Talking Turnouts and track maintenance - part 2.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024
- Following on from part one, we get into the often debated topic of track cleaning! There are many ways to clean your track, and just as many products to do it, but I'll show you the methods I use to keep the juice flowing from the rails to the decoders!. As usual , we are interrupted by freight traffic and this time , a pair of Kato Executive Mac's pass by in heavy Dynamics with a Spine train. Thanks for watching and enjoy!
- แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Fantastic video Gregg! :) -Mitch
Thanks Mitch!, glad you enjoyed it mate.
Cheers Gregg
I like your video
+Lachlan Brown Thanks Lachlan! Glad you enjoyed it .
Cheers Gregg.
Hi buddy it,s Neil schwerdt in west valley city Utah.
I hope you are doing well ,have a great weekend
Lamotec and INOX 8:06
I experimented with different track cleaning and I am converted. Oh yes, the wife is still pissed with you, since I was supposed to put up the Christmas lights but I was cleaning track instead. The words in my house, "are you watching that damn auzzi again?" I tell her, he lives close to Innisfail, where we live, just a different hemisphere. Doesn't seem to work!
LOL, Well Neil,good to see my charm on the fairer sex is still working!! I'm glad you are getting good results. I know, how about putting the Christmas lights on the layout, or maybe a Xmas train?? Innisfail is about 800 km from my place,close enough!. It has heaps of Cane trains and is one of my favorite North Queensland towns.. Thanks for watching and give her another kiss from me..LOL
Cheers Gregg
LOL good video Gregg.
Thanks Shelton!
This is for turnouts For Bnsf and Burlington Northern 4:51
I have a fibre pen as well for cleaning loco wheels etc.
One thing I notice with the pen is that tiny fibre tips break off, much like the trackrubber. You can even feel them on you fingers, tiny itchy feeling. I would not use them with points, unless vac afterward. Great vid, will get the lanolin. I remeber it now from school days, all them merinos and click go the shears stuff. Lol. Robert
Thanks Robert! My pen is ok so far, but I don't use it very much and only very lightly,but I can imagine it fraying after a bit of hard use. Something to keep an eye on in the future!
Cheers Gregg
Great tip I will try it out.
Yes Chris, give it whirl Shirl!..LOL
Cheers Gregg
This is for Burlington Northern And Bnsf 7:03
Thanks for showing us how you clean the rails and turnouts. It was a very good explanation of what you use and why. Allyn
+1TexasAllyn You're welcome Allyn! Glad you got some useful tips.
Cheers Gregg.
What kind of shop did you buy your burnishing pen from... A hobby shop or an electronics shop. Thanks for the tips. Absolutely great advice!!
Thanks Ron , glad you got some good tips!. I got the pen from RS components, but I think Jaycar has them? They are also great at removing loco numbers when re-numbering!
Cheers Gregg
Now I have really something, my track rubber has become a door stop! Never knew how much crap those things left behind! All this information and entertainment included, thank you Gregg.
Your welcome Thomas, glad you picked up a hint or two! I haven't used one for years and I have sections of track that I've never cleaned, and the trains carry the spray around the layout . Thanks for watching.
Cheers Gregg
I have been using alcohol to clean my exhibition garden railway every morning since I built the outside section. Found however, that train running was going down hill (can't spell depreciating). A few days ago I tried PECO Electrolobe, result, much better running lasting several days! Great to have my findings confirmed in your video. You are the first Auzey talking model trains I have come across and I find your relaxed, jokey style fun. Good Luck to you mate - from a Brit (Pommey Bas****).
Philip
Thanks Philip, glad you like the videos and get something from them! I had the same thing happen with alcohol after a while and I remember the NCE agent at a train show telling me about lightly coating the track with WD-40 / CRC. But I prefer Innox as it contains no nasties! If you can get it in the UK, it will be a fraction of the cost of Electrolube! Good to see you had a positive result!
Cheers Gregg
Greg I too gave away the rubbers. If I have to get rough with it after say ballasting I use those sponge rubbing blocks with 1200 git then I use CRC 2-26 I only have to apply once every six mths or so seen as I'm in a sealed room in the house. The black you get on the rails is from the high frequency causing arcing and is diminished quite a bit by the lube .Where can I get the lanolin to gie a try? oh and the pen. We're not blessed with an assortment of shops down here in Grafton Cheers Les
Hi Les, I've seen Lanotec in some hardware stores and in Repco or Autobarn?. My local Nut and bolt place has it, try searching online, I think you can order it. The pen should be in electronic supplies,I have seen them on a model train online store, can't remember which one!.
Cheers Gregg
Ahaa!!! So the end of this film is what one would call a "flash-point"??!!!!
Thank You for a nice film as usual!! Kind regards Kim
Yes Kim, you could say that..LOL Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching.
Cheers Gregg.
hey Gregg.. i don't know if you guys in the "land down under" celebrate Thanksgiving but , if you do happy Thanksgiving
vinny
Ni Vinny, no we don't generally, but thanks for the thought sir!. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Vinny, I noticed Walter (Pwalpar) just put up a Happy Thanks giving message today, I always forget how close to Christmas it is! Enjoy yhte day mate!.
Cheers Gregg
Btw, the them instead of those was deliberate. I am educated you know, even if it was in Aussie. Lol.
LOL!!
Love the bonus material, hope you find Fred. LOL, do you have any curved switches on your layout? If you do, what must I watch out for? Thank you for your time. Cheers.
Cheers!, we found FRED on a Caboose!. I use Tillig curved switches, but the inner radius is a bit sharp for my liking. Peco make a nice one depending on the radius you require? I'd like to have a look at the Atlas Master line switches?
Cheers Gregg
I need to tear up some of my layout, the scenery was temporary, therefore I can change some of the track, looking at doing a crossover on a curve. Wish me luck...
upsd402 . That will look good, go the biggest radius you can!
I don't have much room, wish me luck...
upsd402 . Will do!
I didn't have any luck with INOX at all. ended up having to clean the whole layout. Maybe my track was way too dirty, even though trains would run. They wouldn't once I 'cleaned' it with INOX. I'll stick to the track rubber and vacuum.
Innox is not a "cleaner" as such, but it will help keep your track conductive once it is clean. If the track was very dirty, it will need to be cleaned with a cleaner of choice, but I would still stay away from abrasive rubbers, as they damage the head of the rail with fine scratches which collect dirt. Also did you use the correct Innox?...they make 2 types and one is NOT suitable for electrical work! If you must, use the smoothest rubber can find and only use a little to no pressure.
Cheers Gregg.
Hey! thanks Mr Fishplate! Yep, right INOX, I have access to both. Yeah maybe I should give it another go.
I'm over here in Perth, Not quite as warm as QLD but it doesn't take much for my rails to get dull. As they say running trains as often as you can keeps the rails clean.
Totally can understand the scratches that a track rubber might make. But surely you don't press that hard?
Love your clips and all the effort you put in Gregg! Only discovered your channel a week or two ago. Plenty to watch and learn from. thanks mate!
How though, how can you work on trains and then come home and play trains? Are you sure you're ok?? lol
*innox
You're welcome! Inox "MX3" is the one and make sure you leave a little still on the rails so the trains take it around the layout. If you live near the coast you also have salt in the air so a coating on the rails will help. Any abrasive will leave scratches so find the smoothest you can.
I work on signals and turnouts in Brisbane so not much interesting freight , so the layout is different to work..LOL.
Glad you like the channel and thanks for the support!
Cheers Gregg.
LOL, I prefer to make less mess to start with Arthur, plus I break something every time I put a vacuum near the layout!! One of the downsides to having a "blind"side..LOL
Thanks! Two very informative lessons in turnouts and track. My layout is housed in a non-climate controlled building so the issue of track cleaning is a constant headache. I'll use a few of your ideas and see if they work for me.
Thanks Gary! Give them a go, I've tried many things over the years as well!.
Cheers Gregg
You're absolutely right about the track rubbers, I'm sure they sell them just to increase track sales when people bugger their track up from over aggressive use lol...
I think so Stu!, we're all guilty of using them at some stage, but when I switched to Code 83, I really noticed the scratches on the rails, so that was the end of them..LOL
Cheers Gregg
Well maybe not all of us! lol.. There is actually a thicker double ended fibreglass stick that you can buy that is wrapped in a medium sized string (or at least here in the UK it is). It's about the thickness of a marker pen/white board marker and about the same length and I know they've been around certainly for as long (42yrs) as I've been in to model railways...
Stu D'Nutz Ha HA,,!! That sounds like a go Stu!, actually , when I was 14, I couldn't afford track rubbers, so Dad gave me some wet/dry emery paper(very fine) and it worked quite good at the time!
Hi buuddy!i don't know your name but that's ok I only have 1 PECO turnout on my Roaring Camp line
Very informative video, thank you from New England.
+Joseph Cashen Thank you Joseph, you're welcome!
Cheers Gregg.
Hi Greg,I like the idea of using the Lanotec,a friend of mine Mark Williams (may he rest in peace)use to be the Sydney rep fpr Lanotec many years back.
On the subject of track cleaning I use Windex at the moment,it rips the dirt straight off,try it you may like it ?
Hi Jon, it's a small world isn't it, sad news about your mate!. Track cleaning is a two edged sword I believe, the alcohol does clean very well, but can leave the track "sterile" and open to oxidation , that's where the sprays come in, to leave a thin coating to help stop oxidation and help the current pass through any dirt .You could use both!!
Cheers Gregg
I will have to buy a track cleaning kit now, for N scale!! I am adding a few growth and spurts too the layout and need a desperate cleaning. I am switching over to DCC and its a very slow process.thanks for this much needed update. You're in summner, ah, can remember those days, we are in blinding snow today, cheers, brian
Your welcome Brian! Yes , the shed is getting a bit warm now!. I would love to have a "white" Christmas one day!, Since I don't eat seafood ,I like my roasts but they're a bit much in 30 deg heat..LOL
Cheers Gregg
Great video ,good to see we can keep up with the rest of the world with a great Aussie made product. I know what I'll be using now ,
Cheers Glynn
Thanks Glynn!, I feel the Lanotech is a little better, but only as far as attracting dust is concerned, they're both great. Did you know Australia invented Wi-Fi !!.
Yes the thing that has reinvented the Web was created here, but you wouldn't know it,we're too busy promoting sport and reality TV!!
Cheers Gregg.
WOW ,well you learn something every day
Now what would the world be like with out Wi-Fi LOL
Gregg i well try that and i have also been told to use Auto transmission oil cheers Robert
Hi Robert, I haven't used ATF, but I would be a bit concerned about it's affect on the plastic ties. Also I don't know it's ability to stop oxidation , which is the main use of the sprays. I have heard of it's use, but personally I would use a liquid that is designed for electrical use. Thanks for watching the clips.
Cheers Gregg
FishplateFilms As a retired Auto Mechanic, I can say that ATF is safe.
There are several plastic bits & electrical plugs inside an auto tranny!! ;)
I've used CRC for years - and it's beeen great...
However - I'm not opposed to trying Lanolin....
SURELY, we can find that, here in the Colonies!! :P
Hi Carmine,ATF is not designed to stop oxidation or improve electrical performance, so I would stay away from it personally. Innox, CRC or similar products are made to assist in the conductivity of a circuit by cleaning away dirt and oxidation. I'm sure you will find one of these available locally!
Cheers Gregg. P.s...we use Innox on many of the electrical components in switch machines .
FishplateFilms I didn't say I USED ATF...
Just that it's safe on plastics.
You're absolutely correct, it also stays oily for too long - causing particulates to adhere to the track and wheels!
That's NO good!! :P
I have used CRC for years, and find it quite effective.
Innox - that I need to check out. ;)
Cheers!
LOL..that's good! I like innox and Lanoline as they contain no silicone or petroleum products. I'm sure a search will get you some to try!
Cheers:-)
Great tips like always Gregg! And very funny too. Love the little clip at the end. And is true about you trains I have never seen them stalled on your layout, they allways run so smooth. Thanks a million for the info Gregg. Cheers RT
Thanks RT. Yes, you know I 'm a fussy old fart when it comes to smooth running! If I did have a loco stall, I would edit it out...LOL Glad you liked the clip.
Cheers Gregg
..... Just to help my U.S. friends - that's a "fiber brush pen" here. ;)
For that cool little pen Greggg used to clean his turnouts!
Next time i'm out at the Isa i'll have to grab some from the super cheaps there. Ty Gregg for the highly informative vid.
It's Carmine again... back again, like that rash that won't go away!! 😂😂😛
Thanks for the info on the fibre pen! I've had nothing but great results with it. I do use a brand name only Bright Boy, and have not had the shedding problems that you demonstrated here.....
I have never used rubbers - I'm amazed I don't have 10 kids running around that I didn't know about!! LOL!!! 😂😂
Carmine 🚂
Thank you so much for this video, you "Da Man" I started to use WD40 and it has worked great! Thanks again for this update, it was very helpful.
LOL, thanks William!, glad to help out.
Gregg:-)
Watching this video made my day! Thanks! I've been cleaning my tracks with alcohol and a track rubber, but I always got black spots on the track and dirt on the wheels after a short while. I don't have the stuff you mentioned, but I tried CRC 5-56 and it seems to do the trick. The track and wheels stay clean much longer. Even a loco with track rubber still works. It doesn't seem to loose traction at all after using the 5-56.
Cheers from Sweden, Anders
Thanks Anders! Yes , throw away your track rubber!! Be careful with other sprays and make sure they are compatible with plastic and do not contain silicone! After a while you may see the traction tyres slipping , I don't have any on my layout so I can't comment. thanks for watching.
Cheers Gregg.
Hi Greg,
I love your series! I haven't waded through all the comments so this may have been already been mentioned, so I'm sorry if this is a repete. I don't use anything but a small block of homosote to rub down my rails. It is hard enough to actually clean the railheads yet soft enough to never scratch the rail. You can see the crud from the rails on the homosote block, but I simply wipe it off on the beck pocket of my jeans (don't tell my wife) and since I usually run on my railroad once a week it is never too bad. I never use any liquid cleaners as they always seem to have a down side. Regarding ME turnouts, when I model in HO, I have always turned them over and ground a little of the plastic away from the frog and soldered a jumper there to switch the power with the tortoise. I've no video of my railroad, but others have photographed it. Google my name (Joel Shank) and Sn3 and you should be able to see my efforts of 26 years.
Joel
+Bonanza Driver Hi Joel, thanks for the comment and I'm glad you like the videos! I don't think Homosote has been mentioned, masonite is another popular cleaner which is guess is pretty similar? The new ME turnouts have a little spot under the frog to solder a wire to which is handy. I will check out your handy work Sir!
Cheers Gregg.
+FishplateFilmsHi Greg, Thank you for your response. I've tried the Masonite block but have found it too hard. The smooth side is worthless and I think the "rough" side is too aggressive for my taste. The Homosote is softer and gentler on the rail surface. That being said, some new Homosote will have a rough outer surface and that will have to be lightly sanded off to get down to the sweet stuff. Then you will have what I consider to be the best track wiping block available.Joel
+Bonanza Driver Joel, it sounds like the Momsote is a good choice! I will stick with the cloth for now, but when the track is ballasted I will have to change methods!
Gregg :-)
Mate that's what they make vacume clearner for.
Very well done Gregg!! It's not often someone has the chance to show how the prototype works and then relate it to scale. I think this will help people greatly. Can't wait to see your Aztec when it arrives, maybe I should show the CMX machine I bought a while ago. I'll be buying a can of INOX for the weekend and try it out. I don't use the Alcohol any more (except for cups of tea!) I've been trying White Spirits with some success, certainly cheaper than the Isocol in the green bottle.
Good stuff as usual. Looking forward to the next Fishplate Film!
Stew.
Thanks Stew!, I'll be ordering the Aztec in the next few weeks. I think you'll like the Inox, just remember not to wipe it all off;;LOL I'll let you know when it arrives
Viva La Tea!!
Cheers Gregg.
After doing a little research I found that Inox Mx3 can be purchased in the USA. I plan to pick up a can at an ACE Hardware next time I'm out. Thanks for the cleaning tips.
+George Blair Thats good news George, hope it gives you good results.
Gregg:-)
Great vid mate! If i was to de-electrify the frog by making the cutting adjustments but added feeders for dcc use, would that work do u think ? (i have 4 of the large turnouts for a double mainline cross over and im having trouble) Nick.
Thanks Nick! If you isolate the frog (then switch it with the tortoise)then you have to bridge the switch rail to the stock rail, there is a little gap for you to do this! This then makes it trouble free , all my mainline turnouts are powered frogs.
Hope this helps, cheers Gregg
Thanks Gregg, i'll give it a go!
Nice video. Thanks for operating the trains at more realistic speeds. Nothing worse than watching a ultra-fast freight on minimum radius curves to ruin any realism.
+John DeLuca Thanks John! One of my pet hates is trains running at crazy speeds on a layout. We don't have the scale miles or radius to run even at "Scale" speeds.
Cheers Gregg.
Are you planning on weathering your tracks?.
Nice work on the track cleaning
Yes,I'll be weathering and ballasting in the future,I think that comes under "scenery"....not my strong point..LOL. Thanks for the comment!
Gregg;-)
I must say Gregg - you've got a GREAT personality for video!!
EXCELLENT points made in this video, Mate!
I hate trains stalling ANYWHERE, but especially turnouts.
So, I need to ask.... on some Atlas or Bachmann turnouts, the guide/stock rail gap is TOO wide, causing wheels to pick and lift at the frog...
WOULD it be feasible, to cement a thin strip of .005 or .010 styrene or brass, to the INSIDE of the guide rail, to pull the wheels more towards the stock rail??
Oh, and I *only* use Peco or Micro Engineering turnouts - although I've heard good things about Atlas' new Premium turnouts... $5-$8 less each too, than Peco!!! :D
The T/Os in question, are on my cousin's Layout....
Thanks for the kind words Carmine! I appreciate the support. On your cousins layout, that is a good idea. If you go to "Teddybeareleven" on you-tube, Stew does a great how to on doing exactly this. He uses brass and gets a great result! Tell him Gregg sent you..LOL I haven't used the new Atlas turnouts.
Cheers Gregg
Carmine Allocca z.
Didn't think I was THAT boring! :p
Thinning of lanolin Was not Invented in Australia lmao People have been using it for thousands of years probably not long after people started using wool from sheep and all it is is just the fats washed off the wool and then mixing it with other oils or other liquids like alcohol
Thats true, but the method of mixing it with a liquid hydrocarbon in a can was invented in Australia...I should have made that clear.
@@FishplateFilms Okay yeah I'm not going to argue that since I would have no clue who did it in that way haha It was just how you said it lol
guilty as charged... i have always used a bright boy to clean my track... since i can't get your Aussie made product , i will use good ole WD40... where these last 2 vids inspired by me...lol
thanks for the great info
vinny
Thanks Vinny!. No mate,but I was a bit premature blaming your wheel sets...LOL. just goes to show you should never assume! Just make sure the WD40 you use has no silicone in it?, I don't think it does by memory.
Cheers Gregg
FishplateFilms hey Gregg... it was the consensus of most all the comments i received.. i just couldn't see 5 of my locos to be out of gauge. however i am in the process of checking all my motive power... there will be a major update to my layout coming soon... stay tuned
vinny
bnsf6951 Look forward to it Vinny!
Cheers Gregg
Another great vid, Gregg. Thanks for sharing. Where would one find this elusive pen from? I want to try out the changing numbers on the loco's with it, and of course cleaning the turnouts. Looking forward to the next vid.
Thanks John!. Most electronic shops should have them and I've also seem them on some train stores?.They are great at removing the numbers, be gentle or you'll take some paint off as well!
Gregg!!
Hi Greg,,,,,I've been watching your video's and watching this one brings some questions to mind for me,,,,,when laying new track how would I smooth the surface of the track just laid,,,,,,there always seems to be a little unevenness to overcome,,,,I've seen video's that say to take 2000 or 4000 grit sandpaper to smooth it out,,,,,,would a wet stone be permissible in your opinion?
Great videos Greg lot of useful info for me being a newbie but what do you think about lanox as a clear same as inox but with lanolin
+jonny4692000 Thanks Jonny! I have tried Lanogaurd ? Lanox, it worked as well but it did leave a little sticky residue. It is wool grease after all (lanolin) and after the solvent that makes it liquid dries off, a thin film of lanolin is left. But I must admit it worked as well as Inox as far as cleaning goes. Try it and see how you like it!
Cheers Gregg.
All DCC as usual. I use FTFC oh well!
My ignorance Harry, what is FTFC ?
Gregg.