Track cleaning do's and don'ts. How 'Not' to clean your track ! And how to do it better!

Well....some of you may be spending a little more time at home lately, so I thought I would revisit the old subject of track cleaning . Now there are many lotions and potions that claim to keep your model railroad running in top condition, but when it comes down to basics , the wheel -rail interface is just a switch in an electrical circuit! I've spent the last 40 years working on electrical circuits , and model railroading, so I thought I would share some tips to help you get better performance on your tracks!
P.S,,,this video features a little "Covid' craziness" ....just for fun.
Cheers Gregg.

Timestamps;
2:00 - track rubbers..why NOT to use!
4:30 - Isopropyl alcohol..why NOT to use!
7:30 - what to use...Inoxx or CRC.
10:30 - how I clean track.

[ivan]

Hi, it's great to hear someone whom will speak clearly and colourfully. I'm sick of political correctness. Well done, mate.

[trainOholic]

Just came across this and tried it on my own layout, everything runs so smoothly now no dead spots, no sound cutting out, and i couldn't be happier 😊 thanks for sharing this

[garydelmoro]

Best track cleaning video I’ve seen in over 45 years of model Railroading!

[iflyrattraps]

Worked like a charm. THANK YOU! My tracks turned blackish but even my most stubborn locomotive that I've had in boxes for years run like champs. Maybe the best model railroad tip I've seen on YouTube.

[MeigsCountyRR]

As a 63 year old beginner in the US, this is great info. I really appreciate it. I'll have to watch all your other videos. I'm absorbing all the information that I can. I am building a railroad for my 6 year old grandson. We went to a model railroad museum and his eyes were as big as plates! I am. :) Thank you! Greg in Tennessee, US

[paulwalter]

Thank you for saving my sanity. I bought this product and couldn’t believe the difference it made on my layout.

[timothystadel]

It is refreshing hearing from someone who understands electronics and their nature in their natural form. Good job great advice keep up the great work and happy railroading. Tim

[SouthBrooklynRR]

Timely video, as I am doing my cleaning of the track on the layout. Thank you, Sir!!!

[roncarter]

Big thank you from the UK mate👍 Bought some Inox and boy does it work. Cleaned my track then applied the Inox as you showed and I could see the results straight away. Cheers again Gregg.

[richardkammerer]

Just setting up a new layout with fresh track, and thrilled to find out we have INOX MX3 over here. Ah, going to give it a try. Thanks!

[Captainpubwatch]

Im only starting out in model railways but this is great, a brilliant video which really helps with trying to understand how things work and what not to do, and really entertaining too. Best wishes Gregg from the UK 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[michaelmetzger]

What a great tip. Was using a rubber and things were getting worse, my switchers kept needing bigger and bigger push starts every time I made a move. Now I understand why. Made the switch as you suggested and everything is like new, my engine runs so smoothly now, thanks!!!

[anthonysmithson]

Excellent information Greg. A very entertaining and informative video. Yes i have to agree that it is most upsetting and frustrating when somebody else's layout has this problem of stalling, let alone on your own layout.
Enjoy all your videos, keep them coming.
Cheers
Anthony Smithson.

[NickelPlateRoadExperience]

CRC 2-26 is life changing, After I watched this video I will never use anything else. This stuff can make trains run over rust.

[joesaurina]

believe at one. time you had told me that WD-40 was the same as inox, have used it for years.You were right, works great. Thank you Gregg, love your videos, be safe

[SammoKarm]

A few years ago you recommended Goo Gone, I've used Goo Gone ever since in my heavy, brass, track cleaner and it has been great, even the loco's and rolling stocks wheels get cleaned.

[stamrly]

Nothing like passion for a subject. Rant or not feeling for a thing is the perfect.

[SammoKarm]

I quite like your sense of humour, I rant and rave quite a lot myself.

[mec]

When I was a kid, I used one of those gritty things. That was back in the mid 60's and my track was brass. Didn't give a crap about that track back then. was different anyway. Fast forward to the late 90's; married, two kids, 2nd house and a nice big basement. Finally built bench work around the walls and started laying track. Fast forward a bit more; having trains run smoothly (DC) was getting to be a pain in the ass. I had two loops, 4 scale miles (HO) of mainline and numerous long sidings. ...plus a 5 track yard, caboose tracks and an nice engine facility. Then trains started running like shit. I was cleaning my track with alcohol and I thought my finger was going to fall off. Then shortly after cleaning, trains started running like shit again. Now I was starting to use alcohol (the kind in the 12 oz can) and I was getting ugly at how the layout ran. I was not far away from a 24 oz framing hammer and smashing the layout to smithereens, and quitting the hobby. !! Then a friend said, "you think the track is too clean, no conductivity" ?? I remember another friend who mentioned using clipper oil bought from a beauty supply store. Years ago we had a friend who was a WW2, Pacific Theater veteran. He swore by the clipper oil. So with that said, a 4 oz bottle of clipper oil was about $4 US. So I bought one. Learning the hard way, I put too much oil on the track and the trains stalled and just spun it's wheels. So wiping that off, I now just put a dite on my finger tip (hardly a small drop) and rub it on a 3' section of rail (track now nickel, no brass) then another dite and another rub on the opposite rail down the track a bit. Trains now run like tops. When the headlight of the lead unit starts to flicker just a tad, I reapply just a teeny bit of clipper oil and everything runs great for a long time. I run 70+ car freights with 3-4 units. When the track is ever so slightly oiled, I let the trains spread it all around the layout. I'm not so young anymore and I'm getting physically handicapped now so I don't get down cellar as much as I would like anymore. However, I know when I go down cellar, my trains will run well. Now I break Rule G in comfort rather than in anger that trains will not run well. As Gregg stated, you need good electrical conduct to run your trains !! For me, clipper oil is the answer. Sorry to run on a bit. Thank you.

[samdean]

Very informative, very entertaining and enjoyable.
The fact that you get a little bent once in awhile just proves that you care about what you're saying. I'd like to think we're similar in that respect as I've been known to shall we say rant occasionally. Thanks for all the good info!