Keeping my track clean.

[Sir Simon]

So I have just started building my first 'G' scale railway in my back garden. Coming along very nicley if one may say. A few months went by and I noticed rust has now started to form. I am not sure if the Texas weather is having an extra effect here.

Does anyone know or have any good idea's on how one can prevent the rust from forming apart from me hand-cleaning the track every couple of days. If you could recommend a good cleaning agent that might help.

 Thank you

 

Simon

 

[altterrain]

Hi Simon,

What type of track do you have? and what part of Texas (is it coastal?)?

-Brian 

[Sir Simon]

Hello Brian.

LGB track and I live in Coppell - 75019 / Texas (Near DFW  Airport).

Do you know of any good garden railroad clubs near by that I could join. I am rather enjoying

this new found hobby.

Thank you for your reply.

Regards

Simon

 

[ttrigg]

Simon:

You said LGB, what kind of LGB, brass? nickle plate?  Since you said rust I going to guess that you have the nickle plate.  Did you scrape off the nickle plating? If you did, then I don't know what to say.  If you are talking brass, then I would suggest going to Walmart sporting goods (or your favorite gun store).  Pick up a packet of "Rem Wipes".  It is a "towelette" that has Remington Gun Oil.  After doing a light sanding with a sheet rock wall sander, I put one on my sanding car and make a fast trip around the GRR.  This light oiling stops the brass from corroding for about three months and not so much that it causes any slipage of the wheels (even on the 18%+ grade to the top of the falls.)

[altterrain]

Hi again Simon,

I am going to guess you have brass track and what you are calling rust is actually just normal brass oxidation (though I have been known to be wrong most of the time according to my wife).

You have several options -

-Sell all that LGB track and buy some nice stainless steel track (that's what I have).

-A lot of brass track guys use a pole sander with a very fine grit screen on the end.

-AristoCraft makes a nice little track cleaning car with an abrasive pad on the bottom. There are also several other types on same theme out there.

-Convert your locos to battery power (I have a few of those too).

Club wise, I think these guys are the closest to you -

http://www.ntgrc.org/ or

http://www.hotgg.org/

-Brian