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 Posted - March 04 2011 : 10:03:18 AM
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Except for recently due to lack of a layout, I hadn't used steel track since the 60s. I've always used brass. I've been servicing all of my locos and testing them on an oval of Bachmann steel E-Z Track that I had packed away for years until I get my compact layout in running form. Last night, after lubing one of my locos, but before cleaning the brass wheels (lazy me!), I let her run around the oval for a while. She was sputtering and surging and I knew that the wheels needed cleaning. I also knew that the steel track was in really good shape and clean.
I went for lunch while the loco was running and when I came back into the room about an hour later, she was running around the loop as smooth as new. I examined the wheels and they were shiny as if I had polished them with a Dremel. I was able to run the loco at a snails pace without stalling too.
Has anyone else ever noticed this happening? I now have a new and better opinion of steel track.
~ Dave
They're ALL toys
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Posted - March 04 2011 : 10:19:46 AM
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I even use the Life-Like EZ track they make Plus does help that L-L makes a adapter track to run both Bachmann & L-L EZ track together
Used the EZ Track to test all locos & cars I got from last weeks train show 
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Posted - March 05 2011 : 12:04:48 AM
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quote:| I went for lunch while the loco was running and when I came back into the room about an hour later, she was running around the loop as smooth as new. I examined the wheels and they were shiny as if I had polished them with a Dremel. I was able to run the loco at a snails pace without stalling too. |
I've never had anything like that happen, but I very rarely use steel track. When you say the wheels needed cleaning, were they all black and greasy, or just dull looking? Either way that's an interesting thing to have happen. 
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Posted - March 05 2011 : 12:31:51 AM
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No, just dull and tarnished. Now, the sides of the wheels look dull, but the part that rides on the rail is new looking. I'm going to try this out again as soon as I get another engine together with brass wheels.
~ Dave
~ Dave
They're ALL toys
Edited by - RDC1 on March 05 2011 12:33:01 AM
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Posted - March 05 2011 : 08:53:57 AM
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| Theoretically the slipping of the locomotive wheels on the track can cause the area that make contact polish themselves. Since there are no differentials on these locos the wheels need to slip some as they go around the curve. The down side to this is that if there is gunk on the wheels it can be transfered to the track and then to the wheels on the cars.
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