GM4430101 Track cleaning wagon

[PBoland]

Received this wagon for Christmas for practical purposes and yep there is a lot of dirt on my 'clean tracks' that I did not see..... now its success begs another question!! What is the best way to clean the pads and how long to use them for?

Was going to source a few spare pads, not too bad at £5 a go but with £4 postage I will wait awhile. Any ideas for a substitute pad, .i.e. wrapping a light lint free cloth cut to suit around it.

Generally, I use Peco Rail Cleaner in accessible areas and one attached to a stick for areas a little out of arms reach!!

Ideas welcome, thanks for viewing.

[Steve M]

You will find that cloth will snag and change the ride height leading to derailments. I would be inclined to use the proper pads which looks a bit like fake suede judging by pics on the GM site.
No need for fancy track cleaning concoctions, get some Isopropyl alcohol rated at 99% pure - cheap as chips on eBay. Wipe the accessible areas with it on a cloth and save your track cleaner for the inaccessible bits.

[PBoland]

Thank you for the suggestions.

[Eric-B]

Have a look at my new post in 'Member's Layouts'. That tatty old green coach is my track polisher.
It's not easy to see, but basically it is a piece of hardboard fashioned as a 'skate', pimply side down, and weighted by two bolts that pass through the coach floor, with heavy nuts on the tops. That allows some vertical 'float' for going over ripples, bumps, joints, and frogs.
-
The whole combi is moved by an old junk-box tender-drive loco, towing a surplus Hornby coach - temporarily roofless - that contains an 11.5 volt battery and a radio-control receiver. As it is self-powered, it makes no difference how mucky the track is.
The lump you can see balanced on the tender is a lump of lead, for added traction.

[PBoland]

Have a look at my new post in 'Member's Layouts'. That tatty old green coach is my track polisher.
It's not easy to see, but basically it is a piece of hardboard fashioned as a 'skate', pimply side down, and weighted by two bolts that pass through the coach floor, with heavy nuts on the tops. That allows some vertical 'float' for going over ripples, bumps, joints, and frogs.
-
The whole combi is moved by an old junk-box tender-drive loco, towing a surplus Hornby coach - temporarily roofless - that contains an 11.5 volt battery and a radio-control receiver. As it is self-powered, it makes no difference how mucky the track is.
The lump you can see balanced on the tender is a lump of lead, for added traction.

Cheers, just had a look. Another idea worth investigating.