Track cleaning

[Capt Bob Johnson]

I may lie like a persian rug, but I also have sufficient presence to cover more ground.

TJ has finally discovered exactly how I avoid doing a bunch of track cleaning, let the guests do it!

I may be dumb, but I ain't stupid!

[Dick Friedman]

I run track power (it's the most democratic -- anyone can run anything on my rails) and it's the cheapest to operate, as one track power system runs every single engine I have. (Let the flames begin!)

I do have to clean track. For my own piece of mind, I clean track before every operating session. It consist of walking around the rr pushing a wall sander equiped with a scotch-brite like pad. This way I remove any corrosion from my aluminum rail, but also leaves, oranges, bug parts, branches, etc.

Next step is to use a track cleaning car in at least one of my operationg consists to keep stuff from building up.

And I second the use of metal wheels. Keeps track less dirty, increses the weight of the cars (not a bad thing), and makes cars less top heavy. All good things.

[kimbrit]

Mr Miles,
In answer to your question, yes. Bachmann. Cheapest around, good value and metal wheels.
Kim

[tangerine-jack]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Bob Johnson

I use SS track, and I give it a good cleaning before spring open house day, rest of year, just a quick run around with track cleaning car to knock off sand granules after a real hard driving rainstorm! None of the plastic wheels from H**l, they leave more on the track than the dogs do doo doo; I've changed over to metal wheels.

Bob, you lie like a Persian rug! Your track was so filthy I had to clean it with some WD-40 and a rag before anything would run! Corrosion you don't have to worry about, but dirt, that you've got plenty of!

I run brass track power and I clean it once a year with a green scrubbie pad and TV tuner cleaner. The rest of the time I just give it a squirt of WD-40 on any trouble spots that come up, and they are few and far between. Near as I can tell, the light machine oil has no adverse effect on traction, and helps keep corrosion to almost nil.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

cacole,
From all I've heard about live steam leaving steam oil gunk on the tracks, wouldn't it be detrimental to overall traction whether using live steam or battery power? Just a stupid query, but it has arisen in my feeble mind!

[cacole]

Wheelsets can easily be replaced, so I wouldn't buy something only because it had metal wheels. The brass in G-scale track has alloys that retard corrosion much better than the old Atlas indoor HO track, so cleaning may not be that big of a problem, depending on your weather conditions. If you ever run a live steamer, you'll definitely have to follow along and clean the oil off of the track before running electric engines. Personally, I run only live steam or battery powered locomotives, so I never have to worry about cleaning track.

[Anonymous]

Is there any manufacturer who produces cars with metal wheels already installed?

[John Busby]

Hi
Bob is right get rid of plastic wheels as fast as you can.
the more metal you have on the track the lower the gunk level on the track
regards John

[Capt Bob Johnson]

I use SS track, and I give it a good cleaning before spring open house day, rest of year, just a quick run around with track cleaning car to knock off sand granules after a real hard driving rainstorm! None of the plastic wheels from H**l, they leave more on the track than the dogs do doo doo; I've changed over to metal wheels.

[piercedan]

Summertime I clean my tracks monthly.

There canbe method in madness when it comes to track power.

I always use connections between a small engine and either another engine or car with power pickups.

First run of the day, I drag around a track cleaner car that has abrasive pads on the bottom.

Monthly I run the LGB track cleaner.

in the winter, my track does not get as dirty. this is due to cold rail does not attact bugs. In the summer the bugs get squished by the engines and this makes for cleaning more often.

I have track powered brass rail.

[John Busby]

HI
I clean my track before the first operational day of the year.
I use a nylon kitchen scourer pad and water this was fine all running season.
and as more metal wheels arrived on the scene the number of spot cleans needed went down dramatically.
However as I now run live steam as well I have to clean the track after a steam running session because of the oil the steamer drops on the track
That wreaks havoc with the electrics if it is not cleaned off for that I use methylated spirits and a sponge with a nylon scourer on one side.
regards John

[Anonymous]

I'd like to know how much cleaning I would have to do to a brass track and the methods used? I would have most likely 200 to 300 feet to clean the first year.
Just running track power and one engine.

How many of you use track power over batteries?

Thanks, J.Miles

Oh by the way Marty, I purchaced the feb 2003 GRR back issue to check out more of your layout. Can't wait to get it.