Thanks for the latest in your fun, informative videos! I use my ex- wife's fine Irish linen table napkins to clean my track and RR lubrication. I miss her some times, but my trains run great! (Kidding about napkins.)
As someone primarily collecting trains but looking forward to building a layout and operating them eventually, I appreciate these insights, Chris. Thank you!
I agree. It was very helpful- my uncle gave me a small 0 Gauge set of trains for myself and the kids…. And today they were not running.. needs cleaning and grease/Oil.
In my 2 train rooms I run a 20 inch box fan with an air conditioning filter attached to one side. The fans are 3 speed so you can adjust the air flow. This pulls dust out of the air requiring very minimal dusting. I change the filter when it gets dirty about every 6 months.
Great tips Chris, very important in keeping your trains running. I like to oil my engines once a year and I do that every December. Keeping that makes me remember to do it. Of course this depends on how much running you do. Track cleaning is as needed.
Definitely a great video Chris! Honestly this was a video that TH-cam has been needing, especially for the new comers that are entering the hobby to give folks all they need to get rolling!
Nice video Your passion for the hobby comes through even on these mundane topics. That’s a skillful attribute. I like the squeak in my rolling stock😁 And my maintenance is done as a “need to be done” basis… Dust is the most annoying aspect -perhaps now that I’m done building trackage, I can win that battle
Great tutorial Chris! The only difference with me is I use heavy paper disposable shop towels for track cleaning, you can get them in hardware or auto parts stores. One trick I use for cleaning the drivers on my steam engines is to use a small conventional transformer for power with two leads I've attached alligator clips to. I turn the engine upside-down in a padded mitre box, attach one lead to a pick-up roller and another to a grounding spot, usually one of the side rods. Turning the power on causes rotation of the drivers and then I use an alcohol-soaked Q-tip to clean the drivers. You'd be amazed how much gunk comes off! Rubbing alcohol won't hurt traction tires either. For REALLY gunked up track a non-abrasive Scotch-Brite pad works wonders.
@@RBPTrains You're welcome Chris! It works well on my post-wars and newer conventionals and also on my MTH engines as long as the tender's plugged into the engine. Some new Lionels don't need the tender attached but some might, you'll have to try it.
Thanks for the video. I like seeing things like this first hand as you get to understand things better by seeing than reading and I even pick up an item or two for my layout. Keep up the good work
Great video, Chris! Please keep them coming! I am going for shoulder surgery and I will have 6 weeks to do nothing but watch your videos! I am actually looking forward to that!! Thanks again
if it were me, when I clean my tracks I use a Lionel eraser and lightly go over my track. After I'm finished, I use track cleaner with a micro-fiber cloth, and dust it off when complete. As for my trains, I typically use oil/lube on my train more than my freight cars and passenger cars. When I do I actually find a day to lubricate all of my freight cars and passenger cars, rather than doing it over and over everyday. (ofc in my opinion) It lets me enjoy trains without any issues for a long while. Like you said, clean trains are happy trains! Subscribed and liked, I do like these videos.
Thanks for those great tips and for sharing that beautiful Blue Goose train it’s really an amazing model and I really enjoyed seeing that run around the layout 👌
I just recently started getting into model railroading. I had a few lionel sets from my grandfather for many years, but recently picked up a NYC S-2 Locomotive from The Charles Ro Supply Company. Got a fantastic deal on it, but it had some trouble getting around, so I looked at my tracks and realized I hadn’t cleaned them since my grandfather gave them to me. 🤣 Cleaned em up and she runs great now! Thanks for the awesome videos as usual RBP!
Not sure how i missed this video. Now i know what ill be doing this evening! Slowly getting back into the hobby and really have been enjoying your videos.
Great informational video Chris! I like how you always try to joke around in your videos to make them even more enjoyable. It realy shows in this one :)
Hey Chris, love your stuff 👏👏👏 what I’ve used in addition to makeup brushes, for really dusty items, is an old school Horse Hair Shaving Brush. Still using my Dad’s from the 40’s ✌️
Great vid as always Chris! You actually can use liquid in the pellet smoke units, just don't put too much in them. For cleaning the track, another thing I'd recommend is cleaning and tightening the pins if possible. I started doing it this year and it made a night and day difference in running performance.
Hey Chris, Trainz doesn’t produce the SP Smoke Pellets anymore for Postwar trains. I contacted them and spoke with Jessica in their Customer Service department, and she told me that they’re not making them any longer. She did say that their parts department get them in from time to time, but they currently do not have smoke pellets available, and won’t have any for the foreseeable future.
I clean my tracks with Inox MX3. Treat it like WD-40, too much and any train with traction tires slips. Just a little bit and your good. It also adds a layer of protection to the track to make it conductive. I also use it on my center pick up wheels on my engines and passenger cars as well.
Really well done, Chris! You really packed this video with some very useful tips and the information that was well presented. I bet nearly everybody who watches will come away with a least one tip they can use to improve their current maintenance program. I know I did. Bill B.
Thanks for the tips Chris, you always need to keep your trains greased and lubricated. I have a lot of smoke fluid buildup on my diesel And I don’t have the JT’s mega steam B-gone cleaner yet. I clean my layout using labelle track cleaning supplies that comes with these cleaning pads for the wheels. But I am still building my layout. I use a test track for the time being to run my trains on.
I bet you have to use track cleaning cars to get through your tunnels! I run Ho, so I have a Peco track rubber. I clean wheels with lighter fluid. For lubrication, I just use sewing machine oil. It all works great. Have you ever had to replace side rods on any of your steamers? I have a Hornby Princess Coronation which was a Christmas gift, but it had faulty side rods which I had to do some digging to find the replacement parts for.
Best smoke fluid I've found is just ultra pure paraffin lamp oil . It's clear has hardly any smell and smokes like crazy and most importantly it's only $15 for a 32oz bottle. Been using it for years without issues.
For dusting tracks ,roads ,and buildings I have small vacuum that I can put on low suction with a small brush head, I never dust because you are just moving the dirt around , PS thats how I clean the furniture and window sills and vents in my house also.
These are some good tips - honestly though, the best tip for keeping your track clean that I’ve ever gotten and pass on to others? Run your trains. That alone will keep your tracks looking great.
Well, yes and no. No because traction tires will leave residue on the tracks that will build up over time. (Another reason I dislike traction tires!) Yes, because I've noticed running older post-wars or newer conventionals, say from the 1980's or early 90's that don't have traction tires those tire-less engines have a cleaning and polishing effect on the rails. Mind you, then you've got to clean the drivers on the conventionals!
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 i suppose it also depends on what brand/.type of trains you are running. a lot of my g scale stuff i have removed the traction tires and they run just fine even on slight grades. the o scale stuff i fear i won’t be as lucky with
@@TonyLasagna My layout's a basic 4x8, all I've got room for, and with no grades. So if and when any traction tires on my engines go bad if the engine doesn't miss them I leave them off. Most of the engines are so heavy to begin with the lack of tires makes no difference, and obviously on a 4x8 I can't run super-long trains anyway.
Great video Chris very informative what I like to do on my Scale layout to clean my kato uni-track is take squares of fascia boards add a drop or two of 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and then slide it over the rail heads to clean my track I also use label 108 oil to lube my engines and I also use conduct a lube oil Thanks for sharing ;-)
Great stuff Chris! Even though I'm HO scale, I do some of the same things. To be honest, my dad said "take care of your stuff and it will take care of you". Regular maintenance is a MUST. I've covered the subject for HO scale in a "How'd he do that?" series on my channel. With the layout I have now (34ft x 8ft), I take the loco's off the layout every 6 months for a good once over and tune up. That may change as I get operators to run my layout more frequently. Keep'em rolling partner!
Thanks Chris and hope all is well with you and yours. I’m suggesting that you try some, “No ox ID A special”, it’s amazing for tracks of all types and I’ll promise you this, you most likely won’t need to clean your tracks but maybe once a year or more. (If it doesn’t work, I’ll come and clean them 👍🏻😊). You by the beer and the plane ✈️ ticket 😂😂 It truly works, I’ve used it on N, HO and O gauge. It’s cheap and goes a long way. Ron
I use the green scotch brite pads on my layout for real heavy buildup. You have to be a little careful with this because it can dull the shine of the track. Afterwards I do a quick run with a track cleaner car to brighten it up and it’s a great excuse to run trains!
I usually use a track eraser to clean my track, for me it doesn't leave as big a mess nor do I have to constantly go through cloths. Oiling is pretty much the same method. Dusting.....yeah, I need to get a brush.
Nice video. Some of the tried and true old methods of cleaning track use denatured alcohol, white vinegar and even WD-40. Alcohol and vinegar are pretty inexpensive and you can buy it by the gallon. Not that you need that much for your track, but there are other uses for them. I use SlickLiquid for my lubrication. It is synthetic and won't damage certain plastics. Great for the axles and motor parts on my slot cars, also. I'm not sure about the newer drive trains on the modern locomotives, but certain things like spur gears shouldn't be lubricated. Many of the post-war steam engines use spur gears, like the Prairie variants and the smaller Hudsons. Others, like the Pennsy Turbines, Berks and diesels use worm gears, which need to be lubed. I'm a big fan of synthetics, but I still keep some old tubes of Lionel lubricant around for historical purposes. Great videos, always. Looking forward to the next one.
Im about to run my large collection of mth premier engines which have sat unused since 2012. This video is much appreciated re: oil, grease. My new trainboard benchwork and wiring is now done, everything out of storage between july 1 and july 15. None of my 22 ogauge atlas switches new and unboxed since 2012, work, they have power but all except 2 cant switch between track. Im going forward and will, for now, manually switch them . All the batteries have been changed but nothing has been oiled or greased. All the atlas track is cleaned. You inspired me to restart this process 8 weeks ago. ...gary
@@RBPTrains sorry, more directly, since we've both been running trains since we were age 6, and im older than god, given my 60 premier mth egines, all more than 8 years old, all with less than 5 hours run time, in your experience, does oil on the gears mosly help sqeaks.I have 3x more track than your layout, cleaning the track, rag and solution in hand , is a huge 6 to 8 hour routine. Would you oil the engines or wait and see how they run. Ive never had an engine bind up, but never had 60 engines not run in 8 years. Would you oil or wait?
Hello Chris , another great video! If you ever have trouble with your Williams brass locomotive let me know I had to make a new drive shaft for mine and still have materials to make more.
Hey Chris! I did an ERR upgrade on my Weaver Blue Goose and I love it!! Complete with a puffing fan-driven smoke unit. I did some research to find a set of blue coaches like what you have and I discovered that Santa Fe never painted matching coaches (why!? - I have no idea, they would have been beautiful). The real Blue Goose simply pulled green Pullman coaches. Just a bit of railroad history I discovered that I thought you might like to know to enhance your like of that Blue Goose. When it comes to cleaning where there are a lot of crooks and nannies (so to speak) I also use a fine bristle paint brush. When it comes to smoke fluid, I like JT Mega Steam for performance but when it comes to the scent, I like Super Smoke by Bart's Pneumatics Corp in Lancaster, PA. As for the Lionel smoke pellets, I believe you can buy 'reproductions' pellets. They were by a fellow in Dallas who is both a train collector and a university chemist. He took original pellets and cam up with their compound. They are even in a bottle which looks like the original bottles.
For a train they ran around 1939 or so called "The Forty-Niner" Union Pacific had a brown and yellow streamlined Pacific railfans have called "The Slug." Look it up and you'll see why. "The Slug" never had matching cars either, just regular UP grey Pullmans. As a rule I'm not really interested in trains that ran west of the Mississippi, I'm a Northeast fan, but the "Slug's" so funky-looking I just love it! I've been looking for a "Slug" at trainshows but haven't found one yet, but I will!
Great info Ralph! I had no idea that these coaches did not exist in real life. I have been talking to my buddy Sid about putting command control into this engine one day. Would really bring it to life! Thanks for watching!
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 I've seen them (by Weaver Models) from time to time on ebay for around $1,000.00. Just checked, I didn't see one at the moment but they do show up once in a while.
Chris,, I appreciate your guidance on oiling and cleaning your rolling stock. But how do you dust the large open sections of your layout? Between bldgs and track and the mountains, etc??
Awesome video! How is your wiring, like how far apart is your feeder wires? I have a decently sized fastrack oval in the floor with 048 curves and I’ve had to go every few feet to maintain voltage.
Great video, Chris! Good tips on maintenance. Do your kids like the trains? My grown kids and wife tolerate my addiction( you know, that feeling you get when someone rolls their eyes at you) Hehehe.
I recently bought a K-line 0 scale lighted smoking caboose. Looks wonderful and lights up but after turning on the smoke unit and adding smoke fluid it never gave any smoke. This is my first smoking caboose. Am I missing something or is their smoke fluid different for the caboose?
I try to keep my train running with a bright boy track cleaner I have ho Bachman ez track I might have to get new track cause a lot of my track I have is very old including a a remote turnout right I have had that piece of track since I was a kid. I got my train set 2005.
![[ ออกกอง ] วัยหนุ่ม 2544 โลกหลังลูกกรง..ทัวร์กองถ่ายหนังใน "คุกของจริง" | JUSTดูIT.](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vB--aOkZCpw/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for the latest in your fun, informative videos! I use my ex- wife's fine Irish linen table napkins to clean my track and RR lubrication.
I miss her some times, but my trains run great!
(Kidding about napkins.)
Hahahaha!
Good thing you were kidding about using Irish linen napkins for cleaning purposes. Doing something like that is a mortal sin!
As someone primarily collecting trains but looking forward to building a layout and operating them eventually, I appreciate these insights, Chris. Thank you!
I agree. It was very helpful- my uncle gave me a small 0 Gauge set of trains for myself and the kids…. And today they were not running.. needs cleaning and grease/Oil.
In my 2 train rooms I run a 20 inch box fan with an air conditioning filter attached to one side. The fans are 3 speed so you can adjust the air flow. This pulls dust out of the air requiring very minimal dusting. I change the filter when it gets dirty about every 6 months.
What a clever Idea ! Thanks for the tip !
Great tips Chris, very important in keeping your trains running. I like to oil my engines once a year and I do that every December. Keeping that makes me remember to do it. Of course this depends on how much running you do. Track cleaning is as needed.
Definitely a great video Chris! Honestly this was a video that TH-cam has been needing, especially for the new comers that are entering the hobby to give folks all they need to get rolling!
RBP TRAINS HAS THE O GAUGE MODEL TRAINS I WISH I COULD HAVE!!!!!!!
some of these are easier and cheaper to find than others. shouldnt be too hard
Excellent tips, thank you! Smoke pellets are my favorite scent.
Thanks man. I have a 4x8 layout inside my office and came across this video to help figure out a way to clean my tracks & cars.
Perfect! Glad it helped and thank you for watching!
Had no idea you could use scented smoke fluid, it's a very smart concept!
CMX makes a great track cleaning car made out fo brass. It's spendy but has a solid weight and works well
Good stuff for a 62-year-old beginner. Trains have become my retirement hobby, and your tutorial will hopefully give me many years of enjoyment.
It is a great Hobby! Enjoy those trains!
Great and informative video my friend. Nice looking blue goose train. Have a great weekend and a 4th of July
Happy 4th O Gauge Santa Fe and BNSF!
Nice video
Your passion for the hobby comes through even on these mundane topics. That’s a skillful attribute.
I like the squeak in my rolling stock😁
And my maintenance is done as a “need to be done” basis…
Dust is the most annoying aspect -perhaps now that I’m done building trackage, I can win that battle
Great tutorial Chris! The only difference with me is I use heavy paper disposable shop towels for track cleaning, you can get them in hardware or auto parts stores.
One trick I use for cleaning the drivers on my steam engines is to use a small conventional transformer for power with two leads I've attached alligator clips to. I turn the engine upside-down in a padded mitre box, attach one lead to a pick-up roller and another to a grounding spot, usually one of the side rods. Turning the power on causes rotation of the drivers and then I use an alcohol-soaked Q-tip to clean the drivers. You'd be amazed how much gunk comes off! Rubbing alcohol won't hurt traction tires either.
For REALLY gunked up track a non-abrasive Scotch-Brite pad works wonders.
I have always wanted to try the method of cleaning the wheels while they spin. I will have to use this tip! Thanks Wayne!
@@RBPTrains You're welcome Chris! It works well on my post-wars and newer conventionals and also on my MTH engines as long as the tender's plugged into the engine. Some new Lionels don't need the tender attached but some might, you'll have to try it.
Thanks for the video. I like seeing things like this first hand as you get to understand things better by seeing than reading and I even pick up an item or two for my layout.
Keep up the good work
Great video, Chris! Please keep them coming! I am going for shoulder surgery and I will have 6 weeks to do nothing but watch your videos! I am actually looking forward to that!! Thanks again
if it were me, when I clean my tracks I use a Lionel eraser and lightly go over my track. After I'm finished, I use track cleaner with a micro-fiber cloth, and dust it off when complete. As for my trains, I typically use oil/lube on my train more than my freight cars and passenger cars. When I do I actually find a day to lubricate all of my freight cars and passenger cars, rather than doing it over and over everyday. (ofc in my opinion) It lets me enjoy trains without any issues for a long while. Like you said, clean trains are happy trains! Subscribed and liked, I do like these videos.
Thanks for those great tips and for sharing that beautiful Blue Goose train it’s really an amazing model and I really enjoyed seeing that run around the layout 👌
This was both super helpful and also hooray for the Blue Goose! This channel is why I’ll never stop loving model trains!!
Thank you Potato Productions!!
So totally awesome!!! Thanks Chris!!!
❤🚂🚃🚃🚃❤
I just got laid up with COVID and the only thing I was looking forward to was a train video. Thanks it made my day
Sorry to hear that you got sick Michael! Hope you feel better soon and glad to video was able to provide a little distraction.
I just recently started getting into model railroading. I had a few lionel sets from my grandfather for many years, but recently picked up a NYC S-2 Locomotive from The Charles Ro Supply Company. Got a fantastic deal on it, but it had some trouble getting around, so I looked at my tracks and realized I hadn’t cleaned them since my grandfather gave them to me. 🤣 Cleaned em up and she runs great now! Thanks for the awesome videos as usual RBP!
Not sure how i missed this video. Now i know what ill be doing this evening! Slowly getting back into the hobby and really have been enjoying your videos.
Welcome back to the Hobby!
I tend to use the same products as you. But I did not know about the eliminator or the microfiber cloth. Thanks a lot for another great video.
Great information brotherman, thanks & RAVEON BROTHERMAN COOL😊👍👍👍👍
this is a very interesting and helpful video for me since i am still pretty new in the hobby. thanks a lot for this information
I use a green scrubbie pad for my S gauge track.
Great informational video Chris!
I like how you always try to joke around in your videos to make them even more enjoyable. It realy shows in this one :)
0:39 I love how you said "uhhh" lol it's so funny!
Also great tricks I might try that to HO scale in the future
Excellent smoke mixture 👍👍👍
Hey Chris, love your stuff 👏👏👏 what I’ve used in addition to makeup brushes, for really dusty items, is an old school Horse Hair Shaving Brush. Still using my Dad’s from the 40’s ✌️
Great video Chris! Very informative and helpful! I’ll be sure to incorporate these tips into my own layout maintenance!
pretty awesome locomotive in the thumbnail.
Great vid as always Chris!
You actually can use liquid in the pellet smoke units, just don't put too much in them.
For cleaning the track, another thing I'd recommend is cleaning and tightening the pins if possible. I started doing it this year and it made a night and day difference in running performance.
I use J-T's Mega-Steam smoke fluid in my pellet smoke units as well. Ten drops is usually enough.
Chris thank you for the very lmformative video lots of Good points.
7:45 Christmas Sent
The layout is like family you look after it great video
Love both the wooden train whistles.
They are too much fun!
Hey Chris, Trainz doesn’t produce the SP Smoke Pellets anymore for Postwar trains. I contacted them and spoke with Jessica in their Customer Service department, and she told me that they’re not making them any longer. She did say that their parts department get them in from time to time, but they currently do not have smoke pellets available, and won’t have any for the foreseeable future.
You can use liquid smoke in unmodified post-war smoke units, I've done it and it works fine. Just don't overload the unit, 10 to 12 drops is plenty.
Always good to do the maintenance I found Bachmann conductive oil helps on the positive rollers to get rid of flicking passenger car lights
Hey Chris keep up the Great work ,love the Video very helpful 👍, Happy Railroading 😊 😃 😀
Thanks David!
I clean my tracks with Inox MX3. Treat it like WD-40, too much and any train with traction tires slips. Just a little bit and your good. It also adds a layer of protection to the track to make it conductive. I also use it on my center pick up wheels on my engines and passenger cars as well.
Great maintenance tips Chris, and great video 👍
I like clean train a happy train have a great 4th 🇺🇸👊
Happy 4th to you Coverdale Mine!
@@RBPTrains Coverdale
My bad! That is what I get for responding before going to bed
Really well done, Chris! You really packed this video with some very useful tips and the information that was well presented. I bet nearly everybody who watches will come away with a least one tip they can use to improve their current maintenance program. I know I did. Bill B.
Thanks for the tips Chris, you always need to keep your trains greased and lubricated. I have a lot of smoke fluid buildup on my diesel
And I don’t have the JT’s mega steam B-gone cleaner yet. I clean my layout using labelle track cleaning supplies that comes with these cleaning pads for the wheels. But I am still building my layout. I use a test track for the time being to run my trains on.
I bet you have to use track cleaning cars to get through your tunnels!
I run Ho, so I have a Peco track rubber. I clean wheels with lighter fluid. For lubrication, I just use sewing machine oil. It all works great.
Have you ever had to replace side rods on any of your steamers? I have a Hornby Princess Coronation which was a Christmas gift, but it had faulty side rods which I had to do some digging to find the replacement parts for.
Haha I love the diesel scent. But also like the Christmas scent
never knew how versatile microfiber cloths were for O gauge trains
Best smoke fluid I've found is just ultra pure paraffin lamp oil . It's clear has hardly any smell and smokes like crazy and most importantly it's only $15 for a 32oz bottle. Been using it for years without issues.
Thanks!!
I just got a MTH Santa Fe F7 like yours from Trainz, so excited! Mine has red ladders though not yellow and PS3.
For dusting tracks ,roads ,and buildings I have small vacuum that I can put on low suction with a small brush head, I never dust because you are just moving the dirt around , PS thats how I clean the furniture and window sills and vents in my house also.
These are some good tips - honestly though, the best tip for keeping your track clean that I’ve ever gotten and pass on to others? Run your trains. That alone will keep your tracks looking great.
Well, yes and no. No because traction tires will leave residue on the tracks that will build up over time. (Another reason I dislike traction tires!)
Yes, because I've noticed running older post-wars or newer conventionals, say from the 1980's or early 90's that don't have traction tires those tire-less engines have a cleaning and polishing effect on the rails.
Mind you, then you've got to clean the drivers on the conventionals!
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 i suppose it also depends on what brand/.type of trains you are running. a lot of my g scale stuff i have removed the traction tires and they run just fine even on slight grades. the o scale stuff i fear i won’t be as lucky with
@@TonyLasagna My layout's a basic 4x8, all I've got room for, and with no grades. So if and when any traction tires on my engines go bad if the engine doesn't miss them I leave them off. Most of the engines are so heavy to begin with the lack of tires makes no difference, and obviously on a 4x8 I can't run super-long trains anyway.
Great video Chris very informative what I like to do on my Scale layout to clean my kato uni-track is take squares of fascia boards add a drop or two of 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and then slide it over the rail heads to clean my track I also use label 108 oil to lube my engines and I also use conduct a lube oil Thanks for sharing ;-)
For oil, I've always used Mobile1 full synthetic 5w10. Not the high-mileage stuff, just the regular full synthetic 5w10.
Great stuff Chris! Even though I'm HO scale, I do some of the same things. To be honest, my dad said "take care of your stuff and it will take care of you". Regular maintenance is a MUST. I've covered the subject for HO scale in a "How'd he do that?" series on my channel. With the layout I have now (34ft x 8ft), I take the loco's off the layout every 6 months for a good once over and tune up. That may change as I get operators to run my layout more frequently. Keep'em rolling partner!
I do ho scale too
Nice Trains and Layout !
Too good. I have to learn many things from you all as in India this hobby is not very popular.
I use the same cleaner! Works great! Nice vid.
It really does work well! Thanks for watching
Thanks Chris and hope all is well with you and yours.
I’m suggesting that you try some, “No ox ID A special”, it’s amazing for tracks of all types and I’ll promise you this, you most likely won’t need to clean your tracks but maybe once a year or more. (If it doesn’t work, I’ll come and clean them 👍🏻😊). You by the beer and the plane ✈️ ticket 😂😂
It truly works, I’ve used it on N, HO and O gauge. It’s cheap and goes a long way. Ron
Too sweet
I use the green scotch brite pads on my layout for real heavy buildup. You have to be a little careful with this because it can dull the shine of the track. Afterwards I do a quick run with a track cleaner car to brighten it up and it’s a great excuse to run trains!
Track cleaning is always a great excuse to run trains, haha! Thanks for watching
Awesome video Chris!
I usually use a track eraser to clean my track, for me it doesn't leave as big a mess nor do I have to constantly go through cloths. Oiling is pretty much the same method. Dusting.....yeah, I need to get a brush.
Nice video. Some of the tried and true old methods of cleaning track use denatured alcohol, white vinegar and even WD-40. Alcohol and vinegar are pretty inexpensive and you can buy it by the gallon. Not that you need that much for your track, but there are other uses for them. I use SlickLiquid for my lubrication. It is synthetic and won't damage certain plastics. Great for the axles and motor parts on my slot cars, also. I'm not sure about the newer drive trains on the modern locomotives, but certain things like spur gears shouldn't be lubricated. Many of the post-war steam engines use spur gears, like the Prairie variants and the smaller Hudsons. Others, like the Pennsy Turbines, Berks and diesels use worm gears, which need to be lubed. I'm a big fan of synthetics, but I still keep some old tubes of Lionel lubricant around for historical purposes. Great videos, always. Looking forward to the next one.
Nice tips enjoy your 4th of July and be safe
Happy 4th to you Radar Ditti!
Im about to run my large collection of mth premier engines which have sat unused since 2012. This video is much appreciated re: oil, grease. My new trainboard benchwork and wiring is now done, everything out of storage between july 1 and july 15. None of my 22 ogauge atlas switches new and unboxed since 2012, work, they have power but all except 2 cant switch between track. Im going forward and will, for now, manually switch them . All the batteries have been changed but nothing has been oiled or greased. All the atlas track is cleaned. You inspired me to restart this process 8 weeks ago. ...gary
Glad to hear you are getting back into the process Gary! I am sure those switches will end up working out. Thanks for watching!
@@RBPTrains sorry, more directly, since we've both been running trains since we were age 6, and im older than god, given my 60 premier mth egines, all more than 8 years old, all with less than 5 hours run time, in your experience, does oil on the gears mosly help sqeaks.I have 3x more track than your layout, cleaning the track, rag and solution in hand , is a huge 6 to 8 hour routine. Would you oil the engines or wait and see how they run. Ive never had an engine bind up, but never had 60 engines not run in 8 years. Would you oil or wait?
He finally showed the Blue Goose! 🤩
Took me long enough, haha!
Hello Chris , another great video! If you ever have trouble with your Williams brass locomotive let me know I had to make a new drive shaft for mine and still have materials to make more.
I will keep that in mind! Much appreciated Chris!
@@RBPTrains no problem!
Chris was wondering if you could do a video on the smoke output controls on your engines
Make up brushes are the best for dusting!
An old-fashioned shaving brush works well too, that's what I use. You can find them at a CVS or Walgreens.
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 very true! Added bonus, they’re not sparkly like my make up brush from the dollar store 🤣
Hey Chris! I did an ERR upgrade on my Weaver Blue Goose and I love it!! Complete with a puffing fan-driven smoke unit. I did some research to find a set of blue coaches like what you have and I discovered that Santa Fe never painted matching coaches (why!? - I have no idea, they would have been beautiful). The real Blue Goose simply pulled green Pullman coaches. Just a bit of railroad history I discovered that I thought you might like to know to enhance your like of that Blue Goose. When it comes to cleaning where there are a lot of crooks and nannies (so to speak) I also use a fine bristle paint brush. When it comes to smoke fluid, I like JT Mega Steam for performance but when it comes to the scent, I like Super Smoke by Bart's Pneumatics Corp in Lancaster, PA. As for the Lionel smoke pellets, I believe you can buy 'reproductions' pellets. They were by a fellow in Dallas who is both a train collector and a university chemist. He took original pellets and cam up with their compound. They are even in a bottle which looks like the original bottles.
For a train they ran around 1939 or so called "The Forty-Niner" Union Pacific had a brown and yellow streamlined Pacific railfans have called "The Slug." Look it up and you'll see why. "The Slug" never had matching cars either, just regular UP grey Pullmans.
As a rule I'm not really interested in trains that ran west of the Mississippi, I'm a Northeast fan, but the "Slug's" so funky-looking I just love it!
I've been looking for a "Slug" at trainshows but haven't found one yet, but I will!
Great info Ralph! I had no idea that these coaches did not exist in real life. I have been talking to my buddy Sid about putting command control into this engine one day. Would really bring it to life! Thanks for watching!
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 I've seen them (by Weaver Models) from time to time on ebay for around $1,000.00. Just checked, I didn't see one at the moment but they do show up once in a while.
@@ralphmiller2265 Wow, $1,000's a bit much for me to pay for a "Slug." I'm thinking more of the MTH RailKing version. But thanks for the suggestion!
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 No problem.
Yay! Blue goose!
How do you keep train cars on the track. My train cars go around the track and one or two cars are off the track. As always, thank you
Have you done a video comparing/talking about various smoke fluids?
This sounds crazy but I only lubricate my engine and train cars once every month or 2 but it surprisingly runs just fine when I don't
Chris,, I appreciate your guidance on oiling and cleaning your rolling stock. But how do you dust the large open sections of your layout? Between bldgs and track and the mountains, etc??
I use Goo Gone for keeping my tracks clean.
Watch it with Goo Gone. Chase it with rubbing alcohol, Goo Gone residue will attack traction tires.
Nice
I think track cleaning cars is the best option
The track cleaning cars work great!
No, you had it at "A clean train is a happy train."
Chris, does the micro fiber and track cleaner work for tubular rail track. Great vid's thanks.
What would you recommend for a brass track? By the way I use some non-brass fishplates, the connectors, to put the track together, and I use HO scale
Awesome video! How is your wiring, like how far apart is your feeder wires? I have a decently sized fastrack oval in the floor with 048 curves and I’ve had to go every few feet to maintain voltage.
My name is Ethan Armitage.
Maybe don't share personal information online, or it could get in the hands of the wrong people.
Great video, Chris! Good tips on maintenance. Do your kids like the trains? My grown kids and wife tolerate my addiction( you know, that feeling you get when someone rolls their eyes at you) Hehehe.
Show us all your big steam trains in the next video
BROTHERMAN, my better half says a barbers neck brush works great also, what do you think? 👍👍😮😛
I recently bought a K-line 0 scale lighted smoking caboose. Looks wonderful and lights up but after turning on the smoke unit and adding smoke fluid it never gave any smoke. This is my first smoking caboose. Am I missing something or is their smoke fluid different for the caboose?
I have a lot of questions. I am just starting to clean and take care of my trains. My tracks are rusted and I need to clean them.
Canned air on track, recommend or not?
I’m assuming that all this stuff will work for n scale as well?
I'm do really need clean my trains
The shrouding on the boiler of the Blue Goose cost $6,000 over the cost of the regular locomotive. Back when $500 got you a big Harley or mediocre car
Does this work for every scale of train?
I try to keep my train running with a bright boy track cleaner I have ho Bachman ez track I might have to get new track cause a lot of my track I have is very old including a a remote turnout right I have had that piece of track since I was a kid. I got my train set 2005.
What should I do if I have a diesel locomotive with a smoke unit
Just a suggestion- Running all Norfolk Southern Locomotives?
Check out JDStucks' Channel. He has tons of NS engines! :)
Ok so what does RBP stand for?