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 Posted - June 01 2014 : 11:48:26 AM
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I've got some areas of track, as I imagine everyone else does as well, that are real easy to avoid when it comes to cleaning things up. You know where you're climbing around might cost you an hour in repairs if you don't watch it. So, I know there's some deluxe track cleaning cars available and some track cleaning locomotives and I got to thinking that it shouldn't be impossible to build one from an old junker locomotive sitting around. What got me to thinking more about it, was reading one manufacturer's admonition to make sure and have the locomotive PUSH the track cleaning car. This got me to thinking that maybe building a nice heavy little platform with some sort of a cleaning reservoir dripping on to a good pad that could be "pushed" along . . . . Well, I didn't do anything, but I'm guessing maybe someone has done some things. I'm curious what other Forum members have done. And here's a couple of photos of "commercial" track cleaning locomotives. I didn't find a photo of the bottom of the Bachmann, but the MDC (black one) has 4 individual brushes that go at each corner; front and back of locomotive "scrubbing" (Ha!) for each rail.  
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Posted - June 01 2014 : 12:01:09 PM
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I actually have one of those Bachmann track cleaner engines. Here's mine.
It's actually not a very bad runner to be honest. As a track cleaner it kinda sucks but as a locomotive in general, it's not bad. Plus, these things actually exist.
-Steve
"A lot of modellers out there who go to these train shows see broken HO stuff and go, 'This is useless' when, in reality, they can still be used for modeling whether it's as a prop on your layout or a cool project to make something old new again."
Edited by - kovacste000 on June 01 2014 12:03:07 PM
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Posted - June 01 2014 : 12:50:14 PM
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I have about two dozen track cleaning cars circulating around the layout. Plus they cost next to nothing to make. I just cut a strip of 1/8th or 1/4" Masonite not quite as wide as a standard box car. Then I cut pieces long enough not to interfere with the wheels.
Then find the center line and glue 2 roofing nails to the smooth side. Drill two matching holes in the bottom of a box car a bit larger than the roofing nails so it can move freely up and down. Chamfer the ends so it will not snag any imperfections in the track work.
As an option, you can add one or two sticky wheel weights to the top of the Masonite for extra pressure against the track. I peel the sticky off and use a couple of drops of ACC otherwise you won't have the clearance between the weights and car body. If you don't have room there, you can take a small block of wood, drill two holes so the it will sit on top of the nails and add extra weight there.
You can put 2 or 3, or more, in every train and it will keep the tracks clean. If you have a problem with grease and oil you can soak the Masonite pads in alcohol before running them.
This is for maintenance, it will not clean really dirty track so you need to do a good track cleaning first. Once the track is clean, running these track cleaners will keep them clean much longer.
Vince
We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.
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Posted - June 01 2014 : 6:07:43 PM
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quote:
As an option, you can add one or two sticky wheel weights to the top of the Masonite for extra pressure against the track. I peel the sticky off and use a couple of drops of ACC otherwise you won't have the clearance between the weights and car body. If you don't have room there, you can take a small block of wood, drill two holes so the it will sit on top of the nails and add extra weight there.
Originally posted by MBVince - June 01 2014 : 12:50:14 PM
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I have these too. Mine use large acorn nuts on the top of the nails for weight. I use Life-Like 40' boxcars because they have two perfectly positioned plastic bosses through the steel car weight. Every now and then, if I haven't run for a while, I couple a turbo Life-Like F7 to one of these and let it run wide open for half an hour or so. :)
Edited by - Autobus Prime on June 01 2014 6:09:22 PM
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Posted - June 02 2014 : 01:14:14 AM
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| Hey, thanks for the good tips. Probably one of the more realistic ones is the fact that I have to "clean the track good first". Guess there's no way around it. I was thinking that some real heavy build would just do all the work. Shucks! Still, it sounds fun to try and build one of these things. What do you use for the abrasive pad (I'm assuming that something like that is attached to the Masonite?)?
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Posted - June 02 2014 : 09:55:22 AM
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quote:What do you use for the abrasive pad (I'm assuming that something like that is attached to the Masonite?)?
Originally posted by Barry - June 02 2014 : 01:14:14 AM
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You put the rough side of the Masonite downward. Other than that, no other abrasive is added.
I find that it helps to scrape the surface with a knife edge, occasionally, to remove accumulated dirt.
Carpe Manana!
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