Comments on: What To Use To Clean Railroad Track https://blog.model-train-help.com/2019/01/use-clean-railroad-track.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=use-clean-railroad-track Model railroads and model trains Wed, 13 Feb 2019 01:57:19 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Morgan Bilbo, PRR fan https://blog.model-train-help.com/2019/01/use-clean-railroad-track.html#comment-27660 Wed, 13 Feb 2019 01:57:19 +0000 http://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=5099#comment-27660 I mentioned my using acetone. It’s not the stuff from Ace or H-D, It’s from Dollar Tree and is sold as nail polish remover. Regular nail polish remover has oils etc. in it. What I use does not. I don’t like oil/Wahl clipper or other. I don’t like bright boy. I tend to wipe carefully. Also, use a toothbrush to clean rail joints/joiners/turnout points. etc. I like it. It gets the rail top shiny.
I had heard about using graphite for rails after cleaning. Graphite is a lubricant, but not oil. So that might be worth trying out too. I agree with others. Try what you like, what sounds logical to you. But please avoid lubricating track with oil. I know for a fact that it reduces pulling power of locos. Of course, if it’s a small layout, that may not matter. Just MHO.

]]> By: Irena M Lazarus https://blog.model-train-help.com/2019/01/use-clean-railroad-track.html#comment-27655 Wed, 13 Feb 2019 00:18:12 +0000 http://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=5099#comment-27655 I use mineral spirits. Put some on a rag and run. Them along the tracks. Does a very good job. Or use a cleaner rail car that matches your tracks. That’s a lot faster.

]]> By: Dale Arends https://blog.model-train-help.com/2019/01/use-clean-railroad-track.html#comment-27376 Sat, 26 Jan 2019 23:12:05 +0000 http://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=5099#comment-27376 You’re likely to get 12 different answers from 10 different people. There are opinions on this that span the cleaning material world.

Many of us use an abrasive Brite-Boy (sp?) on the track. Some use denatured alcohol on a soft cloth. Others use acetone or an acetone-based nail polish remover. If you have a sizable layout, or a layout with a lot of hidden track, I would invest in a track cleaning car. There are several on the market.

My recommendation would be for you to try a few options and see what works best for you.

]]> By: David Terry https://blog.model-train-help.com/2019/01/use-clean-railroad-track.html#comment-27375 Sat, 26 Jan 2019 22:09:51 +0000 http://blog.model-train-help.com/?p=5099#comment-27375 I use Isopropyl alcohol or shellite or just plain Metho.
You want something that doesnt leave a residue.
I then put a few drops of RailZip or light machine oil (sewing machine oil ) on the track and run a loco to spread it. Puts a protective layer on the track and makes it easier to clean next time.

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