Train-Driven Track-Cleaning Sleds

I think there have been other similar topics on here about just that thing.

That's  nice...how do I find them?

BAD ORDER

Tons of them, do a forum search.

Try this search for Track Cleaning Car

Thanks everybody...I'll either buy one or make one using a cleaning pad under a weighted gondola, running ahead of the loco.

Yep Yep Yep,

BAD ORDER

Centerline: http://www.centerline-products.com/catalog.html

Consider also making a magnetic pad to go with this.

here's a picture of a homemade cleaner.  built with an old brass gon.  everything in the car is to disguise added weights and give an attractive load

sorry for the double pictures in post.

perhaps moderator can remove duplicates.

Now that is cool....

Well thought out, Bob!

bad order harold

several toy train magazines have articles about how to build your own track cleaning car.

WOW!  WHAT A DIFFERENCE, O SCALERS!

My locos were runnng with irregular power..alternately lagging and surging, and even stopping at times with 20 volts applied!

Running a sanding block over the rails didn't help much, so I tried something else: 

I removed the locos from the track and ran my caboose around the layout by hand,  noting the varying brilliance of its internal light, indicating variable resistance between the rails and the crummy's wheels.

So I took a 12-foot straight section of track and swabbed the rails with denatured alcohol and cotton balls. 

Those balls came off the track with BLACK STREAKS!  After swabbing the track with at least 20 cotton balls, I ran the crummy over the section again, and the light stayed on bright and steady, with no flickering!  Now I'll have to swab the entire 127 feet with cotton balls and C2H6O!

Apparently, dust had settled on the rails from my cutting, drilling, sanding, and filing operations over the last few weeks, in addition to the fine powdery High Desert dust that is always with us. 

I'm now considering a commercial rail-cleaning car (about $100), to make the chore effortless! 

Happy Easter!

Bad Order Harry

FWIW, I don't personally recommend sandpaper for the rails.  It makes minute grooves that seem to attract more dirt.  Of course, there is also the issue of removing the plating on track like Fastrack or similar types of track.

HEY GUNRUNNER:

I never said I used sandpaper.

I said I used a sanding BLOCK, to which I attached super-fine Crocus Cloth.

BAD ORDER HAL

OK, I read sanding block, I assume it's equipped with sandpaper.

I use a Wal-Board Tools 3-1/4 in. x 9-1/4 in. Tuff-Lock Pole Sander from Home Depot($20) with a piece of towel cut to fit and soaked with denatured alcohol. Stays flat, swivels, allows reach...well you get the idea. It works and it's simple. A couple of quick passes around every couple of weeks works nicely for me.

When you get tunnels and intricate scenery, then you may need a car.

GUNRUNNER,

Sanding blocks are made to take 1/4 sheet of sandpaper, which is 9" x 2-3/4"

Thus a standard sheet of sandpaper (9" x 11") will provide four block loads.  My sanding blocks use everything from super-coarse 50-grit to super-fine 400-grit, plus emery cloth and crocus cloth.

Happy Easter,

BAD ORDER

Hey Moonman,

Thanks...I'll check that out!

Bad Order

I know what a sanding block is.

I use Scotchbrite or Isopropyl Alcohol, never needed anything stronger.

YO GUNRUNNER,

I use Denatured Alcohol, mainly because I have a quantity of it on hand!

I did not intend to suggest that you didn't know what a sanding block was...heavens no!  My apologies if this insulted you!

Cheers,

BAD ORDER HAL    [I'm a gun runner too!]

Nice Thompson there!

Centerline

http://www.centerline-products.com/

HEY MOONMAN,

I saw the Home Depot Tuff-Lock Pole Sander, and then I saw the Kobalt Pole Sander at Lowe's for the same price.

I bought the Kobalt, because it was more ruggedly built and had nicer pole with a comfortable grip sleeve.

Thanks for the tip, though!

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HEY MOONMAN,

I returned that "superior" Kobalt pole sander to Lowe's and bought the one that you have from Home Depot!

It's better after all because the cleaning pads are easier to install using the cam-action clamps, not the hard-to-use spring clamps on the Kobalt unit. . 

You had the best item after all!

BAD ORDER

Scotchbrite or a cloth with Methylated Sprits seems to work well. But my layout is 16' x 8' I could see that getting tedious on a bigger layout.

Nice Big Bang cannon.  

HEY SHARP-EYED NICK:

Yep, that's a Big Bang alright! 

It works by manufacturing acetylene gas internally from the reaction of Calcium Carbide with water, and set off with a flint igniter.

I used to fire "super ball" rubber projectiles from the barrel...they would go a whole block down the steet!

Without the projectile, it's a very loud cannon!

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