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OO Gauge Track Cleaning Tips Please

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STEVIEBOY1

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Good afternoon, does anyone have any good tips about the best way to keep OO Gauge tracks clean. I do have one of those hard rubbers that I bought at a model shop, I also use paper handkerchiefs, but they disintegrate. Just wondering about cotton dusters or JayCloth type products, although they may cause more dust in fact?
 
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John Webb

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I use Iso-propyl-alcohol (IPA, also know as propanol) - a bit more gentle than meths and other solvents. J Cloth does last longer than tissues, kitchen paper somewhere between the two. But I cut up the J Cloth into small parts to minimise wastage. I now only use the rubber type cleaner to remove paint on the rail top after painting the track - then follow up with IPA as the track rubber tends to leave bits behind!
 

Cowley

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I use Iso-propyl-alcohol (IPA, also know as propanol) - a bit more gentle than meths and other solvents. J Cloth does last longer than tissues, kitchen paper somewhere between the two. But I cut up the J Cloth into small parts to minimise wastage. I now only use the rubber type cleaner to remove paint on the rail top after painting the track - then follow up with IPA as the track rubber tends to leave bits behind!
Much agreed. Most model shops sell decent track cleaning fluid too but it can be a little expensive.
I also keep a can of switch cleaner spray to pep up any points that need it.
 

alexl92

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Hornby's track cleaning coach is an option but apparently it's not brilliant. Dapol did produce a more heavyweight track cleaner which was also designed to be pushed around the track and resembled a modern rail maintenance bogie wagon. But not everyone likes this way of doing it!
 

Cowley

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Hornby's track cleaning coach is an option but apparently it's not brilliant. Dapol did produce a more heavyweight track cleaner which was also designed to be pushed around the track and resembled a modern rail maintenance bogie wagon. But not everyone likes this way of doing it!
I was thinking of buying one but never got round to it. Sounds like a good idea but it would definitely need to be quite weighty.
 

GusB

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I vaguely recall a fellow club member having a locomotive (a Lima 33, possibly), with some kind of rotary/oscillating gadget underneath that cleaned track using Peco track rubbers. I'm not sure if it was built from scratch, or whether there was some proprietary conversion kit available.
 

Cowley

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I vaguely recall a fellow club member having a locomotive (a Lima 33, possibly), with some kind of rotary/oscillating gadget underneath that cleaned track using Peco track rubbers. I'm not sure if it was built from scratch, or whether there was some proprietary conversion kit available.
I like the sound of that. Of course he should’ve been using a 26 if he was local to you though...
 

GusB

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I like the sound of that. Of course he should’ve been using a 26 if he was local to you though...
Indeed it should have been, but this before there were any RTR 26s and 27s available - was it Lima that brought them out? I suddenly feel quite old (I've just had a birthday and I've not quite recovered from the shock).
 

Cowley

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Indeed it should have been, but this before there were any RTR 26s and 27s available - was it Lima that brought them out? I suddenly feel quite old (I've just had a birthday and I've not quite recovered from the shock).
I had to google it to remember but yes they did:
A9E9FC37-4B98-4FA6-8CB3-2636A1224213.jpeg

(Look at the size of those couplings o_O).
I think it was one of their later offerings. Not bad though.
You must have nearly caught up with me now Gus (45)? :smile:
 

STEVIEBOY1

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I had to google it to remember but yes they did:
View attachment 51031

(Look at the size of those couplings o_O).
I think it was one of their later offerings. Not bad though.
You must have nearly caught up with me now Gus (45)? :smile:

I must say, I do prefer those larger couplings, rather than the much smaller ones that are about now on new models.
 

Waldgrun

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I used the Tri-ang track cleaning car, (the one with the felt pad underneath). Originally with Meths, but later discovered that a small drop of W.D.40 sprayed on the pad worked better!
 

whhistle

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Hoover.
Gets rid of bigger bits.

Track rubber.
Good, but leaves bits behind. Hence needing to hoover again.

Damp cloth (water).
Surprising the amount of dirt you can get off.

Damp cloth (IPA).
A little longer lasting protection than water.

CMX track cleaner (with IPA).
It's heavy! Gets pulled or pushed round the track and drips out IPA as it goes round. A pad brushes over the top of the rails.
Expensive (~£140 new) but haven't heard anything bad about it.
Got mine for £80 but not managed to use it yet.

Apparently the Dapol is like a mini hoover going round - a bit noisy!
I may have got that wrong though.
 

SCH117X

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I do not recommend the Dapol one, its a blown up OO version of a N gauge Tomix one which conversely works fine. The problem I had with it was that dust got through the body joins from the dustbox and clogged the motor up causing it draw more current until the motor bunrt out and the pick ups became destroyed due to the current pull - shades of the plunger pick ups on Airfix 14xx's.

Agree the CMX one is brilliant - you do need a loco powerful enough to pull it. I use a Heljan 33. An cheaper alternative is the German track cleaning wagon imported by Ten Commandments https://tencommandmentsmodels.co.uk/product/track-cleaning-wagon/ which I also use. The only problem I found with is that the NEM coupling socket is too low needing any coupling to be modified - just thought wonder if larger wheels could be fitted...
 

whhistle

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Agree the CMX one is brilliant - you do need a loco powerful enough to pull it.
Yeah... I planned to use my Hornby 08 but no chance when it's empty, let alone full.
Decided a Class 68 should be the trick. Loco + lok sound chip found on Facebook = less than getting factory fitted sound.
 

Mallone

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I also use the track cleaning wagon from a Ten Commandments.
I find that it cleans the track extremely well and uses no fluids. I use IPA to clean the point blades
 
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