Great advice for cleaning postwar trains! My modest number of postwar trains from my youth have generally been boxed since they were stored after other interests took over in the 60's, so, they have not required much cleaning. After I returned to the hobby when our youngest son was about 8 years old, I focused on newer items, as postwar trains were becoming more scarce and pricey. The new decoration was also much more colorful in many ways, and, therefore more appealing to my son. Also, I fell in love with the Lionel GS-4, and, the N&W No. 611....
This postwar set from my brother-in-law is actually the first postwar set that I own that needs some TLC!