Model Railway Forum

Having just started with a lot of old track, what is the best track cleaning solvent and method. I have a Hornby track cleaning car.

First you need to determine the type of "old track" you have, how old is it?
The very old track was just mild steel and rusted easily and is a lot of trouble to keep clean.
The new Nickle Silver (NS) track is far superior and much easier to keep clean, if it is NS then i would suggest you clean it all before laying. There are a number of ways to clean it i.e. track rubbers, squares of hardboard, track cleaning fluids such as IPA.
If you search this forum i'm sure there are a number of posts on the subject.
I am not sure how you can tell the difference between MS track and NS other than the NS is normally bright finish, but there are plenty of people on here who will know.

Forfarian wrote: ↑Tue May 21, 2019 4:27 pm
I am not sure how you can tell the difference between MS track and NS other than the NS is normally bright finish, but there are plenty of people on here who will know.

Mild steel will be attracted by a magnet, nickel silver won't.