I clean up the rails on switches with a kitchen scouring pad and white vinegar. The vinegar will soften the rust, and the scouring pad is abrasive enough to grind it away. It takes longer than soaking but unless a switch is really bad, it'll usually clean up in 5-10 minutes.
When cleaning your switches clean the area where the frog contacts the rails. The wires under the switch will energize the spur but the frog gets energized from physical contact on the rail. I found this out when an enginge if stopped on the frog would not restart. Cleaned the contact point adn no more problems.
Jim
I noticed too when I used a Z transformer that the A.F. trains moved faster because the voltage is higher than the A.F. transformers, A.F. puts out up to 18 volts and a Z puts out 21 volts or close to that.
Don't forget to clean the underneath wire contacts on the A.F. switches.
Lee F.
Bob Nelson
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month