Track and Wheel Cleaning:

Clean track, and wheels or sliders for electrical pickup are absolutely necessary for reliable Command Control operations.

Semi-Abrasive Pads:
Brite Boys, Masonite Pads, Ink Type Erasers, are just a few of the inexpensive semi-abrasive cleaning pads that are available at your loco hobby store. These pads all remove oxidation and maybe some contaminants but have one serious drawback. As soon as you start using them, the pads begin to load up with organic contaminants and eventually will spread a thin layer of these contaminants on your track. You know the rest!

There is an inexpensive non-loading alternate. Your local paint supply or hardware store should have a special sanding mesh used for sheetrock. This sheetrock sanding mesh is like fiberglass window screen with a #250 grit bonded to the mesh. Due to the fact it's a mesh, it will not load up. You can staple it to an appropriate block of wood and you are all set. It's easy to replace and one sheet will last years. 3M sells it nationwide. Use gently applying light pressure.

Chemical Deoxidants and Conductivity Enhancers:
A product like Rail Zip and others fit this category. These compounds are generally applied to sections of track and then locos are run around the layout to disperse the compound until a uniform condition is achieved. My understanding is that traction is poor for awhile but then improves. I have no personal experience with these materials and personally have reservations about adding organic material on the rails. Several Onboard Members use Rail Zip and swear by it. You can call Onboard Member, Jay Matz (610-385-7232) for more information. Rail Zip may be most effective in certain specific contaminant environments?

Solvent Cleaners:
Water Soluble Type: Most track cleaning liquids sold are water soluble degreasers and similar to Fantastic® or 409®. While safe to use and environmentally friendly, these cleaners are weak degreasers and can leave a residue. You will have to use these often to maintain a clean track.
Alcohols: Alcohols are often used in common liquid track cleaners as described above. Alcohols are also weak degreasers and will leave residues and are flammable.
Slow Solvents: Paint thinner, Naphtha, Goo Gone, etc. These solvents have a moderate evaporation rate, are good degreasers, flammable and environmentally restricted. They work better than those types listed above. Slow solvents are not very effective in removing silicone or rubber residues from loco tires.
Fast Solvents: Acetone, MEK, Lacquer thinner. CAUTION: These solvents are extremely volatile, flammable and environmentally restricted. Re-Rail Services assumes NO liability for statements herein and the reader(s) proceeds at their own risk. Read label carefully and follow all instructions for use. Acetone, when properly used, is a superior track cleaning solvent. It is a very aggressive solvent and virtually vaporizes all organic matter in its path, leaving no residue. MEK and lacquer thinner are as good, but are more environmentally hazardous.

Liquid Dispensing Cars:
Tank type with pad dispenser (see Pads). IHC, International Hobby Company, sells one for about $20.00. The car is a plastic caboose with metal; pad mount, needle valve and reservoir. The reservoir is small; it will often require refills on large layouts. Because the car body is plastic, it will not be compatible with some of the slow solvents or any of the fast solvents. You can use the vital parts of the IHC car and mount it to a metal frame with Metal, Delrin or Nylon wheelsets. Most plastic trucks and wheels are nylon or Delrin and are not affected by acetone.

Rolling Pad Cars:
This type of car is made by Centerine Products and retails for about $50.00. The cleaning pad is in the form of a roll that rotates while the car is moving. This type of car can only use slow solvents because the roll pad is the reservoir and fast solvents would evaporate. Also, the rolling pad does not scrub the track because the pad is rolling. While this product is in widespread use and is effective, it will fail the white glove test when compared to Acetone and a pad type car. Call Onboarder Greg Enders, (303) 721-8382; he uses this method.

The Clean Machine: After struggling through all of the cleaning options stated above, I am now manufacturing Clean Machines, tank type/pad cleaning cars. All brass, except trucks, weighs about 1/2 pound. Clean Machines are guaranteed to clean your track safely and effectively when used as directed, cost $46.00.

Cleaning Pad Material: I have found all cloth type cleaning pads, supplied by hobby stores, to be inferior. Your best bet is a corduroy type of upholstery fabric with backing. This will not unravel and the ribs can be oriented perpendicular to rails to assist scrubbing action while minimizing pad loading.
NOTE: The liquid pad type cleaning cars described above can be converted to abrasive type cleaners by changing pads to the same mesh I described above.

Wheel Cleaning:
All Wheel Drive Diesels: Use strong paper towel or light cloth, soak with any commercial alcohol, lay flat on straight section of track with power on. Place one truck set at a time on cloth. Power up loco to spin wheels on cloth. Repeat for other truck set. When complete, place loco on clean towel to let surfaces dry. Caution alcohols are flammable.
All Other Steam/Diesel Locos And All Rolling Stock: Use cotton swab dipped in acetone, apply to wheels and rotate until visibly clean. Caution: Metal and Nylon/Delrin (most plastic wheels) are not affected by acetone, but plastic car body/parts (usually acetate) will be dissolved, etched or bonded by acetone. Observe cautions stated herein for use of acetone.
Crusted Wheels: Some wheels accumulate a thick crust of gunk usually after many hours use without cleaning. This crust is best removed by using an appropriate X-acto type knife, followed by swab and acetone.
Notes: Wire and nylon brushes used on roto tools may be used with caution. Plastic wheels can be melted and nickel plating may be removed. Modern wheels are being furnished with a chemically darkened finish, while attractive, this finish adds as much as 10 Ohm's resistance to pick up. Roto tool wire brush or rubber abrasive wheel used carefully can remove this finish. Wire type brushes will remove oxidation but tend to disperse organic contaminants. Follow wire brushing with swab and acetone.

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