Tracklayer wrote: I use a track cleaning car for the tracks and a Mintrix wheel cleaning brush that you put on live tracks and then place the loco on to clean the wheels. So far both have worked real well...Tracklayer
I use a track cleaning car for the tracks and a Mintrix wheel cleaning brush that you put on live tracks and then place the loco on to clean the wheels. So far both have worked real well...
Tracklayer
I've been looking for one of those Minitrix wheel cleaners but can't seem to find any. Do you know if it is still made?
Irv
trainfan1221 wrote:Even with my not too big layout I can find track cleaning a challenge. And with N scale you have to keep up with it. I use regular track cleaner and whatever I have that won't leave pieces all over to wipe the rails with. I get lazy cleaning the wheels though, I put a generous amount of cleaner over one area and let the engines run through it as they pass while it is still wet. Not very professional and I doubt it works too well, but sometimes I need to do what I can since I don't have room for a workbench etc.
I've seen some of the guys at the club use a device that was made by Minitrix to clean the wheels on the locomotives. It fits over the track and it has some abbrasive metal on top. When you put your locomotive on it, the wheels spin and the abrassive cleans them. I haven't been able to find this kind of thing lately. Micro Trains has a similar device but it doesn't fit over the tracks and you have to turn your locomotives on their backs to use it.
In the old days, Life Like made battle of pink or red track cleaner which you applied to the rails with a brush. I haven't seen this around for a while but that not only cleaned the rails, it also used to clean your locomotives wheels as well.
The John Allen cleaning cars that drag a masonite pad under them in regular service seem to work the best for me in all scales - N, TT, and HO. I put them under boxcars. I have made enough that I try to get at least two in each train. You have to make these yourself. They are designed to keep the track clean after you have manually cleaned it with a bright boy. Try doing a search on "track cleaning" and "track cleaning cars" and you should be able to find information and pictures on them.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
I know this topic has probably been beat to death several times but I would really like to know what you guys recommend. BTW, this is for n-scale.