Subway Train Wash

Next time I work at the yard I will get a video going through

Thanks Ben.  I'm planning on kit-bashing a Lionel Steam Clean and Wheel grind set 6-12767 into a car wash.

 

Mike

Hi Mike

This is the wash at Coney Island  Most are not as big as this  This originally had a rabbit cable to pull the train through the was  Now the Train Operator takes it through  Might be a little shaky as I was operating and videoing at the same time

 

 

Very Nice Ben! Hope you had your window closed!

BlueLine,

 

Nice video, is this a chemical wash? How often do cars go through a wash - curious to know.

 

Thanks

Ben;

So you drive & video tape at the same time!!!  Hmmm

Depot

This wash was originally a chemical wash  That's why they dragged the cars through with a cable when it first opened  It was supposed to get the graffiti off.  Some heavy duty chemicals that were found to be unsafe.  Now it is just like your neighborhood carwash  The first sprayers you see in the video is the saop application

 

Spence 

Drive and video and try to hide the camera from the wash operators.  LOL

 

Dennis

Yes they were closed but sometimes that doesn't make a difference

 

Mike Here are some pics from other washes around the system

 

This is Jamaica YArd

 

 

 

 

This was the original wash at 207 

 

 

 

This is the current wash at 207

 

 

 

This is Concourse yard

 

 

They sure don't have one in DC, those cars should be closed until the CDC clears them to ride on. FILTHY is an understatement!

The federal government funds the washes  Every train in the system gets a wash once a month weather permitting

Fascinating video for certain, Ben, but I was hoping for something a bit more exciting.

 

Ben and all -

 

This is perfect! Thank you!!  I need to get started on my cash wash kit bash.  I'll keep you posted.

 

Mike B.

Tampa, FL

Here's a JR E231-1000 in Tokyo going through an outdoor washer.

 

'67 Cad,    mines a '68 ,    but I don't have those accessories     

All that water, with a 660 volt third rail

That's great!  I like the four rollers. Almost wants me to buy another Lionel Steam washer to get two sets of rollers in there.  I think it would be too larger though.

 

I would however like to get a second smoke unit into it to simulate the water spray.  Any suggestions out there??

 

Mike B.

tampa, FL

Some places use a long cable that is attached to third rail shoes to power the train.  The train in Tokyo uses pantographs, but that gives a really good look at how the unit works. More info here.

Ben

 

Just curious. Is there a crew that washes the inside as well?  if so how often does the inside get cleaned

St

The insides of the trains are cleaned at EVERY terminal every day.  Also when they go to the yard for a layout they get complete inside mopping and disinfecting.  You would never know it once the slobs and homeless people get on

As much as I love Lionel's Steam Clean and Wheel Grind Shop, one of the best detailed wash rack kits I've seen in O scale is made by Skytrex Model Railways of Loughborough, UK (shown below assembled and painted). Their website has a whole assortment of O scale kits, and most would fit right in on an American layout (some of the sheds and buildings are based off a British prototype, so the architectural style is a little different).

 

 

 

 

-John

That looks exactly like the wash at concourse yard

Pretty Cool. I'll have to order one of those. I wonder if the brushes spin?

 

Mike

Ok.  Order placed. Let's see how long it takes to come across the pond.

 

Mike

I had an old VW Kombi campervan(69) too tall to fit through automated washes. Truck and RV washes didn't give impressive results so he spent much time kinda dirty, receiving only two good wash and waxes a year. Always kept my ears to the ground for the hi-rail set-up too. Cant help to think he(Oscar..yep, he(it) had a name) would have loved being cleaner more often with a visit through one of these on occasion had I found it. Im sure he would settle on Mill City's vehicle cleanliness technicians. [He is fine, but went with his happy new owner last year. Only his 3rd] 

I just received the model in the mail from the UK.  It is a basic kit molded in beige plastic that will ned a bit of work before painting and assembly.  I'll be working on it item coming weeks and get something posted.

 

Mike

Tampa, FL