Trackman 2000 track cleaning car

Train Doctor posted:

Are these still made?

No. As I recall, their place of business had a major fire.

They use a Scotchbrite pad to clean the track, and the one at our club layout works great. I need another one for at home. Thanks!

You might try the search function, as I remember seeing lots of suggestions for replacement pads. I purchased one of the "Trackman 2000" units and still have a replacement pad. I must admit that I don't use it very often, since it tends to contact some of the scenery components/ station platforms.

I just purchased one from the bay about 2 months ago.

If I remember I paid about $40.00 for it and I am very happy with the results.

Give me a few days and i will try and find the seller I purchased it from. He still makes them.

Brian

Thank you, Brian! Hope things are going well for you, thought of you when I went to Allentown Spring Thaw train meet. Luke

I bought one on eBay some time back, they're still around in the secondary market.

The Trackman didn't use Scotch Brite Pads.  they had their own that were brown in color and a little thinner.   I liked them and bought some for my homemade track cleaning cars.  The Scotch Brite pads are a good substitute though.

Dennis

I use a well car with a pad attached to the bottom of the car and some weight in the well.

While we're on the subject

once or twice a year I need to swipe my track lightly once or twice back and forth with a piece of scotchbrite

I have  plenty of scotchbrite and plenty of different railcars

Anybody care to explain in detail how to easily make a railcar to do that ,some parts are very hard to get to,but I would be able to do it between switches,(so not to get hung up on switches)

I've got a few idea's,just want to see if anybody else has been Easily been able to do it

Thanks

Joe

Transman posted:

While we're on the subject

once or twice a year I need to swipe my track lightly once or twice back and forth with a piece of scotchbrite

I have  plenty of scotchbrite and plenty of different railcars

Anybody care to explain in detail how to easily make a railcar to do that ,some parts are very hard to get to,but I would be able to do it between switches,(so not to get hung up on switches)

I've got a few idea's,just want to see if anybody else has been Easily been able to do it

Thanks

Joe

 

Joe

I posted this once b4.  I used my father's old Santa Fe "B" unit from the early 50's that got melted in a house fire in 1954.  It takes about an hour to assemble not counting any custom decoration that you may wish to add.  I only use the ScotchBrite dry, NO liquid track cleaner.  I use a non flammable contact cleaner about every 6 months.  

1) I applied a spacer to the bottom of the car to get the ScotchBrite to the correct level.

2) Then I glued the hook side of a velcro pad to the spacer.  The velcro hooks grab the ScotchBrite & hold it in place.

3) I used machinist parallels as weight on the car.  

It works great.  I use it and another car that a friend made as a regular part of the consists.  He uses a clamping method to hold the ScotchBrite in place.  The car that I got from him is made from a sunken well Transformer car.  The extra weight is inside the Transformer payload.  I leave this car on all the time.  It is the first car after the engine.  These cars do not hang up on Lionel or Gargraves switches.

I have not tried this, but I may make one from a bobber caboose to clean 031 around the Christmas tree.  The short wheel base will get the outside rail on tighter curves.

Thank's Matt

That Velcro idea will work for sure

I can show you how to make an excellent track cleaning car.  If you want a drawing, photos, and instructions, my email address is in my profile.   I have sent these plans to 210 happy forum members over several years.  At least I think they are happy.  No one complained.  It is cheap to make especially if you already have a cheap gondola to use.  The pad is spring loaded to keep gentle pressure on the rails.

Transman posted:

While we're on the subject

once or twice a year I need to swipe my track lightly once or twice back and forth with a piece of scotchbrite

I have  plenty of scotchbrite and plenty of different railcars

Anybody care to explain in detail how to easily make a railcar to do that ,some parts are very hard to get to,but I would be able to do it between switches,(so not to get hung up on switches)

I've got a few idea's,just want to see if anybody else has been Easily been able to do it

Thanks

Joe

 

My favorite track cleaning car is a MTH scale test car.  They are heavy.  Just put two layers of 3M double-sided automotive tape and a piece of Scotch-Brite pad.  Hasn't snagged on any of my FasTrack track or switches.

Thank-you everybody

Joe

Okay nice track cleaning cars So where is the locomotive wheels and rollers cleaning track???

Alan,  I do that the hard way: on my workbench with the trains upside down in a cradle.

Dennis

I have been thinking of that for a few years now,  would have a siding, section of track,  engine/cars ,, roll on track and brushes inline will rail spin and clean the wheel,,same with pick up, it could be part of the main track too,,,

Hey Dennis didn't you have a post that showed how you made your track cleaning car?   Or did you write an article for OGR? I seem to remember seeing pictures.

COACH JOE.  There is one picture above and I always offer to send plans, photos, and a drawing to forum members who would like them, but I have not been in the mag with it.  So far now, 214 forum members have received my plans.

Good evening Dennis. 

My name is Bob C. I am a 10 month member of the  Myrtle Beach Model RR Club - O gauge group. We are finishing up full board renovation,  (16' x 25')  We laid down Gargraves flex track with Ross switches. As soon as we laid the track and began testing I noticed the new rails getting were getting dirty. 

I have been doing some research on track cleaning, which has led me to you and and the post about your track cleaning cars. Would it be possible for you to send me the pictures and plans of your track cleaning car.  If there is any cost involved we would be more then happy to cover any of the cost.

Sincerely.

Robert Collins (Bob C) 

tcc1903@yahoo.com

Dennis posted:

I can show you how to make an excellent track cleaning car.  If you want a drawing, photos, and instructions, my email address is in my profile.   I have sent these plans to 210 happy forum members over several years.  At least I think they are happy.  No one complained.  It is cheap to make especially if you already have a cheap gondola to use.  The pad is spring loaded to keep gentle pressure on the rails.

I know it is an old post, but is there still a way to get those plans? Haven't had much luck finding a cleaning car that I like.

hello chris 

I didn't  see your email address here is mine I would like those plans kwisor@sc.rr.com 

thank you Kevin

Click on Dennis' photo, it will bring up his profile.  His email is in there, just send him an email and he said he would send the plans.

Gene Anstine

I must be missing something when I click his profile I do not see a email address anywhere

kevin

TedW posted:

Kevin,   When I click his picture above, this is the screen I get.  His email is at the bottom.

FEDW,

You may want to delete the picture with Dennis' email.  I don't know him, but he may not want his data posted on an open forum.

Thank you all for replying so quickly. 

Scotchbrite wouldn't work on 2-rail.  Our guard rails and switch points would just hook it, and cause a crash.

I built a brass drop-center flat, forgot to put floorboards on it, and made things to ride in the low rectangular openings.  One side is a sanding block with 320 wet-or-dry paper; the other is a roller with a piece of cloth fastened to it.

I saturate the roller with Wahl clipper oil, hook the thing in a freight train, and let it roll.  Photo later.

hello 

I found what I was doing wrong I was going in to the wrong profile to look for the email address

thank you kevin