let me make a suggestion. before you go spending a lot of time and money on different things, pick up some cheap work gloves with the suede like leathter fingers and palms. you can wipe the rail tops with them and if you want to use a solvent, just moisten a finger or two and then rub the rail with a dry finger when done. when the finger tips get discolored from use you can wire brush them to restore the leather back to like new condition. this is all the track cleaning equipment i have used for years and i only need to do it once or twice every year. if you have a dusty location, you might need to do it more often.
grizlump
I agree blue. don't know why the AB unit is so touchy but it is and the pads solved the problem. I gleamed the track 3.5 years ago and gave it a once over 6 months ago. Everything else runs like clockwork. Have a bright boy and it is still in it's wrapper. No way would I use one. Gleaming takes time and I sure don't want to screw it up with abrasives.
The black oxidation from nickle silver track is actually conductive and shouldn't be a problem. Regular dirt, flux or whatever else you find is what causes issues.
Springfield PA
Hi!
I recently spent days - literally - cleaning mainline trackage on my under construction HO layout. I had a problem with solder flux so had to go through some extra steps at solder joints (apply baking soda).
I picked up a couple of the new (to me) Cratex fine abrasive bars (Walthers). I used them after an initial wipe with alcohol, and they took off most of the paint/plaster dust/dirt/etc. There were a few spots where I had to use the regular bright boy (or whatever they are called today) as they are more abrasive. Sooo, after they did their magic, I went over the spot with the Cratex. Lastly, I went over all the rails with another alcohol cleaning.
To me, if the alcohol rag picks up black "whatever", the track is not yet clean. A couple more swipes and it should be, but if you still get obvious "black", you need to keep working at it.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Although i gleamed my track I still get a residue on the rails. One of my Intermountain AB units doesn't like it at all. I simply run 2-3 boxcars with masonite pads under them and problem solved. Now and then i file the black off the pads and I.m good to go. All my other locos run regardless , but the AB is touchy.
Yeah, the "Gleam-method" is probably the most effeective way of preventing dirty tracks. I usually run my 0-6-0 after wiping my rails. Because if something will ever stall on the tracks, it is that lightweighter with that short wheelbase!
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The black residue isn't dirt but oxidation from the Nickle Silver. It's normal to get some when you wipe the track. You'll get a lot of advice on this one and most are just as good. First thing you should do is pack away the bright boy. They are abrasive and make the problem worse over time by putting gouges in the rail where dirt will collect.
The best method is the gleam method which involves polishing the track with a stainless steel washer and metal polish. There are several steps and there are plenty of posts on it with how to.
The next would be to simply use number 600 grit sand paper to get the gouges out of the surface of the rail. If you don't want to gleam after that simply use the 91% alcohol in the future.