Track Maintenance Mythbusting | Fast & Easy Track Cleaning Guide

Thanks for watching!

0:00 Introduction
1:34 Checking Fishplates
3:41 Track Rubbers
8:12 Vacuuming
11:18 Is IPA a good idea?
15:13 Other Improvements

[ThatModelRailwayGuy]

You mean to say I've been feeling guilty for using a track rubber all this time for no reason! 🤦🏻‍♂️ Well done Sam, great job dispelling the myths 👍

[towcat]

Something I've heard a couple times is that the best way to keep rails clean is just to run trains. As long as your wheels are clean (and made of metal) than the friction tends to keep things clean mostly anyways. Soon as a layout sits for a long time, the rails collect grit and crud and dust and it needs to be cleaned again

[Rowan]

My track is so dirty I'll need a few tips this video will help me out a lot! Thanks!

[JessterFlows]

Sam, I just wanna say that you are the best railroading channel out there. Love your content and I hope you reach 100k soon!❤

[markdunwell]

Hello Sam. Another fascinating video. My father always used a Peco track cleaning rubber since 1974. Never had any problems. It always makes the way permanent. Another classic Sam SUPERB thank you 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🐖🚄🚅

[anthonycoffey]

I have modelled railways for over 50 years and the Peco track rubber is the best method. I have a rubber that's 11 years old, one doesn't need to rub hard to get tarnish off. A very informative video, there again, that's why I watch you :)

[stephenwilliamson]

This is a video I’d hoped for, for a long time. I’ve got the Atlas incarnation of the track vacuum, and didn’t have much success with it initially. After a full clean out and re-wire, it works really well. It also has DCC which makes pushing it around slowly whilst it’s running a full speed a breeze. I personally use the methylated spirits on paper towel trick on my track, and methylated spirits on a cotton bud to clean the wheels. That’s always worked for me, but please don’t use any sort of contact cleaner on your track! I used “CRC Switch Cleaner Lubricant” on my track once, and whilst it initially seemed to work really well, after a little bit, it built up into this black tar like substance on my track, and on my locomotive and carriage wheels (sometimes the resultant grime built up so thick on my carriage bogies, they wouldn’t turn anymore, and I had to scrape them clean with a screwdriver). I honestly think I’m still trying to get some of it off my rolling stock almost 15 years and 3 layouts later! Thanks again for your insight on this topic.

[thBattalion]

Sam: Don't be afraid to use IPA to clean your track!

Me: Got it. Drink IPA's while cleaning track.

[dekhrahahoon]

Hi Sam, great video! I discovered a neat trick just the last time I cleaned the track. To apply a cleaner (e.g. isopropyl alcohol), I had previously applied it to a cloth. But every time I got to the points, I had to be very careful to stop it snagging on the pointy bits. I had the bright idea to hold a piece of cork underlay on the bottom of a plastic ruler, squirt solvent on the end, and press down against the track and run along (flat side of the ruler down). The cork glides nicely over points and untidy rail joints without a hiccup.

[gajp]

I'm an old Luddite and still using my Triang track cleaning waggon with Methylated spirit

[speleokeir]

Nice video Sam and some good points. A few other things to consider:

1) Most chemical substances people use for track cleaning are skin irritants and produce toxic vapours so should be used with gloves in a well ventilated place, plus eye protection just in case of splashes or if you wipe your eyes without thinking.

2) Electrical contact lubricants like Inox or WD40 specialist electrical contact cleaner DON'T leave a sticky residue, though some other chemical cleaners do.

3) One of the major arguments against abrasive cleaning like track rubbers is it produces tiny scratches to your rails which increases surface area and therefore oxidisation. Theoretically this means your rails will get dirty more quickly over time. However how much difference this makes in reality is unclear.

I guess the best way to find out is to get some brand new track and set up two lines then clean one with a track rubber and one with an electric contact cleaner, use them the same amount and then see how they compare after a decent length of time.

4) Have you ever tried Gaugemasters high frequency electronic track cleaner? I've seen a few forum posts which swear by it, although I don't know anyone personally who's tried it. My understanding is it should probably only be used on DC layouts as putting an electrical surge through DDC chips isn't a good idea.

Overall there seem to be a lot of theories and anecdotal stories about track cleaning, but little hard evidence. And the track manufacturers like Hornby and Peco don't seem to have much to say. Perhaps influencers like yourself could encourage them to do some experiments and publish the results? It would be good PR for them and having some facts to back up a cleaning product would surely be an excellent marketing tactic for them.

[stuartaaron]

I’ve used the Dapol track cleaning car when I worked at Gulliver’s
Gate.  Like you I only used it as a
vacuum cleaner, and boy, the amount of dust picked up each week was
amazing.  I had four of them there.  Since the layouts were DCC what I did was
install a rectifier in each car so they would operate at full speed while the
locomotive (DCC fitted) would pull them at a more reasonable speed.

[dougwhittet]

This is incredibly useful, thanks. I do have a question about the Dapol vacuum cleaner: presumably the direction the fan rotates switches with voltage polarity, i.e. with the direction of travel? If so, does it blow the dust out instead of sucking it in if you go the wrong way?? I'm assuming they must have thought of that but I can't find any info that addresses this point. Thanks!

[stef.b.m.lk]

With runing trains on carpet the amount of lint and dust picked up all depends on how cleen the carpet is and what type of carpet. Your carpet is flat hard carpet so its all good. But soft fluffy carped is definitely a no no many because it will pickup and hold alot of dust. Love the vid sam Congratulations on 100k.

[spiralfirst]

Good video. I have been cleaning my track using bleach and a 14 inch industrial angle grinder and I have to regularly replace my entire model railway because of the unspeakable carnage. Thanks for the advice.

[FancyPantsLand]

Justice for track rubbers, finally lol. My old layout used to be outside (under cover ofc, but it was the only place I could put it at the time) and for the 3 years I had that layout, I used a track rubber. I only ever had to buy one, and I still have it. Easily the best $5 spent on my layout

[kettusnuhveli]

Well said Sam! The quality of track rubber matters! I have used some horrible ones that shed way too much dust even in few strokes but this Peco one seems really reliable!

[Pierre-de-Standing]

This has to be one of the most well thought out, objective and informative videos I have seen on the subject. Well done sir!

[leewaymodels]

Nice video Sam. Would be nice if you could do more mythbusting with model railways. Your "experiments", older model reviews and themes running sessions really sets you apart from other channel. Looking foward to you getting 100k subscribers soon!

[Wightski]

Hi Sam. Very interesting subject. Peco track rubbers are great, especially if like me you sometimes don’t run trains for long periods and the track starts to tarnish. However another trick I’ve learned is to use the rough side of a small piece of hardboard with a little block glued to the smooth side to hold it. Once the track has had a clean with the track rubber I go over it again with the hardboard. After that I won’t use the rubber again unless i leave it and it starts to tarnish. I just use the hardboard.