Comments on: Clean Track, Axles and Pickups – How Often?

By: Sheldon Clark

Sheldon Clark — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 17:32:01 +0000

In reply to George Fisher. I had to do a quick double-take there. For a moment I thought you said, "South Georgia!"

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 13:17:33 +0000

I use track cleaning cars from Walthers. Each train that I run has one. So I’ve never had to “hand clean” my layout. I keep a good supply of replacement pads that are easy to change. Two screws and I’m back in busness. Takes about a minute to replace.

By: George Fisher

George Fisher — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 00:30:45 +0000

I just completed my layout with all new atlas code 100 and 83. Turnouts are atlas and shinohara. I clean my track once a week because of the very humid climate in south Georgia.

By: David Stokes

David Stokes — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 07:27:38 +0000

The answer to track cleaning intervals is “as often as you need”. There is no one answer. I have had layouts where once the track was down, I never “cleaned” in 6 months. I lived in a very dry environment (Alice Springs, central Australia). When I lived in Gawler I needed to run a rag over the rails before every session – 15km from the coast in a moderately moist climatic region.

Strangely, the gunk buidup so often talked about has not been a problem for me, my layouts have been both N and H0.

By: phil johnson

phil johnson — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 02:37:00 +0000

if you are using plastic wheels, they are the primary cause. Brass wheels are notorious for gumming up. Usually I clean my track 2X year. We clean track at my club before each open house. I use only metal wheels on my layout. Club rule only metal wheels on all equipment.