I have a question about "gleaming" your track - do you have to use lots of elbow grease when applying the polish, or just wipe it on the rails and then buff? Also, what is an easy way to clean up the inevitable extra polish that gets on the ties and on the sides of the rail?
Finally, just what is that black stuff that comes off the rails (n/s) when you wipe them, and does it ever go away?
you shouldnt. Most people here use a piece of cork to apply the polish, and another to buff off the polish after it dries.
I'm not sure about the extra polish though - maybe yuo're putting too much on whatever you're using to apply it in the first place...
The black gunk has many sources - any oil/lubricant from the loco that finds its way to the rails, plastic sheels on cars, oxidation from a poor electrical contact between the loco and the rails... and the list goes on... getting rid of it is as simple as not over-lubricating your locos, cleaning their wheels, and getting rid of plastic wheels.
Now, the "use metal wheels for everything" is more of a de-facto standard than anything... most of the people here swap out wheelsets as soon as they get a new car, and others have had no problems with plastic wheels and gunk build-up. It pretty much boils down to personal preference...
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site