Track

[themattman]

I have a quick question that I think most of you will be able to answer. That question is, what is the black residue that is on my track after i run my train. I have fasttrack with so far your basic B&O engine that comes with a starter kit.

Thanks

Matt

[Benjamin Maggi]

I would venture a guess that it is one of three things:

1. Oil residue: the trains might come from the factory with excess lubrication, and this might find its way onto the track.

2. Dirt/Dust: the above mentioned oil, when it comes in contact with dust or dirt in the air, can turn into a thicker sort of sludge.

3. Carbon build-up: I am not an electronics person, but from what I understand sparks and metal contact can result in black residue.

4. Blackened Metal/Paint: this shouldn't be happening in your case if I understand FastTrack correctly, but some styles of track have the center rail painted black or darkened with a chemical (I think K-Line track had this problem). If that wears away it could cause what you are seeing.

Take a paper towel and rub it over the black stuff. Does it look like dust, dirt, black specks, or grime? Either way, then take a piece of paper towel and spray it (the paper towel) with a shot of Windex. Rub that over the black areas on the track and see what comes up. Let it try, or wipe dry with another paper towel, and you should be good to go.

[phillyreading]

Do you have a smoking engine? If so some of that residue is left over smoke fluid. I don't know how for sure but it seems that smoke equipped engines dirty a track quicker than non smoking engines do. The only smoking engines that may not dirty a track as quick are the post war pill style smoking engines, you drop a smoke pill down the smoke stack and a light bulb heats the pill.

What type of track are you using?

A word of advice on MTH Realtrax, this is from the Williams by Bachmann service department, sand the black paint off of the center rail on Realtrax if it has a darkened center rail. The black material prevents the electric current from getting to the center rollers.

Lee F.