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After reading all the posts relative to my topic, I would like to share my "cleaning" experiences. I have tried many track cleaning systems, as well as manual labor (bright-boy, polishes, etc.) and I find using, "Tony's Train Exchange", track cleaning car, "CMX-The Clean Machine", works best, for me. Especially, where access to tracks are at best, limited. I add DuPont, 3812S, fast dry, enamel reducer to my cleaning car. ( I own and operate an autobody repair business.) It contains aggressive cleaning agents, preferred by many, to COMPLETELY clean my tracks. This product contains acetone, toluene, isopropyl alcohol, ethylbenzene, petroleum naphtha and xylene. Because of the small amount dripping onto the cleaning pad, the odor is very minimal. However, I would suggest safety first, good ventilation and be aware you are using a flammable chemical. The fast drying enamel evaporates quickly, thus limiting the amount you might smell. I run the car backwards, with a locomotive that has clean wheel sets. Once it has gone around 10-12 times, I remove the cleaning pad and add another clean one. Don't forget to clean the wheels of the engine and track cleaning car, being used for this project, first, (during the cleaning process, small amounts of residue , do, appear on these wheel sets). Again, I run the cleaning car first, followed by the locomotive, for several more times around the layout. When I check the track, ( white cloth test ), and find no "black" on it, I cease cleaning. Next, comes the cleaning of the locomotive and cars I will be running on the cleaned track. I use a 3' piece of track on it's own, 1"x4" board, soldered 22 ga; single strand wire with alligator clips that attach to the tracks, for power. I fold a piece of "Bounty" paper towel in half, lay it over a section of the "cleaning track", dribble some enamel reducer on it with a ear syringe. Place the locomotive, (one set of trucks at a time), on the wet paper towel, the other trucks on the powered track and let the cleaning process begin. Then, turn the locomotive around and do the next set trucks until all are clean. For steam tenders and rolling stock, simply wet some paper towel laid across the track and run them, by hand, back and forth. Shift the paper towel and continue running each car until there is no more residue on the towel. Once all this is accomplished, I find I can run my consists a long, long time before cleaning is needed again. Which brings me to some other points........I use Proto 2000 wheel sets on all my rolling stock. They are "bright", steel wheel sets, which have no coatings on them. Example: I had used Kadee, 520 Freight Sets and found out through use and discussions, on this forum, they would leave a residue coating which had been applied to them at the manufacturing point. Plastic wheels............"GOOD GRIEF"........... they really make a mess of your tracks. I have over 300 pieces of rolling stock and learned the hard way that Proto 2000, was the way to go. Long ago, I learned I should run metal wheels and thought Kadee was the way to go. I wish I had the money back I had spent on all those Kadee's I threw away! Bottom line......It's a lenghty task to clean your tracks thoroughly, then all your cars, but the "length-of-use" is worth it!! Proper equipment is, essential! <br />
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