Track Cleaning

I had this problem, I have both an old Lionel with a scotch pad underneath and more recently a cleaning car from North East Trains which I am very happy with. I sometimes run the LIonel first for a good scrub and then the NET for cleaning and polishing ( use very little cleaning fluid)

Cheers

I use the Green Scotchbright pads,DRY, no fuss no muss, I even use them on my Northeast Trains Track cleaning cars.

Northeast Trains Track Cleaning Car is the only way to go. You can reach those areas that you can't reach. I use GOO Gone on one car and pick up the residue with a second car right behind it. It works great!!!

Fredstrains

Do not use Simple green, ask Lee Willis

I'd go with Dennis' home made cleaning car.

It works as well as anything else except scrubbing the track by hand.

Since you have hard to reach spots, I'd say contact Dennis here on the forum.

Now, there was just a thread last week on what to use as far as solvent or cleaner on the track. It went on a bit.

A number of posters are all for near pure alcohol on a rag.

You can put some on a pad under a car and get similar results.

I run mine dry. And it's a variation on Dennis' car. Short Version;

Take an old hopper car. Cut a piece of 1/4" plywood to about 3" square.

It needs to be wide enough to overhang all 3 rails with the car on your tightest curve.

Lay the car down upside down. Place the plywood centered on the car. Down the centerline of the car, Drill 2 holes through the plywood and car body.

Countersinking the plywood is optional, I just cut a hole in the pad where it hits the screw heads.

Put a 2" or longer machine screw though the plywood, add a spring of some sort to press the pad down on the track, then through the car body from the bottom side.

Spin a nut on the screw, sit the car on the track and spin the nut doe to near but not touching the car floor. Locktight or double nut to hold it in place.

Add some weight to the car ! Stronger springs need more weight and put more pressure on the pad. This is a case where there can be too much of a good thing.

Too much spring and weight makes the car hard to pull around the track.

I made 2 cars.

One car with a mild scotchbrite and a second with paper towel folded under it.

It's amazing how dirty the paper towel gets. Refold for a clean surface and go again.

Keep going until it comes back clean. It may take quite a few passes depending on how dirty the track is.

The Scotchbrite can be washed occasionally or just replaced. It serves to loosen up the crud and let the paper towel grab it.

Dennis has added a small cut off paintbrush on the end of the car to sweep along the right of way as well. Mine does not have this... Yet...

I'm considering the Hand Vac on a flatcar someone else did instead...

Or another good tip from someone; Add a magnet at the front of the cleaning consist, it picks up all the loose screws and stuff from your equipment. I should hang just above the rails.

PS Try the search feature, we are starting to get some good data built up in the old post pile.

Thanks all for your replies. Looks like Scotchbright pads and Northeast Trains track cleaning car combo is the winner so far.

Careful with the Goo-gone. Does it leave a micro film behind? If so, each time used it will get thicker. It's great stuff in gerneral but tracks can be finicky. If you use something not recommended for track you can just go behind with alcohol wetted paper towell to ensure no film buildup. I run a lot of smoke. I used a full bottle this past weekend. That stuff has to go somewhere so I clean track very often with 91% alcohol. Whenever I see it on sale I stock up.

I've always used either a proprietary track cleaning fluid or denatured alcohol. I've never had any problems using these.

91% or better isopropyl alcohol, safe for CDs, DVDs, tape heads, and o guage  track as well, and lacks the noxious fumes of denatured alcohol.

Check out the R&L Lines track scrubber at www.railtycoon.com

Pholsen,

I can send you plans and photos and instructions for my homemade track cleaning car.  It will be the cheapest way to go.  Just email me if you want them.

.....

Dennis

Thank you all for your replies. Dennis, I tried emailing you at the wowway address but it came back that it was a bad email address. Yes, I would like to see the plans, instructions and photos of your cleaning car. Thanks, Paul

Dennis

I also would like a set of plans, but the email came back, would you please  send to

Jteeple@neo.rr.com

Thanks in advance

Dennis, Please send track cleaning info to pholsen@charter.net. As with Jim Teeple, your email address came back undeliverable. Thanks, Paul

I like the modified Lionel Postwar track cleaning cars. I think the number is 3927. You can get them for very low prices, in the 25-30 dollar range depending on condition, and then just install the 3M scotchpads. They blast the dirt off the track without any cleaning fluid.

My LHS techie absolutely rejects track cleaning cars as being up to the job. I bought an extending paint roller handle but still find it hard to reach corners.

Your LHS techie may not know everything there is to know.   I have a modified Lionel track cleaning car, and it certainly takes the dirt off the track using green Scotchbrite pads.  It's not perfect, but it works.

Where do you get it? I checked local drug chains and they only have 70%.

Thanks, Stu

I just bought some 91% at Walgreens. They had it buy one and second half off. 

Target,Walmart,CVS, Walgreens,I put in on a paper towel as opposed to a cloth so there is no lint. For stubborn oxidation I use the abrasive eraser out of Lionels maintenance kit first, gets the tough stuff off without scratching the track.A popular H.O track cleaner, a "bright boy"  abrasive block would work as well. Then I wipe with the alcohol.