Interesting track brush/cleaner, now including the very clever cleaner.

[Monty]

This video was attached to the latest Grootspoor Newsletter, the brush attachment on the first vehicle looks interesting, does anyone know if it is a commercially made product?
One of the members of our Garden Railway group made something similar recently but this looks a bit more substantial.

 

[SevenOfDiamonds]

does anyone know if it is a commercially made product?

If you follow the link in the Youtube video (www.der-gartenbahner.de), and click on "Bürstenwagen" (translates to "Brush Cart"), you can find that they are selling various versions of this, though even the example in the video (not self-propelled) isn't cheap . . .



Cheers

David

 

[Monty]

If you follow the link in the Youtube video (www.der-gartenbahner.de), and click on "Bürstenwagen" (translates to "Brush Cart"), you can find that they are selling various versions of this, though even the example in the video (not self-propelled) isn't cheap . . .

View attachment 333627

Cheers

David

Many thanks, David.
Didn't notice the link.
Quite a comprehensive range of "interesting" products.
Think we will stick with our home made ones though at those prices.. this one was recently made by one of our inventive geniuses...

Cheers, Ian

 

[dunnyrail]

Over the years we have seen sundry differing versions of the powered brush theme. One of our members in Oz built a superb one. The concept is not that difficult to replicate, a brush held on a wagon spun by a battery powered fast powerful motor. One of our problems with making things is to find motors that will run slow enough for our needs, here is a project that is the exact opposite of what we normally need.

 

[ge_rik]

If you follow the link in the Youtube video (www.der-gartenbahner.de), and click on "Bürstenwagen" (translates to "Brush Cart"), you can find that they are selling various versions of this, though even the example in the video (not self-propelled) isn't cheap . . .

View attachment 333627

Cheers

David

Blimey! And that's the cheapest........

Rik

 

[ge_rik]

Looks like there are cheaper versions......

15313 Bürsten- und Getriebeeinheit BW3-A-4030, Spur G, Gartenbahn, ohne Akku | eBay

Bürsten- und Getriebeeinheit BW3-A. Die Getriebeeinheit ist so konstruiert das die Walzenbürste mittig angetrieben wird. - komplette Bürsten- und Getriebeeinheit. - teilmontiert (Getriebeeinheit). zur Reinigung der Schienen.

www.ebay.de

But a lot cheaper to make your own

How I constructed a track sweeper

Narrow gauge large scale model garden railway. Battery powered, radio controlled locomotives, some Bluetooth. Set in Cheshire UK in 1930s

riksrailway.blogspot.com

Rik

 

[Monty]

Looks like there are cheaper versions......

15313 Bürsten- und Getriebeeinheit BW3-A-4030, Spur G, Gartenbahn, ohne Akku | eBay

Bürsten- und Getriebeeinheit BW3-A. Die Getriebeeinheit ist so konstruiert das die Walzenbürste mittig angetrieben wird. - komplette Bürsten- und Getriebeeinheit. - teilmontiert (Getriebeeinheit). zur Reinigung der Schienen.

www.ebay.de

But a lot cheaper to make your own

How I constructed a track sweeper

Narrow gauge large scale model garden railway. Battery powered, radio controlled locomotives, some Bluetooth. Set in Cheshire UK in 1930s

riksrailway.blogspot.com

Rik

Thanks Rik,

The original cleaner I mentioned in Post 1 was very much like your track sweeper but we found that the brush was not strong enough to deal with twigs and leaves from the local gum trees we have surrounding our site. The video showed one with what seemed like much firmer bristles which piqued my interest.

We eventually found that the battery or petrol powered leaf blowers we use on our paved areas [only very carefully on the 5" gauge track though, so as not to blow the ballast everywhere!] are much more effective and quicker but probably not as much fun. They are more effective than say a track mounted one would be due to the width of the track bed and the safety fence that surrounds most of the higher raised areas, not to mention the quantity of debris that can collect.

The rotating cleaner shown in Post 3 works well [the Galston member who built it is also a member here and I hope he will outline some details in another post at some stage]. It was constructed to clean the top of the two inside tracks in preparation for powering them. Worked very well but being fine tuned possibly with a slightly more powerful motor.

Thanks to everyone for your input!

cheers,
Ian

 

[Sean.]

I made one out of a bilge blower

 

[Monty]

I made one out of a bilge blower

Very inventive.
Due to the width of our baseboards this is what I had to do today [Wednesday] to clear our track for our 51st Birthday Weekend....
It may last till the weekend..




This is the whole circuit, the steaming up bay is at the back on the right near the red gum...



Still a bit of a work in progress but happening...
cheers, Ian

 

[Alan Ongley]

Hi I'm the "inventive geniuses." as Monty put it and this is a few pictures and information as to the track cleaner. I used it on the track that you see Monty blowing. The tracks have been down for quiet a few years and only used by Steamers or Battery Locos so the buildup of gum and dirt from the gum trees is to put it mildly, thick. The cleaner took four passes but on a well kept system once should be enough. Because the pad rotating in opposite direction on each track there is no pull in any direction so the load on the loco is minimal.


The chassis is an old Caboose. I will give information as to where these can be obtained at the end.
From the top down 12 volt motor 19:1 gear box reduction - 540rpm.
To the right of the motor is a 5 amp rated speed control with in built fuse. ( It was found that during operation it only drew 0.55 Amps)
To the left of the motor is the charging socket and the power switch.
Either side are weights made up of cut down solder sticks.
Below those is battery in two halves each containing two Li-ion 3500 mAh batteries. All wired in series to give 13.8 Volts

Below this is the adapter from the 6mm motor shaft to a 10/1.5mm threaded, 25mm long to attach the scouring backing unit.
The backing unit allows for attachment of Velco backed scouring discs which allows for easy replacement. (I found that the wear on the the scouring pad is very small)
I adjust the pressure of the scouring pad by using shims (washers)
Parts:
Motor - 19:1 Metal Gearbox 37Dx52L mm (Helical Pinion) available - 19:1 Metal Gearmotor 37Dx52L mm (Helical Pinion)
Speed Control - Jaycar - 5A 12VDC PWM Motor Speed Controller Kit | Jaycar Australia
Batteries (4 Req'd) - Panasonic NCR18650B 3400mAh Li-Ion Battery (Flat Top) With Tabs - Ausbatteries
Cleaning Pads and Backing unit - Temu United Kingdom | Explore the Latest Clothing, Beauty, Home, Jewelry & More - Scouring Pads Set 75mm (sorry no direct url)
Total Cost approx - Au$100:00 + Carriage (4 wheel)

 

[dunnyrail]

Quite a beast on a what looks to be a Bachmann 4wheel bobber caboose, obtainable in uk for not a lot. Conversion of Auz 100 comes to around GBP 52, generally can be obtained a bit less than that.

 

[IanMTrain]

I made one out of a bilge blower

Excellent - I have acquired a bilge fan for exactly the same idea. Have you put yours on a wagon to use yet? I have also 3d printed a ducted fan to try with a spare drone motor I have (from a very crashed drone!)

 

[Alan Ongley]

Excellent - I have acquired a bilge fan for exactly the same idea. Have you put yours on a wagon to use yet? I have also 3d printed a ducted fan to try with a spare drone motor I have (from a very crashed drone!)

This unit doesn't blow the leaves and dirt it polishes the track so the electrical connection is improved.

 

[Slawman]

You have to hand it to the original LBB track cleaner design. It just worked and continues to. I have been using this one for about 15 years now and it is still great (a few consumable wheel sets later of course).