Hi!

I'm having problems to keep my track clean. Does anyone have any home made plans or ideas to create something that helps with this cleaning process? I don't feel like buying something expensive (for me it is) from Lux. Or maybe somebody knows about some other less expensive brand..I don't know...Can somebody give me a help here?

Thank you all in advance

Hi FMS,
The best solution is a cheap one. It is made by Noch. It clips on the axle of any freight car.
I will post a photo as soon as I find it in another thread.
regards
Kimball

Here is the Noch track cleaning adaptor to clip on to most freight car or tender axle.
It only costs a few dollars for a pack of 5.
See http://www.noch.de/en/produktka...e3=&navi_Kategorie4=

regards
Kimball

Hi FMS,
Is it really dirty track?
I found that extra red/brown connection wires at various locations on my track solved many of my contact problems.
regards
Kimball

Hi Kimball, Hi Ray!

Yes it's realy dirt.
I only have bad conections sometimes in certain areas and with certain locos...the Divas, the others couldn't care less..
I'm using C-track, so I don't have too much of those "events".
What I do notice, despite of what some users might say about C track, is that there's dirt. When I need to clean usually I need 3 pieces of rag to totally remove the black dirt from the top of the rails.
What makes me concerned is the fact that part of it, even if doesn't represent bad conection all the time,goes to the machines and rolling stock wheels. Maybe I'm beeing a bit weird with this, but I like to keep everything in perfect conditions.

I use a Masonite pad mounted to the bottom of a couple of cars...

...with maghnets on the antiques...







...and with nails through the bottom of cheap cars.



You don't have to attach them, just allow them to "float" in the holes to go with the rise and fall of the track. It's a trick that's been around for many years and only costs a few pennies a car. I run one in every train and rarely have to clean mainline track.

If you have easy access and not too much track you could try a product used to removed adhesive. It is called Goo-gone here in the US. A bit on a kitchen towel goes a long way, I have found it to be very useful. No abrasion, does not harm plastic or metal (or carpet which is good for my carpetbahn). I do rub the rails after the goo gone has been applied. I have read (discussion about pottery) that some people think an oily residue is left but I have not noticed that.

Not sure if it is available for you but you may have a regional equivalent.

John

Hi Kimball,
You mentioned the connecting of Red/Brown wires around the layout. Can you please tell me how to exactly attach the wires. I know how to attach to the C track with the small spade connectors, but where does the other end of the wires go? To the transformer, but exactly how? If there are several connections to the layout, then there would be several sets of wires coming back to the transformer. It's been 40 years since I study "Electricity" at university - if I'd known it was necessary to setup my train layout I would have been more interested in my studies.
Regards
Greg

Iuse acetone on a rag and lightly drag it on the tracks to avoid catching as best I can. Cleans great - never seen any harm to tracks. Track not ballasted.
Eric

Greg, No problems. Nothing back to the transformer.
Ok again.
Make up sets of wires One red one brown approx 2 M long with spade connectors on each end. On the piece of track where track power comes from the MS , CS or the old 6012, on the other end on the empty spades connect the set of wires that you have made up (RED and Brown)to the respective spades. (B=RED) Now go approx 2 Metres down track (Best below the track) and then connect the two wires Red and Brown to a set of connectors on one end of the track. ON THAT piece of track and on the other end's set of spades connect a new length of 2 wires (Red/brown) and connect this new set of wires to their respective set of Spades Red & Brown. now go down track again approx 2 metres and connect to a set of spades. on the other end connect a new set of wires.
If you are using Marklin Spade Connectors they are Ok (Expensive.)and a tight Fit. If using connectors from Dick Smiths they are a bit loose and need to be soldered.
Nothing back to power supplies/transformers. This is minimising voltage drop through the track connectors (not that it is much, but on a big layout with lots of turnouts it can be a small problem. This is the easy cure.

Another way is to run the 2 wires around under table. They need to be on some form of riser to have the wires about 40mm below table commencing from the Power-in track. Then at regular intervilles bare the wire. solder on a small length with a spade connector on the end. feed up and connect.

Nev

I think it would be pointless to a certain degree, to clean your track everytime it shows some discolouring.
Dirt or grease just does'nt fall from the sky like snow or rain.
You have to make sure you clean your wheels first otherwise you'll be cleaning your tracks day in day out.
Electrotren used to make a Shell cleaning car.
It had a springloaded cleaning pad (1 soft, 1 abrasive). The tankcar itself, you area able to fill it with a cleaning soltion and regulate the flow by adjusting the flow needle.
The cleaning solution itself, drop by drop landed onto the cleaning pad (soft).
I have 2 of these havy tank cars (tank = brass), 1 with the soft and 1 with the abrasive pad.

regards.,
John

YES it is great. I have the Vacuum and scrubber (Trackcleaner) combination.
OR if you only want the track cleaner get the model with the decoder.

with accumulator and digital decoder
(Article 9020)
Vac:

with Faulhaber engine and Märklin digital decoder
(Article 8820)
COmbination
vacuum cleaner wagon and track and overhead wire grinding wagon for H0 scale, equipped with one decoder for ...
two-wire alternating current system Märklin with Märklin decoder (Article 9620)

Web site:
http://www.lux-modellbau.de/html_uk/gleis.htm

Available from Mike or Lokshop.

Nev