What , in the opinions of the group, are the best non-motored track cleaners? There is an American one with slanting non-powered wheels advertised on Fleabay, but I would rather not go abroad inless someone here has found it OK. I have a home-made one using LGB sliding abrasive pads, but it needs too many passes to do a good job.
Track cleaners
- Thread starter Fairlie
- Start date
nicebutdim
Registered
Nothing beats the LGB track cleaning pad/block. Either on it's own or with a pole screwed to it to save your back.
CoggesRailway
Registered
or a garyflex block. I have experimented with various apart from a LGB jobbie and they are all second best to nicebutdim's advice
Willem WDLS
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I got one from Norms Model Supply, I think it's the one from eBay...
After using it for a while now, I can say it works as I expected. It's no match for a manual cleaning block (from LGB, ...), but it's the best alternative I've found so far.
Test: http://gscalenews.com/review/nms-track-cleaner
After using it for a while now, I can say it works as I expected. It's no match for a manual cleaning block (from LGB, ...), but it's the best alternative I've found so far.
Test: http://gscalenews.com/review/nms-track-cleaner
It's hard to imagine that any non powered track cleaner is going to do anything other than give the track a slight wiping. If you think of how much pressure you have to apply to a manual track cleaning block, something attached to an item of rolling stock is never going to be able to apply that much pressure without pushing itself off the track? I have a wagon fitted with the LGB "cleaning" pads, but I only use it to clear light debris, leaves etc. and to remove grit splashed up off the ballast after rain storms, it doesn't actually clean anything as such.
IMO there are three possible solutions;
1 Manual cleaning with a block as mentioned previously.
2 Using a mechanical, powered cleaner such as the LGB track cleaning loco, or
3 Ditching track power and converting to battery power and/or live steam.
edit - I have to say that DCC seems to be able to cope with slightly dirty track better than analogue as well. Makes sense when you think of how they both operate. Looking at some of my DCC operating friend's track, there's no way my old analogue set-up would have worked properly with track that "dirty", it really had to be pretty highly polished.
IMO there are three possible solutions;
1 Manual cleaning with a block as mentioned previously.
2 Using a mechanical, powered cleaner such as the LGB track cleaning loco, or
3 Ditching track power and converting to battery power and/or live steam.
edit - I have to say that DCC seems to be able to cope with slightly dirty track better than analogue as well. Makes sense when you think of how they both operate. Looking at some of my DCC operating friend's track, there's no way my old analogue set-up would have worked properly with track that "dirty", it really had to be pretty highly polished.
ntpntpntp
Registered
Mel's basically said what I would have, ie. you need some weight over a "handraulic" or non-powered cleaning block for it to be efficient.
Yes, DCC benefits over DC from having the full voltage in the track all the time - but still needs to be kept clean otherwise you get signal degradation.
LGB block on a pole works best for me for a "deep clean", with LGB track cleaning loco for a light polish.
Yes, DCC benefits over DC from having the full voltage in the track all the time - but still needs to be kept clean otherwise you get signal degradation.
LGB block on a pole works best for me for a "deep clean", with LGB track cleaning loco for a light polish.
tramcar trev
all manner of mechanical apparatus...
I've posted elsewhere re these. Mechanically they look robust and simple but I reckon that some extra pressure on the cleaning wheels would make them far more efficent. If some extra weight could be fitted to the cleaning wheels they would be much more efficient.Deutsche Reichsbahn said:
Maybe some way some springs could be used, I'll buy one eventually and work on it.....
Yes these are sold via eBay, around AU$60; http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NMS-ULTI...014788?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item3379eea404
ge_rik
British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
I use the GRS manual cleaner (Garyflex blocks on a pole) at the start of the season and then keep it topped-up with the LGB track-cleaning loco.CoggesRailway said:
Though I do find I sometimes have to resort to the manual method from time to time during the summer. Some of my line is under trees and I get that sticky coating on the rails which I find is best dealt-with manually.
Rik
jacobsgrandad
Registered
I still use green pan scrubbers attached to a pole sander from Screwfix. For me works like a dream
Tree sap? I used to have problems with that, makes a hell of a sticky mess and using a track cleaning block can make things worse. Fortunately JR posted a great tip a few years ago - clean it off with a damp cloth, works superbly well.ge_rik said:
Though I do find I sometimes have to resort to the manual method from time to time during the summer. Some of my line is under trees and I get that sticky coating on the rails which I find is best dealt-with manually.
Rik
garrymartin
My Family,Railways, Beer and the Seaside
LGB block here too, an Aristo track cleaning Caboose between cleans if I havn't run for a while. Regular running with metal wheeled stock is the best way to keep it clean
ge_rik
British narrow gauge (esp. Southwold and W&LLR)
I've got some coaches with unplated steel wheels from IP Engineering. After a while they pick up a load of crud from the track and start running lumpily - I have to give them a scrape (usually with a screwdriver).garrymartin said:LGB block here too, an Aristo track cleaning Caboose between cleans if I haven't run for a while. Regular running with metal wheeled stock is the best way to keep it clean
I don't have the same problem with my other metal wheeled stock - I assume it's something to do with them being plain steel.
Rik
The Black Squirrel Railway is track-powered, so I have an LGB pad on a pole but find I can't get sufficient pressure and control as when using the pad in the hand. After removing any debris from trees, shrubs and animal life, I usually start running with a 'Works' train of Stainz plus crane with the LGB pads fitted and weights in the storage compartment. This usually gets things clean enough to run on the main circuit and gradually speeds up after 10 minutes or so, while I hand-clean the branch line (literally - it's under the trees so covered in sap and cr@p).
I also have a low sided wagon with cleaning pads fitted and carrying a reasonably weighty load (block of wood, offcut of concrete block or small log (from the aforementioned trees!). This gets run quite a lot as part of a goods or mixed train so the continuous circuits are fairly well-cleaned. The branch line is another story though and sheer hard work.
I also have a low sided wagon with cleaning pads fitted and carrying a reasonably weighty load (block of wood, offcut of concrete block or small log (from the aforementioned trees!). This gets run quite a lot as part of a goods or mixed train so the continuous circuits are fairly well-cleaned. The branch line is another story though and sheer hard work.