track cleaning

[footplate1947]

Whale oil must be strange oil if it helps adhesion. I thought the whole point of oil was to reduce adhesion.

[footplate1947]

The Wahl Hair clipper oil has been used by modelers in the USA from the late 1950's if reading Model Railroader & Railroad Model Craftsman is anything to go by.
Once the rail head, etc cleaned by a good rubber like Roco/Flieschmann after painting rail & ballasting, a few drops of Wahl oil is spread by wheels and not only does it keep the track electrically working, it also has a slight adhesion capability.
Of course if the layout is only run a couple of hours a month, the oil may harden especially in the heat of 30C plus.
As my layout is used at least twice a month for 2-3 hours per time, it survives for 12 months before I give a good clean with the previously mentioned Roco, etc then a new few drops of oil is good for the next 12 months.

In the 50s Triang in Britain used to recommend the use of 3 in 1 oil but you would not think of using it now days.....John

[Walkingthedog]

Oxford Rail actually recommend 3 in 1 to lubricate their locos.

[footplate1947]

I can only say I have read on other forums people saying not to use 3 in 1. I was going by that. Oxford also recently produced a loco with a wheel arrangement which caused poor traction, and they soon modified the design. So they are not always right.

[Walkingthedog]

Everybody else says don’t use 3in1. I queried it with them but they didn’t reply. I have one of their locos, a Dean Goods, and it runs like a dream.

The one that supposedly didn’t run well was the Adams. I had one and it was fine.

[Steve M]

These days I use oil specifically for models from Woodland Scenics. As for the Adams, the Oxford Rail is a very good model, but in my experience it was the Hornby version that was an awful runner - sent mine back it was so bad.

[footplate1947]

The Oxford Adams was soon put right. The first production had poor traction, and they modified the axles which was the problem at the time and then it worked as you said Steve like a dream after that. It is fine now. You must have one of the later ones. As for the Hornby version I have not a clue about those.
John

[footplate1947]

There were quite a few Oxford Adams going on ebay at the time with people outing the poor traction version. Good old ebay......John

[footplate1947]

How did track cleaning get turned into oil..........

[Walkingthedog]

It started with hair clipper oil then you introduced 3 in 1.