Cleaning locomotive wheels

[Anonymous]

What products and/or techniques do you recommend for cleaning locomotive wheels? I model in N-scale.

[Anonymous]

I use an all purpose track cleaner. I dont know if this is the greatest idea out there but I've never had a problem with it. I use a Q-tip dip it in the cleaner and swab away any corosion or whatever else is on the wheels. Maybey someone else has a better Idea, let us know.

[cmurray]

I use alcohol wipes made for diabetics giving themselves insulin injections. I just lay the wipe over the track and place the loco on it so one truck picks up power from the track while the other truck wipes itself clean on the wipe.

[jwar]

I used alcohol wipes and ran out of them. So I just tore up a well used bed sheat applied some alcohol and I really think it worked better,.......or perhaps not buying the swabs....er...I guess Im just cheap!!!

[cmurray]

Torn up bed sheets sounds like a good idea. The wipes are so small I have a hard time holding them in place while the locomotive is on top...but I still have a lot of wipes left!

[Anonymous]

Kadee makes a powered wirebrush for cleaning if you run DC. Just clip it to your track and it powers your loco when you touch the wheels, so they turn and get brushed clean. It works well in HO, but I don't know how it would work in N scale. Try your LHS to see if it will work for you.

[SteelMonsters]

I use a cloth laid on the track wetted with track cleaning solution or alcohol. One truck on the track for power, the other on the cloth. I clean track with a cloth wrapped around a block.
I might kitbash/scratchbuild a track cleaning car with a cloth pad, I am trying to come up with a concept that somehow drives the pad to keep from cleaning track for a short while then just spreading dirt around.

I eliminated all abrasive cleaning. This includes bright boys. I looked carfully while cleaning my track and noticed that they put scratches on the surface.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the tips!