@Lenny the Lion posted:91% alcohol does it for me. Ever since I was a kid I've always loved the smell of the blue colored Life Like track cleaner. No harmful vapors that I know of. Always takes be back.
Believe it or not, I still have some of that Life Like track cleaner. It's got to be over 60 years old and hasn't evaporated. As a kid, I always thought of it as potent stuff. It should have eaten through the glass jar by now.
Just started using Odorless Mineral Spirits and the NO-OX-ID on the blackened center rail only. Wish I had researched this years ago. All my engines are running more smoothly and the flickering in my passenger cars and cabooses is gone.
I have a Northeast car. I read many of the threads on here and went with GooGone. Works well on tubular track. I wet the front pad and leave the rear one dry. The pads can be washed and reused a couple of times or scotchbrite pads can be cut to fit. I won't use any of the spirits-based products- the CEO complains about the fumes.
I had to clean my fastrack for under the tree this year, it was black, and the GG on a scotchbrite brought it right up to shiny new again.
I added to the fun by building a MOW car body.
I also use a wire wheel in my Dremel for wheels and rollers, or CRC on a Q-tip. I like those balls that @Richie C. posted. Who makes them?
Bob
On my O-Line, I spray a small amount of CRC 2-26 at selected spots and let the train spread it. Works immediately. On the garden railway, I use an Aristo track cleaning car for a few trips and follow up with a sponge to shine the rails if a train slows; I use split-jaw clamps. The result is good running of trains in a short while, including the start of the season in the Spring. Mark
@RSJB18 posted:I have a Northeast car. I read many of the threads on here and went with GooGone. Works well on tubular track. I wet the front pad and leave the rear one dry. The pads can be washed and reused a couple of times or scotchbrite pads can be cut to fit. I won't use any of the spirits-based products- the CEO complains about the fumes.
I had to clean my fastrack for under the tree this year, it was black, and the GG on a scotchbrite brought it right up to shiny new again.
I added to the fun by building a MOW car body.
I also use a wire wheel in my Dremel for wheels and rollers, or CRC on a Q-tip. I like those balls that @Richie C. posted. Who makes them?
Bob
Hi Bob - just go on the big A and search "dremel buffing pads" and they will come up along with a whole slew of similar products. The pic of the one I showed is for 40 assorted grits and goes for $13.00.
About the only issue is that the shafts are thinner than a standard dremel accessory shaft and, depending on what model dremel you have, the collet may not tighten down enough to hold it in place. Funny, the thinner shaft works fine with my 30 year old dremel, but I had to buy an accessory collet for my new one.
Love the MOW body.
@RSJB18 posted:I added to the fun by building a MOW car body.
Bob
I really like that. Much better than what comes with it.
I did a forum search on this product (Track Magic) and I was amazed I did not find it has been mentioned. A neighbor likes this and was curious if anyone knows anything about it.
Useful to learn about the shortcomings of using alcohol. Interestingly, there's a loco review in the latest issue of Model Railroader where the magazine's senior editor mentions using alcohol to clean the track.
Homer Simpson taught me that alcohol is the solution to every problem...
@hokie71 posted:I did a forum search on this product (Track Magic) and I was amazed I did not find it has been mentioned. A neighbor likes this and was curious if anyone knows anything about it.
I have used it for about two years with no complains. I wipe the tracks (Fastrack) every 1-2 months. I use both Legacy and DCS and can run dead slow everywhere on the layout.
@Danr posted:I have used it for about two years with no complains. I wipe the tracks (Fastrack) every 1-2 months. I use both Legacy and DCS and can run dead slow everywhere on the layout.
Dan, where do you buy this Track Magic
Thanks, Dave
@chris a posted:Just started using Odorless Mineral Spirits and the NO-OX-ID on the blackened center rail only. Wish I had researched this years ago. All my engines are running more smoothly and the flickering in my passenger cars and cabooses is gone.
Chris, where do you buy this NO-OX-ID product.
The mineral spirits is also paint thinner.
Thanks, Dave
@CAPPilot posted:I really like that. Much better than what comes with it.
Thanks Ron. It was a fun project to do. The body is styrene and the details are from San Juan and Plastistrut.
Bob
Dave, I bought the 2 oz container of NO-OX-ID A Special, on Amazon, I just combined it with another item I needed to get over the threshold for free shipping, here's a link... 2 ounces will laster longer than I'll be here running trains and cleaning track.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H...dt_b_product_details
I picked up a quart of "Odorless Mineral Spirits" at the big box store for around $9.00.
@RJR posted:A comment regarding acetone. It is an excellent cleaner, but can do damage. To illustrate, I left a quart can of it on the deck of my cabin cruiser. (stupid!) When I came back a few days later, the can had tipped & leaked, doing unrepairable damage to the deck. Consdier you may have [plastic parts in switches and in switch motors, so it could be risky for them.
I cam a across a review of the CMX car. It is attached
I watched your attachment regarding the CMX car twice and found it very informative
Thanks, Dave
@chris a posted:Just started using Odorless Mineral Spirits and the NO-OX-ID on the blackened center rail only. Wish I had researched this years ago. All my engines are running more smoothly and the flickering in my passenger cars and cabooses is gone.
Chris, the big A description of NO-OX-ID says it's a lubricant, don't you experience wheel slippage on your engines?
George
Odorless mineral spirits works well for me. It doesn’t promote gunk buildup (it ranks well on the list posted by gunrunner John on the preceding page of this thread) and won’t smell up the room -
I am only using the No OX on the center blackened rail. If you watch this video about track cleaning it will help describe proper use and application.
I use Goo Gone on a NE Trains track cleaning car's front pad and leave the rear pad dry and it really cleans the grease.
@RSJB18 posted:I have a Northeast car. I read many of the threads on here and went with GooGone. Works well on tubular track. I wet the front pad and leave the rear one dry. The pads can be washed and reused a couple of times or scotchbrite pads can be cut to fit. I won't use any of the spirits-based products- the CEO complains about the fumes.
I had to clean my fastrack for under the tree this year, it was black, and the GG on a scotchbrite brought it right up to shiny new again.
I added to the fun by building a MOW car body.
I also use a wire wheel in my Dremel for wheels and rollers, or CRC on a Q-tip. I like those balls that @Richie C. posted. Who makes them?
Bob
This was a great build Bob. What creativity ! What a great construct on the details ! What a good looking color combo ! What a great looking functional piece ! It looks like it could be a no-frills real RR car ( not sure what it would do .......but who cares 
). Gotta be the best looking rail cleaning car I've ever seen . 
Really like the photo of it on the layout .
Thanks for keeping us updated through the whole build process.
In answer to the lubricant questions, you only dampen the cleaning cloth, don’t wet it. I’ve not had any slippage.
@DAVID PEARSALL 010218 posted:Dan, where do you buy this Track Magic
Thanks, Dave
I first bought it at a train show. A bought a refill bottle on Amazon and you can find the starter kit there as well. You really don't need the starter kit, all you need is the bottle of Track Magic and an applicator, like a foam paint brush.
By the way, No-Ox is also available on Amazon, of course.
Still trying to decide on what fluid to use, but here are some photos of my track cleaning cars.
@shorling posted:Believe it or not, I still have some of that Life Like track cleaner. It's got to be over 60 years old and hasn't evaporated. As a kid, I always thought of it as potent stuff. It should have eaten through the glass jar by now.
Must be some good cleaner
@CAPPilot posted:I really like that. Much better than what comes with it.
Very nice
@Mallard4468 posted:Homer Simpson taught me that alcohol is the solution to every problem...
Must be a different Homer Simpson. My Homer always used Donuts.
But you might be right, not sure how you would clean track with Donuts....
@Dallas Joseph posted:This was a great build Bob. What creativity ! What a great construct on the details ! What a good looking color combo ! What a great looking functional piece ! It looks like it could be a no-frills real RR car ( not sure what it would do .......but who cares
Really like the photo of it on the layout .
Thanks for keeping us updated through the whole build process.
Thanks Dallas.
This was the prototype I based the car on. The blue is a little bit lighter than the 1:1 but close enough for government work as the old saying goes.
@RSJB18 posted:Thanks Dallas.
This was the prototype I based the car on. The blue is a little bit lighter than the 1:1 but close enough for government work as the old saying goes.
Yeah Bob, they probably didn't get the code right on theirs.
I've been using my modified Lionel 3927 I made last year, maybe it's the weight but just running it with the scotch bright pad first then wipe it down is all I need to do the round wiping disk works ...daniel
@chris a posted:I am only using the No OX on the center blackened rail. If you watch this video about track cleaning it will help describe proper use and application.
Thanks, the video was very informative
I am assuming that No-Ox has a chemical reaction to the rubber traction tires
@DAVID PEARSALL 010218 posted:I am assuming that No-Ox has a chemical reaction to the rubber traction tires
Looking for that answer too.
@gunrunnerjohn posted:I use the purple pads as well, they last a long time before they lose their effectiveness.
The only Scotch "purple" pads I see say professional, scouring, or extreme scrub. They don't sound like something I'd want on my Gargraves track.
I've been using these for a very long time, track is fine. The relatively light weight pressure of a track cleaning car is a whole lot different than forced scrubbing of a surface.
John, Thank you. When I searched for "purple pad" these did not come up. Ordered them for my Trackmans.
John I think you just answered my question. I am just laying down some Gargraves for the first time and the comments about being careful not to use an abrasive on the middle rail had me cautious about the scotch-brite pads on all these cars.
Paul
I keep thinking we are going about the rail cleaning business the wrong way.
What's causing the rails to get dirty?
What makes contact with the rails to crude them up?
ANSWER: the truck wheels.
So we need to have an automated way to clean the wheels before we invest hundreds in dirt spreading rail cars.
Unfortunately, there are no wheel cleaning systems for O-Guage.
@AlanRail posted:I keep thinking we are going about the rail cleaning business the wrong way.
What's causing the rails to get dirty?
What makes contact with the rails to crude them up?
ANSWER: the truck wheels.
So we need to have an automated way to clean the wheels before we invest hundreds in dirt spreading rail cars.
Unfortunately, there are no wheel cleaning systems for O-Guage.
What causes the rails to get the black crud? Answer:
https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/black-gunk-12186610
The secret to cleaning track and wheels:
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws...ne/index.html?page=9
This info is in so many threads I thought everyone was aware of it by now...
Tom Stoltz
in Maine
@RJR posted:New Haven Joe, how do you hand clean the NE trains track cleaning pads? I've had some soaking in Dawn detergent & water, and can't seem to dent the grime.
I soak the pads with Dawn dishwasher fluid and then rinse them under warm running water scrubbing the pads with my fingers until I can't see any black crud run off. I let them air dry. The pads still have some black stain but are clean enough for track cleaning purposes. I have used the some of the same pads for 10 years. I also use both sides of a pad before cleaning it.
The G&O is a large outdoor 3-rail railroad. The track is always dirty from day to day. The wind blows dust on the track and the sprinkler system turns it to mud. Ants and other bugs use the track as a freeway. Leaves and crud falls on the track.
We can't easily reach all of the track. The Northeast track cleaning car with Goo Gone works very well. An engine pushes two track cleaning cars ahead of it to clean the track over the entire layout including all the sidings.
We put Goo Gone on the first pad of the lead track cleaning car. Isopropyl alcohol is put on the second pad of the lead car. The second car, next to the pusher engine, has dry pads. As you can see, the pads get very dirty. We found that the combination of Goo Gone and isopropyl alcohol worked better than either product alone.
We have tried CR-26, WD-40 and some other cleansers. They cleaned the track will but they made track slippery. Engines had trouble getting up our mountain grades when we used those cleaners. This doesn't happen with the Goo Gone / isopropyl alcohol combination.
We only have to run the track cleaning train once a day at the beginning of a run session or train show. It takes about 15 minutes to clean all the track on the layout because we run the track cleaning train at a high speed. There are no other engines or cars on the display when the track cleaning train is running. The track cleaning engine is a Williams conventional NH SD-40. NH Joe
@New Haven Joe posted:
Looks familiar.
Full disclosure, this was the first trip around the layout after a misguided cleaning with the wrong alcohol (70%). I use GooGone.
I've since cleaned these pads and still use them.
Bob
@Dallas Joseph posted:Yeah Bob, they probably didn't get the code right on theirs.
Thanks, Dave
@Danr posted:I have used it for about two years with no complains. I wipe the tracks (Fastrack) every 1-2 months. I use both Legacy and DCS and can run dead slow everywhere on the layout.
Good morning, does the Track Magic affect the rubber traction tires
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