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Offline Goofy  
#1 Posted : 27 October 2015 18:35:00(UTC)
Goofy


Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 8,993
I´m member in another train forum too.
I did told to the forum member,that i did decides to start Märklin K tracks.
They told to me,that edelstahl on the Märklin rail do have bad contact and oxid too much.
Peco is the best with the nickel silver and oxid almost nothing.
So i have question to you...how often do you clean yours Märklin tracks?
H0
DCC = Digital Command Control
Offline H0  
#2 Posted : 27 October 2015 18:47:58(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Edelstahl cannot rust - if it rusts then it ain't Edelstahl.

Centre rail gets rusty. Outer rails collect gunk from traction tyres and dust and need cleaning.

Some two-rail users do not use traction tyres - they have less gunk on the rails.


I clean the outer rails when locos stop without contact or lights flicker too much.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline RayF  
#3 Posted : 27 October 2015 20:04:25(UTC)
RayF

Gibraltar   
Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC)
Posts: 15,838
Location: Gibraltar, Europe
I find I need to clean my tracks more often since I went over to digital control. I guess the decoders are more sensitive to loss of contact, plus the trains run more slowly too which makes it easier for them to stop!

I give all my tracks a thorough clean about once a year, for which I really need to remove the catenary, which is a pain! I use a clean rag soaked in solvent (last time used white spirit) and rub the rails until they shine.

In normal use I clean patches that might get dirty when I notice locomotives hesitating at those points. This is usually a weekly chore.

Ray
Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways
Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.
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H0
Offline sjlauritsen  
#4 Posted : 27 October 2015 20:17:28(UTC)
sjlauritsen

Denmark   
Joined: 18/08/2007(UTC)
Posts: 1,081
Location: Denmark
I don't always clean my tracks, but when I do, I use Roco Rubber... Smile

Anyway, I clean my track when the locos start to loose contact. It is hard to say how often it happens. A few times per year perhaps. Not really an issue.
Søren from Denmark
Blog: https://railway.zone/ | Danish Model Railway Forum: https://baneforum.dk/
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H0
Offline Purellum  
#5 Posted : 27 October 2015 20:38:26(UTC)
Purellum

Denmark   
Joined: 08/11/2005(UTC)
Posts: 3,498
Location: Mullerup, 4200 Slagelse
Cool

I think dust is a bigger problem ( especially for the locos ), if you don't have your layout in a dust free environment.

I have both Märklin 1-gauge stainless ( edelstahl ) and Peco nickel silver tracks, and I see no difference in need for cleaning.

However, if you have humidity in the air, the nickel silver tracks will oxide, which by the way gives them a beautiful brown colour.

This happens in my garden.

Per.

Cool
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Offline H0  
#6 Posted : 27 October 2015 21:43:12(UTC)
H0


Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,254
Location: DE-NW
Originally Posted by: sjlauritsen Go to Quoted Post
Anyway, I clean my track when the locos start to loose contact.
Trix C track does not have stainless steel rails this thread is all about. And it doesn't have the tin-plate centre rail that gets rusty.

Just in case the material (stainless steel vs. nickel silver) makes a difference. I don't think it makes much difference, if any.

It seems we all clean when locos develop contact problems, so probably material does not matter.
Regards
Tom
---
"In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS
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Offline witzlerh  
#7 Posted : 27 October 2015 22:02:28(UTC)
witzlerh

Canada   
Joined: 25/09/2010(UTC)
Posts: 417
Location: Sherwood Park, AB, Canada
I do a full clean once a year with some spot cleaning in problem areas...usually around switches where there is less contact.

I never use abrasives anymore as the scratches encourage gunk growth.

I use to clean every month but then I also realized that I over oiled my rolling stock.
Now I oil as needed (squeaking) with a needle applicator.

I also inspect and clean my wheels....which is a pain with the 32 axle schnabelCursing

I do a few trains at a time.

I use cork or micro fibre cloth although the track cleaning car does a good job too for general maintenance.

If I need help, I will use wood alcohol or methyl hydrate.
Harald
CS2 DB & Canadian Era 3-6
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Offline kiwiAlan  
#8 Posted : 27 October 2015 23:12:44(UTC)
kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,082
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
Originally Posted by: witzlerh Go to Quoted Post

I never use abrasives anymore as the scratches encourage gunk growth.


I agree, the micro grooves left by the abrasive become a dirt magnet.

My preference is a piece of old heavy duty cotton, such as a piece cut from an old lab coat or denim soaked with some isopropyl alcohol or white spirit (lighter fluid).

You do need to be careful with white spirit as it will attack some paints and plastics.

But the other thing to remember is to clean the inside surface of the rail as well as the top, as a lot of the wheel contact is on the inside of the rail, especially when going around curves, but it affects the straights as well.

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Offline baggio  
#9 Posted : 28 October 2015 00:47:00(UTC)
baggio

Canada   
Joined: 21/09/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1,729
Location: Toronto
I found that Marklin tracks (digital trains) need much more cleaning than analogue 2 rail tracks.

I have never cleaned the 2 rail tracks and for my C tracks, I bought a Marklin track cleaner wagon that does the trick. I add Isopropyl to the wagon's cleaning brushes. That does the trick. BigGrin
Offline Mark5  
#10 Posted : 28 October 2015 03:11:44(UTC)
Mark5

Canada   
Joined: 29/01/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1,420
Location: Montreal, Canada
Hi Witzlerh,

Sorry for the dumb question, but what do you mean by "wood alcohol"?
- Mark
Originally Posted by: witzlerh Go to Quoted Post
.....
If I need help, I will use wood alcohol or methyl hydrate.


DB DR FS NS SNCF c. 1950-65, fan of station architecture esp. from 1920-70.
In single point perspective, where do track lines meet?
Offline xxup  
#11 Posted : 28 October 2015 03:35:19(UTC)
xxup

Australia   
Joined: 15/03/2003(UTC)
Posts: 9,458
Location: Australia
Adrian
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Offline Mark5  
#12 Posted : 28 October 2015 03:58:10(UTC)
Mark5

Canada   
Joined: 29/01/2012(UTC)
Posts: 1,420
Location: Montreal, Canada
Whoa...Thanks, Adrian, I am not sure we even have that in Canada.
I just buy the Iso from the corner pharmacy for cheap.
Smells nice and clean too.

Is there any advantage to buy the toxic stuff?
ie. Wood alcohol, denatured alcohol?

- Mark

Originally Posted by: xxup Go to Quoted Post


DB DR FS NS SNCF c. 1950-65, fan of station architecture esp. from 1920-70.
In single point perspective, where do track lines meet?
Offline Goofy  
#13 Posted : 28 October 2015 07:00:06(UTC)
Goofy


Joined: 12/08/2006(UTC)
Posts: 8,993
Delete
H0
DCC = Digital Command Control
Offline hxmiesa  
#14 Posted : 28 October 2015 10:48:42(UTC)
hxmiesa

Spain   
Joined: 15/12/2005(UTC)
Posts: 3,519
Location: Spain
I have a huge K-track layout with dense trafic;The rails dont rust, nor do they get particularly dirty, when used regularly!

K-track has one big weakness though; If you ballast in wet, or have high humidity, the center rail-pukos WILL RUST; a lot and very fast, so in that aspect you must be careful. Especially older K-track with copper-conectors for the center-studs s very prone to rust. I havent seen problems with the newer phosphorized conectors.

To avoid problems, I ballast with alcohol instead of water, and I have a dehumidifier which maintains around 55-60%. In the 8 years I have had the current installation in the basement, I havent had any oxidation problems! :-)

Indeed dust seems to be the major problem, but instead of cleaning, I´ve found that running some of the heavier locos at high(er) speeds will clean the rails.
What I DO need to do once in a while, is to clean the wheels. -Of all rolling stock no less, as they all develop their won black "traction tires" formed by the "gunk" most ppl seems to have on their rails. Well, I have it on the wheels :-/
Best regards
Henrik Hoexbroe ("The Dane In Spain")
http://hoexbroe.tripod.com
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