NP2626However, it sounds like for the average layout, the process will take 15 to 25 hours to complete. This alone is probably the answer, as today people lack interest in using elbow grease!
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
TA462 NP2626 Another is why isn't it discussed in Model Railroader; or, in other printed media? Because its not very popular and although some people swear by it most people don't believe it works as well as some people say it does.
NP2626 Another is why isn't it discussed in Model Railroader; or, in other printed media?
Another is why isn't it discussed in Model Railroader; or, in other printed media?
Because its not very popular and although some people swear by it most people don't believe it works as well as some people say it does.
From a scale stand point, gleamed rail heads would be right on, on the mainline, where the rail heads are polished to a high luster from use. With all the emphasis on scale fidelity today, this alone should be enough to make the scale folks get on with it.
However, it sounds like for the average layout, the process will take 15 to 25 hours to complete. This alone is probably the answer, as today people lack interest in using elbow grease!
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
NP2626If this process is such a good idea, I wonder why so little is said about it? Upon getting into the hobby, it doesn't take long for a model railroader to understand the necessity for cleaning track.
Three main reasons.
#1. Some don't believe it works. They've never tried it but they still don't believe it. Must be the thought of polish insulating the rails or something.
#2. There's a fair amount of work involved. If for some reason it doesn't work that's all that time wasted. Why take the chance.
#3. If it's so great why isn't it listed as one of the top three things to do?
All three sound like good reasons but at the end of the day they all add up to the same thing. An excuse not to do it. Nearly everybody I know of that's done it properly raves about how good it works. But that's the thing, you have to do it properly. Get in a hurry and you'll make a mess of it.
If this process is such a good idea, I wonder why so little is said about it? Upon getting into the hobby, it doesn't take long for a model railroader to understand the necessity for cleaning track. If they start looking for commercial items for dealing with dirty track, they will quickly find the Bright Boy, then the $25.00-$50.00 track cleaning cars with an abrasive pad, then finally the $100.00 plus track cleaning cars with motors for polishing the rail head; or, a reservoir tank for dripping Goo Gone onto a track cleaning pad. For that matter, why isn't pre-gleamed track available? Wouldn't it be another method of increasing profit for the manufacturers and would certainly be the easiest time to do the process?
I have also heard stories about putting Wahl Hair Clipper Oil on the rail heads helps will help with continuity (electrical pick-up). I have not tried t this method, as I can't get by the fact that leaving oil on things always seems to attract dirt.
I have no problem thinking gleaming my track will work. I'm just wondering why so little is said about it?
I use the GLEEM process described in Jeffery's post, with Mother's Mag Wheel Polish. I have lifted and re-laid flex track without re-Gleeming - and have had zero problems as a result. The most I have had to do is wipe dust off the railheads - frequently with my fingertips, sometimes with a soft cloth. If my railroad inhabited a NASA clean room I wouldn't even have to do that.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
NP2626 I have some "Flitz" polish but have been leery of putting a coating of something on the rail heads, thinking it to be counter productive to electrical contact.
I have some "Flitz" polish but have been leery of putting a coating of something on the rail heads, thinking it to be counter productive to electrical contact.
Flitz, Mothers, Simichrome, Etc are cleaners not waxes and do not contain any waxes in their formulas that would inhibit electrical contact
Fortunately I copied this to my forum long ago for just such eventualities.
When it comes to having clean track that stays clean, you might want to try this. It was posted by one of the members of the Model Railroader forum. It worked for me. It's called 'GLEAM'.QUOTE: (Originally posted by Semafore)I'm talking GLEAM!: ULTRA_SHINY and Smooth rails can now be had with my 'WHAT box?" approach to this conductivity problem. An HO modeller since 1970, I know the problem WELL!THIS IS A ONE-TIME PROCESS. DO ALL TRACK!!1] On an appropiate-sized block, use 400 wet/dry paper to remove the extrusion milling left on the railheads. The block must span both rails.2] Now use 600 or finer, repeat process.3] Using an appropiate-sized STAINLESS-STEEL piece, apply moderate pressure and BURNISH the rails! The more you slide back and forth, the smoother and shinier the rails become! [ the GLEAM part ]. This is because you have removed the ridges, bumps, and pits. Burnishing helps seal pores with metal, eliminating traps for dirt and tarnish; almost like a MIRROR!4] [For Bob H.] Use BLUE MAGIC or equivalent metal polish to deep-clean the remaining contaminates.5] Last, buff the rails to your eye's content!The shine is 5x more lusterous than just polish alone. The wax left behind is minimal, is not insulating, and virtually eliminates rail cleaning.This is a process HOT OFF THE PRESSES! [Of my brain] I've only been at it 6 weeks with amazing results! {I just added the wax step today.} prior to that, though, the NS HO rails I'm guinea-pigging (300') sans wax STILL gleams today, with slight tarnishing, so I'm gonna wax 'em next!I will also try some classic brass rail to see how that stands up.AND REMEMBER; NO MORE ABRASIVES...EVER!!!!!!Or you'll just ruin your mirror finish, and will have to gleam and wax AGAIN!Dry-wipe with paper towel or cotton. You can always polish anytime; wipe away excess.I've had DCC and DC locos/lash-ups creep at a scale 3-5MPH around the staging level loop 100' with NO STALL or FAULTER. gotta love it
As another poster suggested last week: Google "model railroader gleaming" and you get more pertinent results than using the forum's search function. Gleaming works great. I still use my track cleaning car if I haven't run trains for a few days but I don't know if that is necessary or not.
NP2626
I used Metal Polish (Mothers Mag Wheel Polish and Blue Magic Polish) on my rails back in 2003.
I have NOT had to clean my track since and I have over 3600 ft or track down so far in a 2500 sq ft space!
I threw away my cleaning cars and drags as I never used them ever!
I have never seen any loss of traction because of the wax/polish.
The KEY is to apply it very thin (I use a piece of HO Cork - as I am in HO) and a thin coating of the polish on the cork and just rub the rail heads for 8 to 10 feet.
I then use a clean piece of cork and buff the rails and I am done!
While the Gleaming Process will do everything they say it does - I have had NO problems with dirty track and stalling engines so I never felt the need to GLEAM my rails!
Your layout conditions may dictate differently !
BOB H - Clarion, PA
Although this topic has come up in various threads on track cleaning and maintenance. When doing a search, just now, I could not find where this specific topic was a thread. Not saying it hasn't been, just saying I could not locate one.
I've seen little tidbits on Gleaming track; but would like to know more. Like many folks I've used Bright Boys to polish my rail heads and promote good electrical continuity. I also have 5 track cleaning cars made in the same way that John Allen made his, with nails as guides and Masonite pads. I have some "Flitz" polish but have been leery of putting a coating of something on the rail heads, thinking it to be counter productive to electrical contact.
If you have links to discussions on the topic, I am interested.
So, I'd like to hear your "track gleaming" ideas and strategies, thanking you in advance!