Re darkening center rail Atlas O-36

I say if it works don't fix it.

Try HOBBY BLACK #2 it chemically blackens most metals and electrically conductive. 

What is so ironic is my new Atlas passenger cars spark and hum over the treated center rail. I had to remove all the coating.

I use a product called Blacken-It that I got at my LHS. It works, but takes more than one application to get close to the original darkening. It doesn't look too bad when dried and I have had no problems with conductivity. No stalling engines, sparks, etc., everything works well with it here. 

Micro-Mark has a product called Neolube that I am going to try next time I get some un-blackened rails. It is supposed to ork pretty well and is conductive.

J Daddy posted:

What is so ironic is my new Atlas passenger cars spark and hum over the treated center rail. I had to remove all the coating.

What track are you referring to? The reason I ask is that MTH actually says to scrub off the black finish on the rails, But, when I questioned my LHS about the shiny tops of his Atlas O store layout; he said it was due to running trains and no need to scrub the black off. I had to remove the black on my MTH Real Trax. Performance was horrible until I did that. 

So far I have not had any problems with the darkening on my Atlas track. In fact I have added it back to some of the more worn rails on track I got used. Current layout has been running for about 2-1/2 years. I have a Rev L TIU and Legacy 990 with mostly MTHPS3 engines.

I know some folks have had problems, but I have no idea what the differences are that cause the problems?

Want to thank everybody for your responses. I found an email link to the tech and parts manager at Atlas-0. Sent a note asking for is advice. I'll let you know what he says.  May be a while as I am having surgery to fix a compressed spinal cord in my neck. Plan to work on track and landscaping during my recovery.  

Yes, please let us know what Atlas has to say. Good luck with your surgery too, I hope all goes well and you have a speedy recovery.

I am running four engine Legacy Lash Ups and getting electrical pitting on the center rail especially on main line radius sections. I am grinding down the pits to smooth the track and using a permanent black marker to cover the grinding. I'll try that Hobby Black 2. The black marker doesn't look that great but unless you are looking for it, you never see it. "out of mind out of sight"

Good idea, I will try it. Sounds real simple thanks

Keep us up to date on what Atlas says, I'd like to keep my center rail dark on Atlas track too.  Perhaps someone that has several of these darkening agents can post a photo of new track vs track redarkened so others of us can see what they look like.

Have not heard back from Atlas. Suspect they don't recommend Solutions.  They were very responsive when entering the o-gauge market . Remember when they first had their o-guage forum which got out of hand and they had to rethink everything. Been very happy with their products. 

NEO-LUBE