Still a dirty issue..... wipe them rails boys and clean them wheels
Toad
I have never seen the Bachmann track. It is rarely used over here except indoors. It may well surivive outdoors in CA but it certainly doesnt in the UK.
I chose Aristo-Craft, good availability and as someone else pointed out the screws give good connections. I check the screws once a year - a few have needed tightening - but that is only in around 200ft. of track. I have good drainage as the track is laid upon coarse ballast,
Alan, Oliver & North Fork Railroad
https://www.buckfast.org.uk/
If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there. Lewis Carroll English author & recreational mathematician (1832 - 1898)
Man has a point there........oh and to the other guy, he is more of a fly boy than rail roader. See his pix, thous are huge planes! Remember he used aircraft gunk to stop the rust on the under side of the bman track.
I remember that but it still not the same as sitting on the ground. Being elevated with air circulation allows the track to dry out much faster than sitting on the ground.
-Brian
altterrain wrote: There is a caveat to your experiment Junnie. It is not your typical garden railway installation where it would be on the ground and ballasted - a far more humid environment than sitting on elevated wood decking.-Brian
There is a caveat to your experiment Junnie. It is not your typical garden railway installation where it would be on the ground and ballasted - a far more humid environment than sitting on elevated wood decking.
Brian,
In a previous post, I provided the following weather information for my home near Monterey, California:
"Based on historical weather data, it rains an average of 73 days per year in Monterey. However, more significant than the rain, is the coastal fog that rolls in an average of 156 days per year!
Since the rainy season is from November through April and the foggy period is from May through October, the Bachmann track could be exposed to moisture for 229 days each year!"
As you can see from the above weather data, my layout is in a very "humid environment."
This time of the year, because of the fog bank that moves in each night, there is visible moisture on the track from 10 pm each evening to 9 am the following morning.
Junnie
cmoore wrote: Hi Junnie,I have just read all the posts...............frigin hell it took a while! As long as it all works fine for you then all is good. I clean my tracks (by hand) monthly as well, and yes it takes a while but with the love of trains it's all worth it.Good onya.Cameron
Hi Junnie,
I have just read all the posts...............frigin hell it took a while! As long as it all works fine for you then all is good. I clean my tracks (by hand) monthly as well, and yes it takes a while but with the love of trains it's all worth it.
Good onya.
Cameron
Hi Cameron,
I've had my layout outside for over a year and the Bachmann track still looks as good as the day I put it down!
If you click on this link, you should be able to see some pictures that I took of the layout last month:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9283706@N06/
Obviously, I'm very pleased with the results!
He who has the most trains wins!!
Hi Junnie, I'm sorry that you're disregarding the help offered on this forum, what they say is true. I started garden railroading fifteen years ago with a Bachmann Big Hauler set. I tossed aside the track that came with it and bought 8' dia LGB track. I've changed to Aristo track because of price, 10 dia. curves (trains look much better on wider curves) and I like the screw connections. However I still use that LGB track on secondary trackage. I hope others more intrested in the experience of my friends, I actually know none of them, will read this and gain.
Good luck, Rob
Hi Doneldon,
I must respectfully disagree with your assessment that "Bachmann track is not for outdoors under any circumstances." I have had a layout outside on my patio for over a year and it is doing just fine as you can see from the pictures at the following website:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9283706@N06/All
that is necessary to keep it this way indefinitely is a once a month wipe down with WD-40. Takes me exactly 10 minutes to complete the task. I currently have about 90 ft of track.
Since my entire layout is on elevated wooden roadbed (see pictures), attaching the 12" sections of track is not a problem.
Good tip on browning fluid for weathering the track.
I'm just now looking at this question and I must concur with the majority that Bachmann track is not for outdoors under any circumstances. Even with plating, sealing the insides and painting with UV resistant paint you would only gain a season or so. And all of the adaptive stuff would be far costlier, and a huge amount of extra work, than buying appropriate track. Plus, the sectional Bman track would have to ne secured to the roadbed to prevent the short (in models, a foot is a short section) from working apart all of the time.
Save the Bman track for indoors or storing your power and rolling stock out of the elements. For better appearance, try browning the rail. This is a process like bluing except with a mellow brown result. It's an older process that bluing. You see it on many old firearms like muskets and suck like. I browned a flintlock I built and it looks great. You can get browning fluid from a gun shop (a real one, not the sports section at Target).
Doneldon
Have fun with your trains
Hi Dick,
Thanks for your concern. However, I've had my Bachmann track layout outside for over a year in Monterey, California's very damp costal climate and it looks as good as the day I put it down! I wipe it down with WD-40 once a month and that's about all that is necessary.
I pumped linseed oil through each rail with a small oil can before laying. This is what I use to treat the inside of the 4130 steel tubes in my antique airplanes. It has been done for years by aviation enthusiasts to prevent the tubes from rusting from the inside. The linseed oil dries hard and forms a protective barrier on the tubing walls.
Regards, Junnie
These folks are right about the Bachmann track. It's like Lionel O track, hollow, allowing it to rust (it's the steel that rusts) from the outside and the inside.
While I use track power with my aluminum rail, you might consider it for your battery set up. Aluminum is now much cheaper than brass (there's no copper in aluminum). It's easier to bend, and with the five or six foot long sections (depending on manufacturer) you don't as many joints to work loose and lose alignment.
Aluminum comes in several different sizes. At least two manufacturers: Llagas Creek, and Sunset Valley. I've used both, like Llagas Creek (it's more fun to say, and it's a California Company). They both make switches, too.
Even thought you are retired, you can spend your TIME much better than trying to make a silk purse out of Bachmann sow's ears!
Junnie,
Really man I think your wacked but everybody has there own thing to do! Hope all turns out ok.
Me, just call me crazy!!!
Hi Sandy,
I think this quote from Niccolo Machiavelli best sums it up:
"There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things."
Hi, Junnie!
I just read all of this thread. Can't believe how much flak you took for having an inquiring mind and enjoying the experimentation!! And you got really useful results, too. I've just been given some Bachmann track, and some Lionel G gauge track also. I'll use both to supplement my brass track when I build my layout in the attic. So your information is truly useful to me. Thank you for sticking with your project and sharing the results with us. HAPPY RAILROADING!
SandyR
Hi Snowshoe,
Thanks for the compliment!
Yes, WD-40 is an excellent cleaner. I use it to clean heavily oxidized pots, switches and connectors on my collection vintage tube amplifiers. I'm sure it will remove the oxidation from your brass tracks.
I don't get a lot of driver slippage, but I don't have any grades on my layout. I buy the WD-40 in 1 gallon cans. Once a month, I pour a few ounces in a paper cup, dip a rag in it, and wipe down each rail. I would suggest that you try it on a 10' section of your track and see what happens.
For your test you can use a spray can of WD-40. Spray the WD-40 on a rag, then wipe down each rail. If there is a lot of oxidation, the first time you do this, I would wipe a coat on, wait 5-10 minutes, and then, with another clean rag, wipe another coat on. This will allow the WD-40 some time to loosen up the oxidation.
Good Luck!
Junnie -
I just read all the posts. I like what you did, you took something that should not work outdoors and make it work. I have a question, you said WD-40 is a better cleaner than a lub. That it also prevents metal from oxidizing? I have brass track that is known to oxidize. Would WD-40 work. If so my only concern is will this cause the wheels to slip? As of now I use some of the LGB conductive grease and it sems to help run my trains longer on the track without cleaning. I wonder if WD-40 would work better? I use electric
ToadFrogWhiteLightn wrote: EMPIRE II LINE wrote: ToadFrogWhiteLightn wrote: Naw, no WD-40 on the track, it would make the traction tires go to mush and pop off.Toad Works good in some'a the smoke stacks though......lots'a smoke....Byron C. NOS + WD-40 and we are off..........Toad - Shot from the Cab!
EMPIRE II LINE wrote: ToadFrogWhiteLightn wrote: Naw, no WD-40 on the track, it would make the traction tires go to mush and pop off.Toad Works good in some'a the smoke stacks though......lots'a smoke....Byron C.
ToadFrogWhiteLightn wrote: Naw, no WD-40 on the track, it would make the traction tires go to mush and pop off.Toad
Naw, no WD-40 on the track, it would make the traction tires go to mush and pop off.
Works good in some'a the smoke stacks though......lots'a smoke....
Byron C.
NOS + WD-40 and we are off..........
Toad - Shot from the Cab!
Like Da new frog there Toad.....Real GREEN.......
I don't have any grades to speak of on the layout, but, I do not see much engine drive wheel slippage when pulling five cars. I don't know why, but the occasional light coat of WD-40 does not seem to have any noticeable effect on traction.
Also, I can truthfully say that I have never cleaned the wheels on my engine or rolling stock during the entire 12 months that I have been operating my layout. I have always felt that WD-40 is a much better cleaner than it is a lubricant. In fact, I have used it for years to clean the pots, slide switches, tube sockets and RCA Jacks on my collection of vintage vacuum tube amplifiers.
I would suggest that you wipe down a section of your track with WD-40 and find out for yourself if it causes you any problems. After you apply the WD-40, let it set overnight before running your trains on it. You may be pleasantly surprised at the results.
Guess you should not have any 1% grades cause the traction slippn.
You get the dirt up after rolling? Guess you can not Highball?? Being slippery and all.
How many times you clean your wheels on the engine and stock?
Hi Byron,
Wow, your layout looks great!
As I said in my previous post, I now only wipe down my track once a month. Since I do it so infrequently, and since it only takes a few minutes, I haven't devised an easy method. I just pour a littel WD-40 in a paper cup and dip a rag in it...nothing fancy.
Stainless sounds like a great way to go. However, as I said in my initital post, which started this thread, I was given a great deal of Bachmann track free of charge. So being the "tight wad" that I am, I wanted to find a way to use it!
Junnie wrote: Hi All,I gave up on the test a few months ago because the final results were very predictable. Here they are: 1 - Bachmann track with no treatment = Will rust very quickly, however, after one year, they are still structurally in very good condition. 2 - Bachmann track wiped down every two weeks with either WD-40 or 20 wt motor oil = No rust. However, When treatment was stopped several months ago, the track began to rust within 6 weeks. 3 - Track sprayed with clear epoxy and wiped down with WD-40 every two weeks = No rust. I have now cut the wipe down frequency to once per month with no ill effects.Conclusion: I am satisfied that you can definitely use Bachmann track outside if you use either treatment #2 or #3 I have been using treatment #3 on my layout for the past 12 months, and, as you can see from the pictures that I took this morning, it is in great condition. Click on the following link to see pictures:http://www.flickr.com/photos/9283706@N06/Regards, Junnie
Hi All,
I gave up on the test a few months ago because the final results were very predictable.
Here they are:
1 - Bachmann track with no treatment = Will rust very quickly, however, after one year, they are still structurally in very good condition.
2 - Bachmann track wiped down every two weeks with either WD-40 or 20 wt motor oil = No rust. However, When treatment was stopped several months ago, the track began to rust within 6 weeks.
3 - Track sprayed with clear epoxy and wiped down with WD-40 every two weeks = No rust. I have now cut the wipe down frequency to once per month with no ill effects.
Conclusion: I am satisfied that you can definitely use Bachmann track outside if you use either treatment #2 or #3 I have been using treatment #3 on my layout for the past 12 months, and, as you can see from the pictures that I took this morning, it is in great condition. Click on the following link to see pictures:
So Junnie,
Do you get down on those sore ol'e knees to wipe this all down by hand or what ??
Do you use rags and sponges or a pole and pad, and stand to do it??
I just open the train storage room access panels, set the Aristo rubbing block car in front of the engines, turn on the power, and the R/C hand held, and out of the train room I go.
The main need of the Aristo track car is because my line is on a raised platform and the Doofy Squirrels think it is a safe place to eat their accorns up HIGH away from the cats, and they get sand from their feet on the rail heads constantly.
Only real hassle is removing the few leaves and a few Ponderosa pine needles after a windy day at times, otherwise its just up and go, or if I desire to start early in the AM before the thick nights dew dries off the rail heads, I will use the blower on the track, that takes less than 15 minutes to do.
It's real enjoyable to just run'em and not have to hassle with track cleaning and all that mess constantly, Stainless steel track is the way to go.......go.....go.....and.....go..... just out the door....
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