Track and Layout Cleaning

[Metro Red Line]

Despite using nickel-silver track, all-metal wheels, and periodic (i.e. weekly) runs of twin-tandem Centerlines, I still must keep my Bright Boy handy.

Our club has an experiment in progress to attempt to prove this beyond the shadow of a doubt, but my theory is your bright boy is the source of your problem.  Once a bright boy hits the rails it puts scratches in the surface that collect dirt much quicker than a smooth rail.   The solution is to polish the top of the rail (similar to what Jeff mentioned except I use 1200 grit sand paper and aluminum oxide to polish with), so dirt cannot find all those little groves to hide in, and just a wipe will clean it.

 

Can one use a Dremel to do the polishing? If so then what bit would work? 

[Texas Zepher]

Despite using nickel-silver track, all-metal wheels, and periodic (i.e. weekly) runs of twin-tandem Centerlines, I still must keep my Bright Boy handy.

Our club has an experiment in progress to attempt to prove this beyond the shadow of a doubt, but my theory is your bright boy is the source of your problem.  Once a bright boy hits the rails it puts scratches in the surface that collect dirt much quicker than a smooth rail.   The solution is to polish the top of the rail (similar to what Jeff mentioned except I use 1200 grit sand paper and aluminum oxide to polish with), so dirt cannot find all those little groves to hide in, and just a wipe will clean it.

[Anonymous]

I don't have a mega-layout, but just completed my periodic cleaning, too.  In my case it's about 18 months since the last one. 

I also use only metal wheels.  The only track cleaning I do, between major cleanings, is when I've managed to get paint, glue, or the like on some track.

Otherwise, my big attack is with a CleanMachine, using acetone.  I run it on a large section, then clean it's wheels and replace the pad, then re-run that section.

At the same time, I clean all wheels, with acetone via Q-tips (lots of Q-tips!).

Yes, acetone is nasty stuff, so be careful, especially to have good ventilation.  But it's a GREAT solvent (that's why it's bad for your lungs) and leaves no residue. 

But a lot depends on the environment -- my previous layout was about 100 feet from the Atlantic in central Florida, one of the most corrosive environments anywhere.   Nothing lasted even a month;  neither the Gleam process nor acetone nor anything else I could think of.   

[bnycrail]

I appreciate the tip, Jeff, but that sure does seem like a lot of work.  Surely the folks with the mega-layouts do something else. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I had track cleaning problems myself. I had to clean the track every 2 or 3 days, then I learned about the GLEAM process. It involves sanding the track with 600 grit or finer sandpaper, then burnishing the rails with a piece of stainless steel. I use the bent over handle of a stainless steel spoon on mine. Then I apply a small amount of Blue Magic metal polish to a piece of cork roadbed and run it gently over the rails, inline with the track, let it dry and then buff it off with a clean piece of cork. I did the entire layout. Mine's not as big as yours, but it still pretty substantial. Make sure ALL the polish is removed from the rails, otherwise you'll have the arduous task of cleaning it off the wheels of your loco(s) and rolling stock. I used this process last June and haven't had to clean my track since, except for little spot spills of plaster dust or sand.

[bnycrail]

I continue to be amazed with these features in MR on large and extremely detailed layouts.

I view my yearly (!)  vac cleaning of my HO basement layout (34' x 30') with Great Fear and Loathing, and despite my use of the obligatory garden-hose-with-nylon-covered-tip, I still can't seem to avoid breaking something each year -- a tree, a figure, a vent.  And my layout is not nearly as finely detailed as Sellios' Franklin & South Manchester or Elwood's Olympic & Puget Sound.

And that's just the yearly vaccuming.  Despite using nickel-silver track, all-metal wheels, and periodic (i.e. weekly) runs of twin-tandem Centerlines, I still must keep my Bright Boy handy.  I simply can't imagine how these guys can keep the track clean amid all of that fine detail.

What's the secret?