Tips for cleaning Postwar Steam Locomotive Shells and 25XX Aluminum Passenger car bodies?

Any dirt on the bodies, wheels, frames or track can be safely removed with Naphtha.

Use Labelle oil and grease to lubricate the axle/wheel joint on the cars and loco, and to lubricate the gears on the loco.

Larry

Thanks Larry! Naptha is a great idea, except it is banned in California Go figure..

Any other ideas?

Are you dealing with aluminum Budd-style extrusions?  They are exceedingly difficult to clean.  I use aluminum polish (Mothers, California Purple, etc) and a mild Scotchbrite when light corrosion sets in.  The only way to get the polish out of the grooves is with talc or flour - a lot of it.

But most Lionel extrusions appear to be anodized, so corrosion should be less of a problem.

Thanks all! Indeed, they are the extruded budd-style cars. It sounds like a job, but polish if probably the answer in the end!

Yesterday I went through the whole super chief set with a jewelers polish wheel in the dremel to clean the rail-contact points on the wheelsets, what a job... I have to say though, not one spark or sputter! Today I'll take a break from an HO scale project to service the locomotives.

Thanks! Other suggestions are of course welcome

I have used Simichrome or MAAS metal polish for the Lionel aluminum cars, on pieces of wadded paper towel or tissue. Purists would scoff because it eliminates that 'patina' that the cars get over time (the early ones apparently were not anodized). I had some with what looked like rust stains. The set, when done, was nice and shiny, unlike 'original'. I also rewired most of the cars since the early wire cracks and can short. It's a bunch of elbow grease required, but I did really like the look when done.

Jim