Track cleaning engine - pull power

As Bob demonstrated above, the Kline Plymouth is a fantastic puller of these track cleaning cars.  In fact, it has enough power to pull the track cleaning car and a train of other cars. Here is mine pulling a train with the track cleaning car bringing up the rear using a scotch brite pad on one post for maximum abrasive cleaning. With all that drag, the little Plymouth handles it like a champ.  These really are wonderful little switchers that you can pick up relatively cheap at train shows.  I repainted mine for MTA usage -

I yjink the trackman is a fine product, weighted, adjustable and abrasive is easily replaced.  That being said my preferred cleaning tool is a bright boy cleaning block.  I can walk the layout with it, then use the track cleaning car for hard to reach places.  A method i use for those locations is to have the cleaning car lead and push it with a string of cars avoiding  a stall in an akward spot.  Then the trackman is coupled between a pair of williams f3s for a full tour.  I still want to create a rc battery loco for this function.  The controls and battery are worked iut, need a better loco for the task.

I love the little K-Line Plymouths! I have several. One cautionary note I picked up from the late great Jim Barret: The pickup wire is thin and can burn out. He recommended replacing it with something heavier. Never pulled mine apart, so I don't know how difficult the job is.

Second thing, also from the late Jim Barret: Consider the post war Lionel track cleaning car, with modifications. He pulled the foam pad off and glued a ring of Scotchbrite to the rotating disk. As I recall, 2 thicknesses are required. I did that with mine. It works well! One thing I did to help with tracking was to fill the gray fluid bottles with lead shot.

I run with the Lionel track car first, followed by the NE car with one wet and one dry pad, and then a command control diesel. The constant voltage on the track gets the pad rotating at a good clip. I have the engine slowly push the train along the track. I found this setup to work well.

Chris

LVHR

I have the PW track cleaning car, I modified it for Scotchbright and also added a diode in series with the motor to allow it to run on 18V track power without the motor complaining.