 Joined: 03/10/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,294 Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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Hi all, Do you want to know what the best little Marklin Track Cleaner is ? Its your friend the 3000 Loco  Especially if you have an analog loco with nice big bright bulbs in front. It scurries around the track, and you can see the little sparks where the track is a bit dirty. It goes at full throttle when using placed on a Digital Circuit, so it stops for nobody. The AC current cleans the tracks for your digital locos, and the bright lights soon stay bright all the way around the track. I have been away for a while, I returned home and ran the little 3000 loco a few times around the track. Mine is a CM 800 loco with the double headlight in front. Now my track is clean for the digital loks to come out and play.  And here is a quick video to watch it at work : Track Cleaner VideoRegards, John
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 15 users liked this useful post by Johnvr
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dennisb, Irish Rail, michelvr, GlennM, MikeR, Bigdaddynz, baggio, Danlake, Jabez, TrainIride, PMPeter, dickinsonj, Br502362, PJMärklin, Martin T
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 Joined: 08/09/2015(UTC) Posts: 2,078 Location: Cowansville, QC
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John,
How does this loco clean the tracks ?
Thewolf |
Project Estrie Rail Road-CS3-Track C- Itrain-Digital |
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Joined: 06/07/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,316
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Originally Posted by: Thewolf  John,
How does this loco clean the tracks ?
Thewolf Bonjour Thewolf, Simple answer is friction with the help of an electrical arc.
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1 user liked this useful post by michelvr
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 Joined: 17/09/2006(UTC) Posts: 18,771 Location: New Zealand
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Might have to try that! 
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Joined: 21/09/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,730 Location: Toronto
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500,000 volts would certainly clean the tracks and the house, too.  I will try that. I do have a 3000 hanging around. Thanks, Michel. |
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4 users liked this useful post by baggio
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 Joined: 23/10/2010(UTC) Posts: 2,061 Location: FRANCE
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Originally Posted by: Johnvr Hi all, Do you want to know what the best little Marklin Track Cleaner is ? Its your friend the 3000 Loco Especially if you have an analog loco with nice big bright bulbs in front. ... Regards, John Hi John, I just found one of these 3000 with big eyes ... I will try your cleaning solution . Thank you for this tip ! Best Regards Joël |
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1 user liked this useful post by TrainIride
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Joined: 04/04/2013(UTC) Posts: 1,291 Location: Port Moody, BC
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Thanks.
Works nicely. First trip around was a little jerky. 2nd and 3rd trip around much smoother.
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1 user liked this useful post by PMPeter
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Joined: 21/09/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,730 Location: Toronto
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BUT, how does one know that the tracks are now clean? I spent over 30 minutes a few days ago with a Roco wagon cleaner and it did not seem to make a difference. (The Marklin cleaner kept on derailing.  ) When I checked, the tracks were still dirty.  I ran the 3000 and another small analogue loco for a total of over one hour, but I did not check yet the tracks to see if they are any better. I will report when I do. |
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 Joined: 05/12/2008(UTC) Posts: 1,802 Location: Crozet, Virginia
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Unfortunately I have not yet found a good automated solution to track cleaning.
So I still drag myself around my layout cleaning it by hand. I hate doing it, but I have never found a good substitute and keeping your track clean is one of the very best things that you can do to make all of your locos run much better. |
Regards,
Jim
I have almost all Märklin and mostly HO, although I do have a small number of Z gauge trains!
So many trains and so little time. |
1 user liked this useful post by dickinsonj
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Joined: 03/10/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,294 Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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Originally Posted by: PMPeter Thanks.
Works nicely. First trip around was a little jerky. 2nd and 3rd trip around much smoother. Hi Peter, Yes you are on the right track for cleaner tracks ! At first, it stutters around the track because the electrical connections are not good. You may have to push it forwards over the dirty spots a few times, it may be a little bit jerky as you say. But quite quickly after a few laps around you will notice little sparks on the wheels and slider where it finds some dirt and cleans it up. Very soon the loco will be running smoothly and the big bright lights will remain bright all the way around the track. When this is all done, run a digital loco and see how smooth the running is. Regards, John
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1 user liked this useful post by Johnvr
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Joined: 08/09/2015(UTC) Posts: 2,078 Location: Cowansville, QC
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If I understand well, I do not have more than to try to find this famous Marklin 3000[cool
Thewolf |
Project Estrie Rail Road-CS3-Track C- Itrain-Digital |
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Joined: 21/09/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,730 Location: Toronto
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Originally Posted by: Thewolf If I understand well, I do not have more than to try to find this famous Marklin 3000[cool
Thewolf I think ANY analogue loco of yesteryear would do. Am I right, John? |
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Joined: 08/09/2015(UTC) Posts: 2,078 Location: Cowansville, QC
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Before making no anything, I always ask for the opinion of Mike ( Westend Trains )
Here is his answer to my demand of his opinion :
'' Where does the dirt from the tracks go? Does it stick to the wheels of the loco? I believe the only thing being cleaned is possibly the center rail.''
What do you think about it ?
Thewolf |
Project Estrie Rail Road-CS3-Track C- Itrain-Digital |
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Joined: 08/09/2015(UTC) Posts: 2,078 Location: Cowansville, QC
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About the dirt from the tracks, I answered to my friend Mike : '' The dirt disappears as if by magic ''    Thewolf |
Project Estrie Rail Road-CS3-Track C- Itrain-Digital |
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 Joined: 30/08/2016(UTC) Posts: 636 Location: Brussels
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The reactive portion of the dirt is probably carbonaceous material. In the reactive zone of the high-temperature spark the carbon is converted to CO2 and eventually flies out of the window. So you are doing your little bit for global warming |
I heard that lonesome whistle blow. Hank Williams |
1 user liked this useful post by Jabez
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Joined: 08/09/2015(UTC) Posts: 2,078 Location: Cowansville, QC
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Project Estrie Rail Road-CS3-Track C- Itrain-Digital |
2 users liked this useful post by Thewolf
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Joined: 21/09/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,730 Location: Toronto
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Well, I used the 3000 for 1/2 hour; another small analogue loco (whose number I am unaware - I will have to post a picture and ask for help) for another 1/2 hour. This was done after another 1/2 hour via the Roco track cleaner (the Marklin one kept on derailing - odd). Result: The train ran VERY smoothly with the steamer from starter set 29322; the entertainment car had one hiccup after about one hour of travel - a bit disappointing, but I can live with that. Still, I have no real certainty that the new system works, but - if nothing else - it gave me an excuse to give these two locos a good spin. If only they were a little faster.... While it may be psychological, the train did seem to run more smoothly that I remembered it. That in itself would be a very good result. Thank you, John. |
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1 user liked this useful post by baggio
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Joined: 08/09/2015(UTC) Posts: 2,078 Location: Cowansville, QC
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Originally Posted by: baggio Well, I used the 3000 for 1/2 hour; another small analogue loco (whose number I am unaware - I will have to post a picture and ask for help) for another 1/2 hour. This was done after another 1/2 hour via the Roco track cleaner (the Marklin one kept on derailing - odd). Result: The train ran VERY smoothly with the steamer from starter set 29322; the entertainment car had one hiccup after about one hour of travel - a bit disappointing, but I can live with that. Still, I have no real certainty that the new system works, but - if nothing else - it gave me an excuse to give these two locos a good spin. If only they were a little faster.... While it may be psychological, the train did seem to run more smoothly that I remembered it. That in itself would be a very good result. Thank you, John. Hi Baggio Sorry ...but I believe to have read nothing about rails . How are rails ? Smooth? Very smoother? Rough? As dirty as before? Thank you for the reply Thewolf |
Project Estrie Rail Road-CS3-Track C- Itrain-Digital |
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Joined: 03/10/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,294 Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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Originally Posted by: baggio While it may be psychological, the train did seem to run more smoothly that I remembered it. That in itself would be a very good result. Thank you, John. Yes, that's good, and I'm sure it was a pleasure to see the little loco run again. Regards, John
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1 user liked this useful post by Johnvr
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 Joined: 21/02/2016(UTC) Posts: 219 Location: Just north of London
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I think that the following is a much better solution
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6 users liked this useful post by HO Collector
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Joined: 21/09/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,730 Location: Toronto
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Originally Posted by: Thewolf Hi Baggio
Sorry ...but I believe to have read nothing about rails .How are rails ? Smooth? Very smoother? Rough? As dirty as before?
Thank you for the reply
Thewolf Fair question. Before answering it, I wanted to have a chance to check. I just did: the tracks are not particularly clean - fairly dirty to be frank. HOWEVER:
1. Trains run very well on these tracks; 2. I doubt you can get properly clean tracks with anything but elbow grease - this is all you are likely to get; 3. In my view, there is no need to get the tracks any cleaner if the trains run well; 4. The entertainment car is particularly susceptible to current variation - I think it would have needed a condenser to make up for this, as is done (I am advised) with flickering lights. I may have it done if Mike can do it at a reasonable cost. BOTTOM LINE: My tracks as they are now are good enough; if I end up believing otherwise, then I will resort to that very expensive elbow grease.... |
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Joined: 08/09/2015(UTC) Posts: 2,078 Location: Cowansville, QC
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Originally Posted by: baggio Originally Posted by: Thewolf Hi Baggio
Sorry ...but I believe to have read nothing about rails .How are rails ? Smooth? Very smoother? Rough? As dirty as before?
Thank you for the reply
Thewolf Fair question. Before answering it, I wanted to have a chance to check. I just did: the tracks are not particularly clean - fairly dirty to be frank. HOWEVER:
1. Trains run very well on these tracks; 2. I doubt you can get properly clean tracks with anything but elbow grease - this is all you are likely to get; 3. In my view, there is no need to get the tracks any cleaner if the trains run well; 4. The entertainment car is particularly susceptible to current variation - I think it would have needed a condenser to make up for this, as is done (I am advised) with flickering lights. I may have it done if Mike can do it at a reasonable cost. BOTTOM LINE: My tracks as they are now are good enough; if I end up believing otherwise, then I will resort to that very expensive elbow grease.... Thanks for the reply If your trains run well on dirty rails, good for you. On my layout it is not the case. I am cleaning rails by rails: brush Noch, rubbing alcohol with Q tips before the moving, one by one. ( More than 130 meters of rails, It is not small and it is not big, a good average ) But I am curious: I always want to see by myself. Thus I commanded one 3000 on EBay Thewolf |
Project Estrie Rail Road-CS3-Track C- Itrain-Digital |
1 user liked this useful post by Thewolf
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Joined: 08/09/2015(UTC) Posts: 2,078 Location: Cowansville, QC
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Hello everyone  I checked this Marklin 3000 on a little layout : an oval The results (for me) : It is a good method not to use anymore the brush 60140 However I am always going to use Q-tips with the rubbing alcohol after the marklin 3000 The fact that Noch 60140 may go to the garbages makes me happy Maybe a heavier loco? Thewolf |
Project Estrie Rail Road-CS3-Track C- Itrain-Digital |
1 user liked this useful post by Thewolf
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Joined: 21/09/2012(UTC) Posts: 1,730 Location: Toronto
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Originally Posted by: Thewolf The fact that Noch 60140 may go to the garbages makes me happy
I would hang on to it - may come handy sooner or later. |
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Joined: 08/09/2015(UTC) Posts: 2,078 Location: Cowansville, QC
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Originally Posted by: baggio Originally Posted by: Thewolf The fact that Noch 60140 may go to the garbages makes me happy
I would hang on to it - may come handy sooner or later. But my definitive conclusion will come when my layout will be reinstalled and when the marklin 3000 will run.... I shall see the state of rails at this moment |
Project Estrie Rail Road-CS3-Track C- Itrain-Digital |
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