I need to upgrade my rolling stock to metal wheels when I can find an economical source.

I have to go over the track with the LGB track cleaning loco to get the grim off or the lgb cleaning pad to spot clean.  The LGB loco cleans the track very quickly! 

[EMPIRE II LINE]

Better yet,

Use Stainless Steel track.....I just push the Aristo track cleaning car around the layout to mainly clear squirrel and other rodent debris from the track rail heads, and away I go, I have no problem pulling or pushing it in front of a consist of 18 USA streamliners or even a 30 to 50 car freight consist.

Just takes good engines to do it, which is why I steer clear of certain ones......By the way, I do have an LGB track cleaning engine also, it is pretty much a yard relic now, since I use stainless track, don't want to sell it just yet though. As a track power modeler, I will never return to Brass track.......

I even plan on putting a loop of my 3-rail "O" scale outside too, using Stainless Steel Gargraves track...

Byron

[Anonymous]

Well you asked!

Since I know Ole Gill from another forum, I would suggest this one. Since the LGB track cleaning car is now up to $600.00, at that price who can afford one? Rich RR guy, yeah, poor guy like me, no. LGB just went up and will keep going up! If any new product was coming into the US that car would still be around $400.00.

I did hear you had to watch out for the frogs when using LGB cleaning car??..

Ole Toad

[EMPIRE II LINE]

user="ToadFrog&WhiteLightn"

 

I did hear you had to watch out for the frogs when using LGB cleaning car??..

Ole Toad

Ehhhhhh----We just make sure there ain't no frogs left, Might be a few Ole' Toads left around still though......an maybe a few other Rodents.....

BC

[Anonymous]

user="ToadFrog&WhiteLightn"

 

I did hear you had to watch out for the frogs when using LGB cleaning car??..

Ole Toad

Ehhhhhh----We just make sure there ain't no frogs left, Might be a few Ole' Toads left around still though......an maybe a few other Rodents.....

BC

HAHAHAHAHA

Tis ok, cause the wrath of her sea will open up this year! Many toadies made!!!!

Doing his best impression:  Son, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, savy!   

Come on Beasty!

[BudSteinhoff]

I have been using 2 of the Trackman(yellow type above)1 with scotch brite, 1 with drywall paper, both weighted with lead and pushed with a SD45 for several years, 1000ft brass track, up to 4% grades, outside.

Takes about 10 minutes around 1 time and ready to go.

About 10 times faster than the LGB track cleaning loco and does much better job. 

Do not have to manually clean track except for parking areas, using the pole sander. 

Bud 

[Kiwi Down Under]

There are alternatives, which are very effective. Have a look at

http://gscaletrains.net.nz/, track making page.

Two circuits with a loco pushing it around works wonders.  

 

[Independent Operator]

Just weighing my options but I plan on either buying a track cleaning car or making one.  What are some of my options.  I plan on using brass track, electric power.  I want to find out what the best way for me to keep the tracks clean without having to clean the track myself.  If anyone has some pictures of there kitbashing cleaning cars that would be great.

I'm a little late into this string here.  I have one of them Aristo Bobber Caboose Cleaning Cars. 

Problem with their cleaning block is all the residue from my brass track builds up on it in quick time making it useless.  I went to gluing fine or very fine grit sandpaper to the block.  Same problem.  Now I am going to try using the mesh sanding sheets that the drywall guys use.  Cut it down to fit on the block and instead of gluing it I'm going to try to lap it between the pad and the bottom of the car.  This stuff is not suppossed to acquire build up.   Maybe this will work.

  

 

[smcgill]

Your have the right idea!

I use that idea on my bobber!

Yes it stays clean!

Sean

[enginear]

because i'm currently broke I had to improvise. Mind you that I use mainly stainless in doors but somehow it gets dirty so here goes. My wife has bags of these 3M sponges with scotchbrite on one side. after installing the track and an initial scrub with these I keep up the cleaning about once a week. So I take one sponge scotch pad towards the rails and place under my MTH coal car directly behind a couple of dash 8s. I place another sponge toward the rail two cars back to wipe the residue. I set the speed about 50mph ( half speed) and believe this they stay in place and clean! I just spot clean where I notice my caboose lights flickering heavily. I run about 3' of the cellar floor on two track 150' main. It's a little scary but I'm out of cash. Next I'll try to attach them in some removable housing on an old box car when I can.

[Independent Operator]

Your have the right idea!

I use that idea on my bobber!

Yes it stays clean!

Sean

I saw in your earlier post in this thread that you have a picture of that drywall sanding block (mesh) with the long wooden handle.  I bought one of those also and it sure beats walking my trackline on my knees or stooped over.  I did not like the swivel action though because it was going all over the place.  I modified it so it does not swivel sideways but still has the up and down handle action.  That along with the track car with the drywall sander mesh under it is going to make life a lot easier for sure. 

[mabry]

I thought that the idea was not to sand the brass rails.  It seems like using fine or even very fine sandpaper or drywall mesh would sand down the rails some.

 I've been using the scotchbrite pad by hand on our old railroad, but I've just moved and am about finished setting up a new larger layout, so I am looking at cleaning cars.  Right now I'm leaning towards the Trackman which I saw at a show last year.

[Anonymous]

I thought that the idea was not to sand the brass rails.  It seems like using fine or even very fine sandpaper or drywall mesh would sand down the rails some.

 I've been using the scotchbrite pad by hand on our old railroad, but I've just moved and am about finished setting up a new larger layout, so I am looking at cleaning cars.  Right now I'm leaning towards the Trackman which I saw at a show last year.

Well if you don't need Electic to rails no need to, but if you need that contact you know you need a nice contact. Also be nice to rub them down after sanding with soft cloth. Gets the last of the gunk off.

Toad

[two tone]

Hi Toad tryed to send an email but it was rejected saying address not known

[mgilger]

I use 3 of the Aristo Bobber cars, usually pulled by one of my battery powered RS-3's. Just at the end of last year I converted one of them to pack a green scotch bright pad instead of the eraser material. I think it will end up back with an eraser pad this summer. The normal procedure is to drag the 3 cars around and after each loop of the 600+ feet mainline, the pads get cleaned with a degreaser, like Simple Green. The train then starts on it's way again. After about a ½ hour, the rails seem to be clean enough for normal service. The key is to keep the pads clean, or you just end up re-applying the gunk back on the rails that was just removed. By pulling 3 cleaner cars, the operation seems to go pretty effortless. 

 

Say, I heard a rumor that spring was just around the corner?  Sure could not tell it by all the white stuff on the ground here in northern Ohio.

[EMPIRE II LINE]

Say, I heard a rumor that spring was just around the corner?  Sure could not tell it by all the white stuff on the ground here in northern Ohio.

You can have that !!!!  That is why I left from there, Akron, about 37 years ago. But does it ever get brutal here in the summer though, that's why I plan to build a "O" scale line both for inside A/C'd operation as well as a loop outside, fall and winter here....

Byron