Track Cleaning

[Rob R]

I have had Trowland for 2 1/2 years with 6 days of exhibitions.
I have wiped the track a couple of times with the tip of a mark one index finger and picked a couple of spots of crud off the locos.
All still seems to work ok.

 

[paulc]

IPA and a cotton cloth .

 

[Neil]

Nickel silver rail. From a young age I've used the Peco track rubber. Apparently it's changed recently to a larger, finer block which according to friends isn't as good as the old style. Some time ago I tried Rail Zip, not sure why I stopped, maybe give it another go and report back. I clean loco wheels with the Peco rubber trimmed to a chisel point with the loco upside down and powered up.

 

[jc2001]

For a long time I've avoided using anything abrasive. I did try graphite some years back but the locos slipped badly on my long 1 in 30 gradient and it took ages to clean off. I now exclusively use a bits of old leather stuck onto a blocks of wood. However, there are some parts of my layout with track that hasn't been used for well over 6 years (including 3 years crated in a damp garage). The nickel silver rail was very dull and nothing would run despite rubbing with the leather. This morning I tried an old trick of using Solvol Autosol metal cleaner on an offcut of chammy leather to gently polish the rail heads and then wiped with another chammy offcut soaked in IPA. My most pernickety loco pickup-wise then ran perfectly over the whole section.

John

 

[Jordan or Plymouth Mad]

I have wiped the track a couple of times with the tip of a mark one index finger

I didn't know blood was electrically conductive.?

 

[Rob R]

It's all the iron in it....

 

[John Bruce]

I'm a fan of the graphite courtesy of a carpenters type pencil, I started using it on American HO and can honestly say it seems to work well with most scales particually with my 009, with one exception when I was opposite some large scale live steam! After a grumble the exhibition manager moved me to another spot, happiness restored.
I did try the Slaters rail cleaner once....it didn't work for me!

John.

 

[paulc]

The only abrasive that i will now use to clean track is a white or brown scouring pad . These are usually available from builders supply outlets or decent tool shops . They don't contain any metal or carbide so will not gouge the surface of the track which in turn attracts the crud .
Usually a quick wipe with IPA on a rag is all that's required and seems to last for quite a while .