Track cleaner

[Dash 8]

Hi, this is my Track Cleaner, works good on my layout. This is an MTH Truck, Pads are LGB.

 

 

Thank you

 

Jan

[Rayman4449]

Excellent design Jan, thanks for sharing!  I am going to have to rethink how I've been doing my truck mounted cleaner pads.  Having it designed like this with springs looks like a really good way to do it!

[enginear joe]

Hmmm.... if you take a scotch brite sponge and put it underneath the middle of a MTH coal hopper, it also works great. It will stay in place without any work. Just throw some rocks inside for ballast.
 It doesn't look good however.
I like the rust you added to the coupler.
fourth one back:

[Jerry B44]

Seems, with the slider's , you seldom need to clean the track. I have Sunset Vally code 250 NS track.  After a live steam run I'm out there with my green pad though!

[PRL&MRailroad]

I forget who told me about this, I believe it was a member of an HO club in Surprise, AZ. He recommended using Wahl clipper oil on the track. The oil is used to lubricate hair clippers. I thought; How can putting oil on the track help? But I also thought; Well if it doesn't work I can always clean it off. So I tried it. AND IT WORKS! I have grades on my layout which exceed 7%. Whenever the engines start to loose traction I apply the oil to the track ahead of the grade then run the engine with a string of cars thru the area and up the grade. My layout is the old school track power with block control. Since I have started using the clipper oil I do not experience continuity problems between the engine wheels and track I use Sunset Valley code 250 brass track. The other advantage of the oil is that it softens up the crud on the rail head. So should you choose to clean the track the crud wipes right off. Since using the oil, I don't get the typical crud build up on the wheels of the rolling stock..IMHO I don't think you can go wrong using the clipper oil.

[du-bousquetaire]

I know of a friend in Germany who recomends to use white spirit on rails to clean both the rail and the wheelsets, I have tried it in summer when it is dry and then also cleaned the track with an abrasive block. Indeed with pick up shoes operation outdoor becomes much more reliable. I use brass track also. It is made more complex with live steam although modern manufactured engines tend to throw out a lot less oil than early Asters did. The solution to that is : rain a good rainfall generally cleans that oil (steam oil mixes with water) away.

[Jerry B44]

I use a LGB track cleaning loco, pretty handy!