New Track Cleaning Wagon

[Andy Lowman]

Hello, a new toy, just arrived - it's a track cleaning wagon. It's aimed at N gauge with the associated couplings but that didn't matter as it was easy to rig up a bogie with a N coupling at one end and one for 009 locos at the other (see photos). It was bought mainly for use in some long tunnels where conventional cleaning by pad/rubber/whatever can't be done because of the reach. But it does a superb job on the entire layout which I hasten to add is regularly cleaned with pads by hand. Just one whizz around half the main line and I couldn't believe how much muck came off (again see photo) without any track cleaning solution - I was suitably impressed! The wagon itself is a good weight (you can see the little weights in the photo) that keep it nicely on the track without undue friction (it rolls really well) and the two cleaning pad arms are also separately weighted and pivot individually of each other - brilliant. The pads can be peeled off and replaced and it comes with a load of spare material for the pads which should last for ages. When it's used up you can use microfibre cloth or similar cut to size. This is going to be a real game changer and time saver as you can send it round whilst getting the main trains ready to go. Best thing I've come across for ages!!!

[cp.409067]

May I politely suggest that the value of the above posting would be hugely increased by the provision of detals of the item in question - manufacturer, source, cost.


CP

[Andy Lowman]

No problem; made in Germany by KPF-Zeller, imported by Ten Commandments Models in Fife, price is £40.

[Hugh Norwood]

"Dear Santa, I have been a good boy this year...."

[Carrotteer]

I have the H0e version of this and I also like it very much.
There is only one small drawback, it can only clean one way, you can't backup with it over turnouts.
This is also stated on their website, unfortunately only in german, the english page doesn't have any info.

This is the link to the H0e/009 version:
trackcleaner H0e KPF Zeller

Michel

[B.Meldon]

We do a couple of things in this reguard.

Firstly the layouts are planned so that every section of track is accessable for cleaning.
This involves opening hatches on the side and back of the layouts and even large areas of removable scenery.
It does take some planning and extra work when building the layouts, but it is well worth it.

The other thing we have are N gauge Fleischmann track cleaning loco chassis.
These have two revolving cleaning pads that have fine emery paper and are sprung so they are always in contact with the rail head.
All three have 009/H0e bodies made for them and one is always in use when running the layouts. I have see these chassis fitted under the Peco GVT white metal kit, but it does take some work to get the body to sit low enough.
The chassis look like 0-6-0 diesel chassis, but are 0-4-0's with the disks in place of the central wheels.
They run very well and do not ware out, two of my ones are over 35 years old now and the other is about 15 years old.
However, these chassis do suffer from snapped drive gears on the axles, my ones have been ok but I know others that have had issues. As parts are no longer available one cure is to rob the axles from a Fleishchmann 0-6-0 diesel as the outer ones are the same. (The middle wheels are smaller on the 0-6-0 diesel.)

See the photo below, you can just see the discks under the side skirts.

Here is a link to a PDF with the box, instructions and spares sheet for these locos. (As mentioned parts are no longer available.)

https://pamob.ch/pub/waschzettel/ELB_Schienenreinigerlok.pdf

These are very good at keeping the track clean when the layouts are in use, however I still give the track a once over with a fine grade track rubber, actualy an electronic contact cleaning rubber, before each running session just to be sure.

[Andy Lowman]

Hi Brian, your wagon looks interesting. I also looked at those by Gaugemaster, Dapol and Tomix before deciding on the Zeller one as it is so simple. Whilst I do have maintenance hatches around the layout this is so easy to use as it saves getting into fiddly spaces underneath scenery or removing scenery at all. You're right, Michel, that it can only run one way but that's ok and it does run over points very nicely. The pads could be wet with a little track cleaning fluid but to date I haven't found it necessary. I also use the Woodland Scenics pads/track cleaner to clean track when necessary and these are fine because they are non-abrasive and will not 'scratch' the rail surface as do some of the more abrasive track cleaning rubbers (which supposedly can allow static to build up between the rails and wheels as more than one electrical engineer has told me and I did find a good video on this on YouTube but that was a while back now). Anyway happy that this has been of interest.

[Hugh Norwood]

I use a "Track Mop" which I use and I'm very happy with it. but it's interesting to see what is available...

[Andy Lowman]

I have to amend my comment in my last post re static; that should be "... more abrasive track cleaning rubbers (which can allow arcing to occur between the rails and wheels as more than one electrical engineer has told me...)". I stand corrected!

[Hugh Norwood]

I personally would NEVER use anything abrasive on my track (even the "fine grade emery" that Brian talks about) the track mop uses a small piece of J-cloth wetted with isopropyl alcohol.


{But this has been mulled over several times....}

[Andy Lowman]

Hi, just posted in 'Trackwork', as it was more appropriate there and had been mentioned a few times here, a topic relating to cleaning fluids. Now this had probably been discussed loads but you may not have seen before! It's really interesting with a few surprises which may well generate a few comments. Head over there and enjoy the read!

[B.Meldon]

I personally would NEVER use anything abrasive on my track (even the "fine grade emery" that Brian talks about) the track mop uses a small piece of J-cloth wetted with isopropyl alcohol.


{But this has been mulled over several times....}

It is all about individual choice. I use a fine grade track rubber and, yes fine grade emery paper.
I get near 100% perfect running, but i am sure you do as well.
So as I mentioned it is each to their own.
If fluids work for you then thats fine.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Additionally there is the matter of degree.

I agree, the abrasive blocks sold as track cleaning rubbers are pretty aggressive and I no longer use one, except when laying track and a 'fettling in' the rail head.

I bought a mixed pack of model-making emery boards, the finest one of which claims to be 3000 grit. Used dry on metal it clogs immediately and leaves a shiny surface on the board. Even the finest Garryflex block (600 grit) pretty much burnishes metal.

There are also abrasive pads or cloths for polishing scratches out of plexiglass aircraft canopies and they go down in grit to optical surface finish quality.

When it comes down to a final polishing a stray bit of grit on a polishing cloth can put in a scratch as I sure many people have found cleaning their spectacles or laptop screen.

I feel more concerning than scratches on the rail head when using a coarse track rubber is the debris it leaves behind which I imagine might be picked up by the locomotive and start grinding away at the gearing. This is the main reason I stopped using one regularly, though I will still use one where neglected track needs a good refresh.

I used to use graphite quite liberally on track, but now just rub a bit on a small piece of card and polish the rail tops with that. My 'theory' being it will will only fill the remaining micro scratches.

[Andy Lowman]

Hi, this topic was really just about the wagon itself and a new topic in 'Trackwork' has comment on cleaning track in general and preferred methods, interesting reading so far.