Rand says:

No first hand experience, but from what I’ve read…

Pro’s – won’t dissolve plastic ties; enhances conductivity (thereby reducing the buildup of gunk due to sparking; is almost the same formula as Rail-Zip (some say it’s identical) and Wahl oil. Some prefer it over Wahl oil. Less expensive than hobby brand products.

Con’s – reduces friction (it’s not just a hydraulic fluid but also a lubricant) and therefore increases slippage, must be used very sparingly (not suitable for track cleaning cars). Some say it must be repeated every few months; others say it lasts for years.

Comments are somewhat all over the map, but many have had good success, especially on steel rails. (One said it doesn’t actually clean the track but makes the dirt conductive, but that was just one opinion.) Some said GM Dexron II (no longer available) was better.

Henry Robbins says:

I have been using trany oil for cleaning my layout for 4 years with great success . I use a Q-tip and put a little on the track every 6 feet {approx.}. I then run my trains over it a few times to spread the fluid. I only need to do this about every 3 to 5 months. I have not had a problem with any slippage.
Try it, you will like it.
Henry

Newman Atkinson says:

Alister, In the past I have had good luck cleaning with just a dab of WD-40 on the cloth on the cleaning wheel of the caboose using strips of what we used to call Handi-Whipes. Reusable wash cloths now sold at Menards plumbing areas under a different name Those cloths are sooo cheap and cut them into strips for replacement of your original cloths that come with your cleaning wheel’. At Train Fest last Fall I ran across a dealer selling and demonstrating a fairly new product called Track and Rail Cleaner ACT6006. it is a little pricey when you first look at it but just a dab on to a Q-tip onto the same cleaning wheel once in a while works great. No complaints so far and so far in a half a year the bottle still looks full it is from Aero-Car Hobby Lubricants PO Box 336 Western Springs, Illinois 60558 Phone 708-246-9027 also achlubes.com and so far I have had no residue collecting on the rails and no effects from plastic wheel. I purchased the 120ML bottle or (8 fluid oz) Like I said so far so good and after 6 months of use the bottle still looks full. You might like to try it ( most likely good on all gauges of rail) I was surprised when I seen the demonstration at the show. my WD-40 after a while would collect stuff on the rails and wheels so I suggest you look at this product. Don’t cringe over the price as you use very little on the cleaning wheel. I pull the cleaning caboose qute often and sometime dry and the strips need changed more than you would think. from Newman