Problems Track Cleaning?

poliss · Problems Track Cleaning?

Try cleaning 12 kilometers.

(Click the arrow bottom right to turn on English subtitles.)

dave`s dangerous

They need a Dapol track cleaner?????

bando1_de

Nope, we have about 36(

) dedicated track cleaning trains, aka "MOW gangs"

Once a month though, a major cleaning session is staged where a team of about 20 guys and girls are assigned to vacuum and bright boy...

The reason why we dry-clean is also quite simple:
Any fluid leaves some residue on the tracks and the chance to completely dry the track is minimal. Damp track, however, is a magnet for dirt and dust which in turn is picked up by the engines and that results in higher maintenance of rolling stock. We tried it and had to state that some wagons picked up that much dirt that the wheels didn't turn anymore. Some engines just barely were able to pick up current due to dirty wheel boxes (especially the American ones).

poliss

So would you say Erhard, not to use track cleaning fluid even on small home layouts for this reason?

bando1_de

Well, I can only speak for myself but I made very good experiences with the dry method.
I had some of my NTrak-modules stowed away for about 4 years without a cover. Just vacuumed them, cleaned the track with a Roco track-cleaning rubber, vacuumed again, and ran trains. What more can you ask for?

After two hours of train operations, I examined the locos and didn't find any dirt on the wheels. Clean as a sheet of white paper...

poliss

Does all your stock have metal wheels Erhard?

dave`s dangerous

Could still use the Dapol though without the fluid.???

bando1_de

@pol: Yes, In converted my complete stock to low profile (RP 25) metal wheels because metal wheels are round which can't always be said for plastic wheels..

@Dave: We use the ROCO-Clean and track rubber (Scroll down to third picture from top) to clean the tracks. The cleaning pads underneath the track claening car are made of the same technical rubber as the rubber block. Advantage over anything more coarse: they polish the track without leaving any micro-scratches (like, for instance, even the finest grade sandpaper does).

poliss

Do you have the full make and cat. No. for the wheels Erhard? I need loads and I'm never sure what to buy. I waste so much money on wheels.

Off to find a UK stockists of the Roco track rubber too. The Hornby version leaves residue.

dave`s dangerous

It`s a big topic is the track cleaning and as you have put it Erhard putting fluid on the track attracts dirt, will be interesting to see what Pol comes up with for the roco track rubber

dave`s dangerous

http://www.ontracks.co.uk/index.p...oduct&prodID=87259&catID=

Found this its the roco track rubber

bando1_de

Mine are from North West Shortlines.

Here's a link for you. Scroll to the right column and look for N-scale (H02 1/2)

These wheelsets are nickel-silver and very reliable, although not very cheap...

poliss

From Ontracks Dave with the "Ships in 7+ days" tag line. I could be retired before it's delivered.

Thanks for the link Erhard. I'll look for them on Ebay. I'm half Scottish you know. (If you don't inderstand the reference I'm sure someone will enlighten you).

bando1_de

Ahhhhh, now I know why you didn't join my USA-trip

Counting penny-wise, eh angel4

poliss

The rolling stock must get dusty too Erhard, are they just vacuumed too?
Someone has a dusty loco and doesn't know what to clean it with. He's looked at the Roco Mikrofaser Reinigungstuch and is wondering if it will damage his stock.