Brushes and sliders, the more pickups the better normally.
Polishing the insides of the wheels smooth will lessen wear.
There are some liquid lubricants for this, like "conducta-lube", a clear, thin liquid (NOT OIL) that helps reduce friction and wear.
You will never eliminate carbon dust.
Regards, Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
LGB engines are known to leave behind a black carbon like dust. This is why LGB places a warning to not run their engines on a carpeted surface. Where does this dust come from? I have read that it comes from brushes that rub against the inside of the engine's metal wheels??? It also implies that power is picked up thru the wheels. Doesn't power come thru the pickup shoes? I have also read that one should polish the inside edge of the engine's wheels to improve power and lessen this black deposit. Can anyone enlighten me on this? Regards, Dennis.
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