Who Makes A Good O Gauge Track Cleaning Car?

Well, first, I don't think you have to clean the wheels of rolling stock very often. Two reasons.  First, electrical current flow has a good deal to do with how quickly dirt and grime accumulate.  Wheels on unpowered cars don't get nearly as dirty.  I've heard various reasons given as to why - I'm an electrical engineer and I have a pretty good idea myself but I figure it doesn't matter - they just do: wheels and rollers that have power go through them get dirty - those that don't, don't.  I did an interesting experiment a few years ago: cleaned a three-roller loco well, then disconnected one center roller so current did not flow through it and ran the thing hard for a week or so: the two rollers that were still conducting power got gunky - but the disconnected one was pretty clean.  So-you really only have to clean the wheels and rollers of locos and tenders and lighted passenger cars and cabooses.

Second, if a rolling stock has no power pick up and doesn't use electricity, you really don't care if its wheels are so dirty it won't conduct electricity.

I bought a large box on-line from McMaster-Carr.  Here's the link to the purple ones: http://www.mcmaster.com/#46365a33/=pjd0s8

Been thinking about this all day. Seems like some kind of dual-roller assembly with one roller turning the wheels and the other going in reverse to clean the wheels would work, but my guess it's not that easy. Looks like the goo Gone and cotton swabs will get a little workout tomorrow. Oh well, keeps me out of the kitchen.

That was my thinking Lee and why I said what I did. I also think that running nothing but lighted cars on my layout has caused it to get dirty quicker, I should have thought of that and scheduled cleaning more frequently. Since we had a lot of tile dust the last couple of weeks, I suspect that didn't help.

Has anybody out there tried the Weaver MNPINC track cleaning cars?

I have one.  Excellent.  Can run cleaning pads wet or dry.  I know folks that have used them on other gauges and they love them.   Some might balk at the price.  I think it is worth it. I have at least one of every version out on the market.  I like it.  And I bought mine directly from company that makes them for Weaver at a Greenberg train show. He can use different road names depending on what is available and what fits the motors and the angle of access to the motors from the doors. 

The guy that owns the company is as honest as they come.  Check his site here: http://mnpinc.com/weaver%20models.htm

Hope that helps.

p.s.  get extra pads.  They are cheap and already cut to size.

Thanks, John.  I almost bought one a few years ago, until I read that the pads hit DZ1000 switch motors.  But my layout is large and inaccessible, and my present Northeast Trains track cleaner pads are dry of solvent (Brak-Clean) by the time I do a lap.

One of the posts above mentions the difficulty in replacing pads on the Northeast Trains car.  Here's a tip:  Take the crews out completely.  Fold the new pad over it's plate and place a short piece of scotch tape between the ends (on top of the plate).  This will hold it until you can get the screws back in and tightened.

I also have an ancient Lionel car but never have been able to figure out how to mount the O-shaped foam pads.

I'm going to stick with my Cars made from Dennis' plans.

Simple, cheap and functional.

What more can you ask for?

I am still planning on making the dust buster vacuum car but I hope I don't have near as much need for it in the new location.

I prefer dry cleaning.  I modified the Lionel car to use Scotchbrite pads, but then I got a Trackman 2000 and it works just as well with no motor.

I didn't see mention of "Dennis' plans" above.  Where was it.

I have had stuff on tracks that wouldn't come off dry with Scothbrite.  Had to use elbow grease and CRC. 

Problem is I let cleaning go too long.  My outside rails don't get bad, but the center gets specks.  I'm thinking that maybe the spark from the rollers fuses dust. 

John, what are the pads made of?  By any chance are they the felt pads you can get at Lowes and elsewhere for furniture legs?

I'm the "Dennis" who's plans were not mentioned above until Russell did.  I have sent my home made track cleaning car plans and photos to 178 forum members.  I am not sure how many of those actually built the car, but from time to time a satisfied user pops up on a these reoccurring threads about track cleaning cars.

If you would like the plans and photos, my email is in my profile.  It's the cheapest way to go.

.....

Dennis