How to remove rust?

Where it is rusting you have no paint to remove.  I would use a Dremel wire brush (not a stiff one) at low speed, touching each patch of rust.  Then a little black touch-up on those spots, or simply apply a layer of oil.

Rich Yoder has the correct trucks for an SP caboose, so you could avoid the problem altogether.

Diesel oil..and wire brass brush. 

Vinegar and water mix removes rust only, does not remove paint or oil. Have to let it soak for awhile depending on the rust.  Have to rinse and coat of oil immediately after rust removable. I would take the trucks off as an assembly, let it soak, use a toothbrush, should come right off without a lot of scrubbing, blow dry with compressed air, then spray with oil, WD40 ?  I do this on my table saw, drill press, metal work bench, etc. 

Clem   

I think Clem K has it right.  From the picture it looks like surface rust so a light acid wash like vinegar should do the trick.  Then a very light coating of a very light oil will protect the surface.  I don't know for certain but once the surface has developed some rust it may be prone to rusting in the future so a protection will prevent that.

Any acid-containing fluid.   Vinegar, is an acid.  So is  bowl cleaner (but also has a soap that would break up oils and grease), so that is what I would use.  I use that also for cleaning up brass- removes tarnish (but first you have to remove any urethane coating).

THEN, immediately!- Blow dry using a hair dryer, and paint.  If you can't paint immediately- light spray an oil (WD-40 for example) which you must remove using a (plastic-safe) contact cleaner before you paint, then lubricate.

OR- buy some new trucks.

There is a liquid called Evaporust which is very efficient at removing rust on metal parts. I use it for old pinball parts soaked in years of beer spills and it works very well. Evaporust is relatively environment friendly and easy to get on Amazon.

Yves

Just replace the wheelsets and springs; you only get rust where's there is iron present....

But what is that yellow stuff?  Looks like an earlier paint job peeking through?  I'd take the trucks, strip them, repaint them, and move on.

bob2 posted:

Rich Yoder has the correct trucks for an SP caboose, so you could avoid the problem altogether.

This is the best way and the least hassle. The caboose is nice enough that it deserves decent trucks.

Simon

Gentlemen, thanks so much for the responses!

Bob2, Mike and Simon, arch bar?

or Andrews?

(obviously I don't know the difference, hence the reason I was asking about cleaning the trucks it came with)

MWB, because of the picture angle, I'm thinking that is brass showing through. But I'll take a closer look when I get home.