Model Railway Forum

My track has been in storage for a number of years and has become quite tarnished. It doesn't look rusty but has a distinctly dull hue to it. A sort of dark brown grey colour. I assume this is the nickel in the rails. I'm having problems getting the locomotive to run. I assume it's dirty track because if I apply downward pressure to the locomotive it stutters into life only to stop again a few centimetres later. By constantly coaxing the locomotive like this I can make it do a full circuit of the layout so it looks like the whole layout has power.

Anyway, to get to the point, what should I clean it with? I tried rubbing it down with an old scotch pad but that didn't really help. I can't see vinegar removing the tarnishing. I'm pretty sure it will need something abrasive to get rid of it but what? I think any sandpaper will be too abrasive. Its Z gauge so super delicate. I don't have a track cleaning car yet but I think that is more for routine cleaning rather than a restoration type cleaning this track needs.

If you take it easy around pointwork, use a Hornby track cleaning rubber which is thinner then Pecos version. A far more delicate track cleaning "Rubber" (Actually a foam block rather then a rubber) is from Gaugemaster, though I have personally found it not that effective for heavily tarnished track.
So either a Hornby or Peco track cleaning rubber, with my preference being Hornby, but take it easy and go extra gentle around any points. I have never cleaned Z guge track but I have cleaned N gauge and 009/H0e track and it was fine.

I still have a few Hornby and Peco track cleaning rubbers for my 0-16.5 and 00 gauge track and I would not be without them. I can use them both with dark brown heavily tarnished track and I can use them with track which just needs polishing up, as used with light pressure but moving the rubber fast brings a lovely mirror like shine. (Don't do this near points. I tend to carefully clean one rail at a time with delicate pointwork using the track rubber on its edge).

Thanks, will give it a try. I think the wheels need cleaning as well.

Mitzee, peco now sell metre length z gauge flexi track. Its reasonably priced. May be worth a look. Hi

One good way of cleaning tarnished or even rusy metal is a long soak in Vinigre. You can water it down a little but Vinigre will even remove heavy rust if soaked for long enough. May take couple of days if it is bad. Trouble with track, is finding something long and shallow enough to soak it in.
You have to do it before laying the track it will not work if you try to rub Vinigre on with a cloth. Has to be propperly soaked. and if it has any oil or grease on it that has to be cleaned off first with degreaser of your choice.

Hello Milzy, If I notice that you say you would not see vinigre cleaning it. If you have not tried it you may be amaized. I have seen rusty mild steel come up like bright metal. It will remove any oxidizing as well as enything sold to do the job and is cheap as well.

Are you referring to vinegar? Just want to make sure I’m not missing something?

Walkingthedog wrote: ↑Sun Mar 01, 2020 2:20 pm Are you referring to vinegar? Just want to make sure I’m not missing something?

Sorry I spelt it wrong got mixed up with Frence.

Thanks. Thought it might be another type if cleaning product like IPA.

Cest le meme prduit. N est pas.