Trix make a wheel cleaner for N & Z gauge locos. Euro Rail Hobbies have it available for ordering.

Hi everyone,

I use Jörger and I'm totally satisfied with them.

Once you have a pack of magnetic staples, it'll last you a lifetime :)

I've shown and written quite a bit about them here:



In the picture, the coupling hooks are being pushed apart by the magnetic field!

Edited by user 08 January 2026 19:40:50(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hello, hope all is well

Below is one person’s suggestion for cleaning your Z wheels. I believe some kind of cleaning liquid was added to the edge.

https://youtube.com/shor...FAG4?si=R-szXgvc2QIBOLgh

I have never tried this but it could be a low cost solution to this job. Don’t see what might be the harm.

Take good care

Zme

I found the original manufacturer, part: Tsugawa 12508 It is still being sold by Z scale specific dealers here in the US for a reasonable price.

I do believe an Ingelnook Switching playout would be more fun in N scale. Precisely for the slow speed reliability factor. If I were doing one in Z scale I would "stack the deck" in my favor. I know you have done a lot of the things I will recommend but I'll just put it all here. I would use a modern loco and convert everything to the MTL Magne-Matic coupling system. I would probably buy an AZL loco and MTL cars actually.
From Google search: "Micro-Trains Line (MTL) Z scale Magne-Matic couplers are the industry standard for 1:220 scale, offering reliable automatic coupling and magnetic uncoupling, often replacing older Marklin "fishhook" couplers. These knuckle-style couplers provide realistic appearance and close-coupling distances, essential for detailed, modern Z scale operations."
They use magnets under the track to force them apart.
You said your loco is a 260 but I didn't catch what model number. FWIW some Marklin locos, especially the heavier modern "can" motor ones, can run very well at slow speeds, but I own an older 3 or 5 pole 260 that does not stop and start reliably at all. To use that for switching would be an exercise in frustration. Also, while switchers would seem like the obvious choice for switching, they are small and have electrical pickup challenges as a result. That may be adding to stoppages over rail joints. The 260 is certainly affected by this whearas a bigger heavier loco with a pair of 3 axle trucks may better bridge the gap. Finally, not all controllers are equal. The Blue Line Snail Speed controllers are known to be good for slow speed precision ops due to their design. I do not think the most modern white Marklin controllers with the wall warts are as highly praised for that. I would rather use DCC control, but that is really expensive.
Cheers!