track cleaning

[footplate1947]

Not me this time Brian see post 15. ............ ..........John

[brian1951]

Its time to get back on topic chaps.

[Walkingthedog]

Not me this time Brian see post 15. ............ ..........John

I was referring to 3 in 1 John.

Back on topic Brian, I don’t seem to have to clean my track very often so I must be doing something right.

[footplate1947]

Yes IPA Brian........you convinced me about that long time ago and I have used it to clean and service everything ever since. Wonderful stuff and cheap. Now that makes a change. John

[Chops]

Got around to cleaning off my HO layout, "Armadilloville," which has sat idle
for a few months. Next up I will apply the same treatment to OO "Henley."

This method was described by a British model railroader, Lionel Strange.
At first read, I thought he was a few sandwiches shy of a full picnic, until
I tried it. It is cheap, doesn't affect tractive effort, safe on plastic. Seals
out oxidization for months.

A few drops of Wahl's hair clipper oil on a square of paper towel, applied
to the abrasive (bad idea- abrasives) pad of a track cleaning car. Once
around the 4x8 layout, followed by a few rounds with fresh scraps
for another half dozen laps, or so:

[footplate1947]

Of course, you will see other adverts selling other products because they are all trying to sell their products and convince people theirs is the best.
But IPA is a basic easy to use product which does the job and is cheap to buy. And is proven to be excellent. Pay more if you like but you will not better IPA.

[Chops]

I did the IPA thing for years, and it would stay clean for a while, but with heavy operations
in DCC I found that it was necessary to stop everything and wipe down the rails to maintain
decoder function, about every 45 minutes, at that.

Fortunately, it is not terribly expensive, about 0.77 BPS, and a bottle will last many years.
I cannot claim it as true, but I rather suspect some commercial brands- that have a
remarkably light oily consistency self for breath taking amounts.

[footplate1947]

I can't speak for DCC as I have never used it. But on my last layout (new one not up and running yet) I did not have to clean the track much at all. I used to use Turps and that was not bad. Now use IPA. And I still have some plastic wheels on some coaches and wagons even though some say plastic wheels are a no no.

[Chops]

I would venture to say that "Goo Gone" was most unsuited to the task.