Track Cleaning Techniques | Workbench Wednesday

This week's Workbench Wednesday is a quick demonstration of the materials and techniques I use to keep the track clean and the trains running smoothly on the Thunder Mesa Layout.

Thanks for watching!
Dave

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Music:
"Cowboy Sting" by Kevin MacLeod - YouTube Audio Library

[Boobear]

I did not find boring lol. Haven’t started my journey yet and still in the learning phase so still so excited to get going I’m not phased by cleaning videos. I just got my first bachmann ho ready play set on clearance at Menards for my toddler (and me tee-hee). I have an old maybe O gauge Allstate set from sears from maybe the 40s or 50s that only sparks now so assuming or hoping I only need to have someone look at it and maybe fix it or just clean it, but that will be a next project too as it started my love for this 35-40 years ago and I’m JUST NOW getting back into it……..don’t ask why I don’t know, but I am now and that’s what matters. Your videos have been super helpful to me so thank you! Layouts very inspiring too

[montemullen]

You even make maintenance interesting.

[MLFProp]

Very good advice, but I have a new one for you. I used to have an HO layout with about 200 ft of main line on it. I developed a method of keeping the mainline clean that, to my surprise, actually worked. My method requires 1 piece of rolling stock (I used a cheap boxcar), 2 roofing nails, 2 light compression springs and a piece of 1/8" masonite. All that I did was cut the piece of masonite a little wider than the rails and about 2" long. I then glued the heads of the roofing nails to the masonite along the centerline of the masonite. At that point, I drilled 2 holes in the bottom of the boxcar to align with the nails. All that is required at this point was to place a light spring (this takes some experimentation) on each nail, insert the nails into the holes in the boxcar and then place it on the track. Whenever I wanted to clean the track, I just placed the boxcar in a consist and ran it around the track a few times. It was amazing how efficient that this was in cleaning the track. It doesn't really work on spur very well, but it worked very well on the main lines. I used this method for years and it never failed me. A very cheap solution.

[YMXMD]

Track cleaning is so critical, it makes the train running experience so much better. Thanks for sharing. I will definitely try it out.

[plutoyaldnil]

Trained mice in little orange reflective outfits

[tomgrabenstein]

Thanks for this. I resurrected a 22 year old micro layout with No-Ox. It too was a victim of years of Brite Boy havoc. What were we thinking!!!. After cleaning the track with the same mineral spirits you used, the No Ox was applied. Now the finicky little On30 Porters (like yours) run all over the place including old style Atlas non powered turnout frogs. The only thing I did different than you was to run the trains and no cleanup the next day. Have not had to clean track now for several months and no more embarrassing stalls. Doc Tom

[troygust]

I really appreciate the video. This is very useful information before I dive too far into my new On30 project.

[allenlandis]

That rod looks like a gun cleaning rod. Thanks for the great tip.

[lynnmccurdythehdmmrc]

I was told years ago, instead of tee shirt material. Use Handi-wipes. Also, if you can find a used (new is utterly too expensive) a Centerline TrackCleaner car. I've gone a step further, and have an old gondola, with the insides cut out, fitted over the CenterLine car.

[gardenrailroading]

I am a dead rail railroader and almost did not watch, however it intrigued me what you do because we do have a club module that runs both track and dead rail power. Thank you for the good advice!

[AudiOhm]

I was first using 99% isopropyl alcohol every couples of days on the tracks and engine wheels, It seemed to be cleaning well, the non abrasive cloth was quite black after each cleaning...I then switched to electrical contact cleaner (after watching a few videos). This to me did the track, I can go weeks without cleaning the tracks and engine wheels, and when I do there is very little discoloration on the cloth.

[davevan]

Back in my computer operator days, IBM supplied us with these nice hard cotton blocks we used to clean 3420 tape drives. How I wish I had a few boxes of times we had 40-50 boxes in the supply room!!!

[PipkinDog]

Thank you from the other side of the pond!

[joshuabrown]

Thanks for sharing this with us man, even if it's not a glamorous topic. Sometimes if feel like track maintenance doesn't get talked about enough.

On a side note: The wax and the graphite remind me of doing maintenance on the RR museums loop. We'd grease the inside of tracks once a week to protect the rails and flanges from grinding to dust. The older volunteers would call the metal shavings, "Fairy Dust."

[jacko]

For the really tough spots I like a nickel ( 5 cent) is the sane as the track and cleans too filling in the scratches too.

[aaronprewitt]

I clean my g scale track with wet wipes for the track and q-tips with a dab of water for the locomotive wheels. It works really well!

[Gregtrainmaster]

i use lysol handi wipes they do a good job for me

[kylec.]

Your technique worked great! Thanks for the tips.

[thomasetesta]

Love this video lesson, i learned a lot

[DJE]

👍👍Great tips Dave! I will most certainly give the mineral spirit a try for cleaning my tracks and wheels. Thanks 🚂🚂