Now that I've finished a 14-month long course for work, I'm returning to the layout which I only operated sporadically around homework and studying. The track looked a little dull, so over the last couple of evenings, I cleaned about half of the two mainline loops using some isopropyl alcohol on a sponge or rag. (All of my track and switches are from Ross.)
I run conventional, so today, I turned on the transformer, set the power at about 14 volts and let the two MTH engines sit there for a while (maybe 15 minutes). The sounds on both engines (one is the GN FP-45 # 427, a PS-2 model, and the other is an E-L U-25 # 2505, also a PS-2 model) started up as soon as I turned the transformer handles. (The FP-45 has a BCR in it; the U-25 has the factory-installed MTH battery.)
When I ran the trains, I noticed the locomotives had some spotty operation at some of the places where I cleaned the track. The FP-45 actually stalled out (all lights out, no power) at one point. I'm wondering if the isopropyl alcohol might not have been strong enough to clean the tracks as I had noticed some black crud here and there on the rails before I started. Operation on the uncleaned tracks is good (just my luck--I clean something and it works worse that the part I left dirty!)
What do you think? Should I make another cleaning pass with a rag and the isopropyl alcohol or use something stronger like goo-gone?
BTW--which major stores carry goo-gone? I don't think I've ever purchased it.
