I had a friend over running trains last night. Just prior to running, he suggested that I should lubricate a locomotive that has sat un-used for years. Being too polite to say no, I allowed it to happen. Thankfully it is a loco that sits un-used. He applied the "Labelle 108 Oil" to the loco and then happily used it to pull freight cars around the 8'x3' table-top layout for an hour. After he had left, I lifted the loco off the rails to put it back in the display. At that point, I noticed that there was actually oil dripping from the bottom of the loco!
I'm not too worried about the excessively oiled loco as I really don't run it. But, should I worry about cleaning the other locos that I was running on the layout while my friend was running the freshly oiled one? Also, how would you recommend I clean effectively clean the oil that has coated my rails? I was thinking of using 70% IsoPropyl alcohol, but thought that I should get some expert ideas before trying that.
Personally, I would use 91% alcohol, which can be purchased at your local pharmacy. I would:
It bears worth repeating. When lubricating any MRR locomotive, a little goes a long way!
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
When I oops! I use a lint free rag and 91% alcohol to clean my track.
I won't store this locomotive on its side because the excessive oil could seep and hurt the finish.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
My word, does this friend work at "Jiffy Lube"? Must have thought he was changing the oil on a truck!
I agree that the 91% w/ a lint free rag is best. How's the ties and ballast look? You got some unwanted weathering there also....
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
I did the same thing one time. I wiped down the rails with nail polish remover then ran the engines and cars across a paper towel with nail polish remover and then a dry paper towel about 10 inch away from the wet one. It took a few days to get it all off the tracks, but there was 97 feet of oiled tack and around 50 freight cars.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Sorry for my slow response. But, we have had nice weather for the last couple of days, and we wanted to take advantage of it while we had it!
bogp40, you are right. The ballast and ties did get some "additional" weathering, but what can you do? Those darn drippy loco's!
I wasn't able to get any 91% Isopropyl alcohol, so I picked up the nearest thing to it 99%. I have cut it with distilled wa ter to bring it to roughly 91% concentration, and have started cleaning the rails.
Would you recommend using the 91% Isopropyl for cleaning the rolling stock's wheels as well, or is there something that would be better for that purpose?
SoraRail Would you recommend using the 91% Isopropyl for cleaning the rolling stock's wheels as well, or is there something that would be better for that purpose?
I've cleaned my rolling stock and locomotive wheels with 91% Alcohol for a few years and have never had any problems.
Will
Hey, I only mentioned 91% because it's relatively easy to get at your local pharmacy. If you access to 99% - go with that! The purer; the better.
Thank you for your quick reply to my last question regarding the best material for the rolling stock's wheels.
As for access to 99% Isopropyl alcohol, we found it at the Walmart pharmacy. It was behind the counter.