Lionel Postwar Track Cleaning Car

Here is a pretty good post on the Lionel Track Cleaning car.  As mentioned in the thread Jim Barrett also did an article on it.

Track Cleaning Car Thread

Somebody offered a track cleaning car that from most accounts was quite effective. I remember some threads about it. It was a custom build and the price reflected it. I remember searching online and I think they've become hard to find.

The postwar track cleaning car #3927 is the one to use when converted with scotchbrite pads as per Jim Barrett’s article.
Used this converted car and is the best track cleaner for about $40 found at train shows.

A spray some CRC 2-26 on the tracks and the running trains spread it. It is immediately effective.

Mark

@Ted Bertiger posted:

The postwar track cleaning car #3927 is the near when converted with scotchbrite pads as per Jim Barrett’s article.
Used this converted car and is the best track cleaner for about $40 found at train shows.

Or you could use your imagination. Have a low cost gondola laying around. Cut a small piece of pine wood and screw through floor of car to attach. Then use Velcro tabs that will hold the scotch PRO pad on the wood. Used spare pieces of pipe laying around to adjust weight of car for the right engine to tow. Use scotch Pro pads, not the ones you find in big box stores. I purchased from a plumbing supply co. By the case. Best for cleaning copper for soldering among other things.

@barrister.2u posted:

A spray some CRC 2-26 on the tracks and the running trains spread it. It is immediately effective.

Mark

Crc electronic cleaner? It is highly effective and extremely flammable. Flash fire if your not careful and need to ventilate room as fumes are strong. Not to mention cancer and reproductive harm can result.

Hey Joe Sullivan,

I buy the scotchbrite pads in a 10pk to the flea markets for $1. Maybe I should hit up my local plumber/train buddy for sone of that industrial strength stuff! Lol!

@MartyE posted:

Here is a pretty good post on the Lionel Track Cleaning car.  As mentioned in the thread Jim Barrett also did an article on it.

Track Cleaning Car Thread

MartyE, the thread in your above post was very helpful.

When the track cleaning car is turned on, it appears to move forward ever so slightly. When in operation, should it be pulled slowly along the track by a locomotive?

Is Fantastic or Formula 409 still the best cleaning fluid to use?

Does it still work best by gluing Scotch Bright material to the buffer underneath the car?

What about the cotton wiper dragged along the track. Is that still the best wiper to use?

Arnold

Yes. An engine is required.  It is not self propelled.

I converted mine to Scotchbrite, made a world of difference.  I also put a series diode in the motor lead to slow down the screaming motor as I run command at 18 volts.  It actually cleans pretty well, way better than it ever did with the wacky pads.

@Jsulli21 posted:

Crc electronic cleaner? It is highly effective and extremely flammable. Flash fire if your not careful and need to ventilate room as fumes are strong. Not to mention cancer and reproductive harm can result.

I've been using it for years. And many others do too based on old threads on track cleaning methods.

Fumes? Not really. I use a small amount at a time as a little goes a long way.

@Jsulli21 posted:

Crc electronic cleaner? It is highly effective and extremely flammable. Flash fire if your not careful and need to ventilate room as fumes are strong. Not to mention cancer and reproductive harm can result.

I use it sparingly. Did not notice any fumes. I have a ceiling loop with no nearby heat source. Any reports of cancer?

Mark

I use the 3927 w Scotchbrite w CRC Electronic Cleaner or 91% Isopropanol or similar.  It's not like cleaning by hand but it works pretty darned well... the wipes are good and dirty after each run.   I run it once a month or so.

OK #3927, I have a big project for you. This railroad hasn't had its track cleaned in over 20 years.

We will start with the hard to reach places. Since you haven't been run for a long time, we first need to test you to see if you still work:

OK, we are good to go. You will be pulled nice and slow by an MTH Railking Proto 3 Great Northern diesel to clean the track in one of those hard to reach places:

Good job, good job! Look at all the dirt you took off the track:

Arnold

Excellent thread Arnold!

My father used to soak a Centerline Track Cleaning Car roller full of pennies with Goo Gone and follow that car with the Lionel Postwar car to wipe up the residue.  It worked quite well, although the smell of the Goo Gone was a little offensive to my sinuses.  The combination of both cars worked well on our Gargraves track.

On our in-store layout, I really like the Trackman 2000 with Scotchbrite pads.  (Sorry, it isn’t for sale!)

Arnold - great thread.  I have 2 3927s rebuilt by HarmonYards - Pat but have not put them to use yet.  Since I run legacy at 17-18 volts; will that voltage cause damage to the 3927?  OR reduce voltage to ~14 volts and run legacy at that when cleaning the tracks?? 

I'd add a series 3A diode to the motor lead, then you can run a command voltages and it won't beat the motor to death.  That's what I did to mine, calmed it right down at 18V.

Thanks GRJ!!

@JR Junction Train & Hobby posted:

Excellent thread Arnold!

My father used to soak a Centerline Track Cleaning Car roller full of pennies with Goo Gone and follow that car with the Lionel Postwar car to wipe up the residue.  It worked quite well, although the smell of the Goo Gone was a little offensive to my sinuses.  The combination of both cars worked well on our Gargraves track.

On our in-store layout, I really like the Trackman 2000 with Scotchbrite pads.  (Sorry, it isn’t for sale!)

So glad you like the thread and, IMO, you have a great hobby shop.

I'm thrilled with my 2 acquisitions from your shop. The 1st was about 1 year ago: the MTH Proto 3 Railking NY Central RS-3 diesel that MTH custom made for you and your customers. The 2nd purchase was last week: the MTH Proto 3 Premier NY Central F3s. Both are sensational locomotives.

Speaking of service, I was stunned that I ordered the F3s from you on Thursday and received them via Fed Ex on Friday (the next day).

Also, thank you for being one of the sponsors that support this Forum, which brings such joy and happiness to us hobbyists. Arnold

Arnold! Maybe 3927 can re clean the rails your MTH premier NYC F units can power!  like to see them as well. Lol.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I'd add a series 3A diode to the motor lead, then you can run a command voltages and it won't beat the motor to death.  That's what I did to mine, calmed it right down at 18V.

GRJ, as yet another question, what did you use to attach the pad to the driving arbor?

I used the original plastic pad holder.  I seem to remember some "tweaking" to get it to hold the pad, don't recall exactly what I did.  Those brain cells have died by now.

Got off my retired butt and looked at https://ogrforum.com/...track-cleaning-car-1.

Saw there that Jeff2035 recommended using something called Goo to attach a new pad.

I have ALL of the track cleaning cars!............. I'm lazy!.

Unfortunately, NONE of them actually clean the tracks over a long term. The problem is that as soon as the car's cleaning parts are used whatever is the cleaning parts becomes dirty and then spreads the dirt around on the tracks.

What is needed is a car that self cleans the cleaning parts like the pads or padded rollers. Something where the pad is on a rotating belt, like a belt-sander, that moves thru a cleaner section before rubbing against the tracks again.  Otherwise once the pad is saturated and dirty the dirt goes back on the tracks.

I heard that ELBOW grease works but I haven't found it on Amazon.

I have had a different and better experience with my Lionel track cleaning than Alan.

Using it only on a few feet of track at a time on the difficult to reach places on my moderate size layout (35 feet long and 3 to 4 feet wide), it worked very well as evidenced by the dirt on the cotton wiper that drags behind. After running it for a few feet, I removed the dirt on the cotton wiper before running it again.

Before using the track cleaning car, my finger tips would become dirty when running them  over the track. This did not happen after using the track cleaning car; there was no dirt on my finger tips.

I had an old large bottle of Lionel track cleaning fluid (the fluid has a light blue color) that I bought a long time ago. Each time I ran the car for a few feet, I would add 5 to 10 drops of fluid to the car.

I only have 1 cotton wiper so I could use maybe a dozen more. Does anyone know where I could buy them? If not, has anyone come up with a good substitute?  I tried rolling up cotton balls, but that didn't work well, and might leave wisps of cotton along the track that could foul up locomotives.

Arnold

@AlanRail posted:

I have ALL of the track cleaning cars!............. I'm lazy!.

Unfortunately, NONE of them actually clean the tracks over a long term. The problem is that as soon as the car's cleaning parts are used whatever is the cleaning parts becomes dirty and then spreads the dirt around on the tracks.

What is needed is a car that self cleans the cleaning parts like the pads or padded rollers. Something where the pad is on a rotating belt, like a belt-sander, that moves thru a cleaner section before rubbing against the tracks again.  Otherwise once the pad is saturated and dirty the dirt goes back on the tracks.

I heard that ELBOW grease works but I haven't found it on Amazon.

Evidently you do not have the CMX Track Cleaning machine or you would not have those results. I have tried several with pads and rollers and have had the effects stated. Not with the CMX car. You can see a review of it on ericstrains.com in the video library under reviews. It is near the bottom or early part of the list.

Curtis