An ounce of prevention is better than a ton of cure. Rather than constantly removing the dirt, you just have to look for ways to prevent it getting there in the first place. Here's some of my methods;
1.Use only metal tyred wheels, plastic wheels have a tendancy attract dirt to them and then deposit that dirt all over the layout. Dirt on plastic wheels can come from a mould release agent left on the wheels from manufacture, some types of plastic can hold a static charge which attracts dust particles, with age, rough track or rough handling plastic wheels can chip, dirt can then build up in the chipped area, or the wheels itself may start shredding, which can happen anyway through general wear and tear.
2.Don't use traction tyres, for the same reasons as plastic wheels, also the rubber can absorb oils which will cause the rubber to dissolve, all over you track!
3.Use only live frog points, insulated frogs made of plastic will have the same effect as plastic wheels, and make your track dirty.
4.Lay your track carefully, misalligned rail joins are great places for dirt to accumulate. Likewise poor electrical joints can cause carbon deposits to build up on the wheels and rail head.
5.High Frequency rail cleaners will also make your track dirtier, by leaving carbon deposits on the wheel and rail head, they may even pit the rail or wheel surface, the only advantage to these units is that you won't notice the track is dirty till it is completely filthy and unusable.
6.Don't use abrasive track rubbers to clean your track, these will damage the rail head leaving small scratches for dirt to accumulate in. Some chemical cleaners can have similar effects by pitting the rail, in fact I once spent a whole day scrapping the goo off of the rails of an 0 gauge layout after using one of these chemical 'rail cleaners'. If you must clean the track use a piece of hardboard (masonite) rough side down, this will polish the railhead without damaging it, or for a really stuborn deposit a little white spirit on a cotton tip does wonders.
7.If your layout is in a dusty place, try either covering the layout when not in use or using a dustbuster type of vacuum cleaner to vacuum the track when you haven't used the layout for a while.
As long as you follow at least the first four suggestions, the best way to keep your track and wheels clean is to run your trains! Ever see a well used stretch of track on the prototype that wasn't shining? Or an inservice coach with rusty wheel treads? No.
A rolling stone gathers no moss, well the same applies to the wheels of your models.
It works for me!
1.Use only metal tyred wheels, plastic wheels have a tendancy attract dirt to them and then deposit that dirt all over the layout. Dirt on plastic wheels can come from a mould release agent left on the wheels from manufacture, some types of plastic can hold a static charge which attracts dust particles, with age, rough track or rough handling plastic wheels can chip, dirt can then build up in the chipped area, or the wheels itself may start shredding, which can happen anyway through general wear and tear.
2.Don't use traction tyres, for the same reasons as plastic wheels, also the rubber can absorb oils which will cause the rubber to dissolve, all over you track!
3.Use only live frog points, insulated frogs made of plastic will have the same effect as plastic wheels, and make your track dirty.
4.Lay your track carefully, misalligned rail joins are great places for dirt to accumulate. Likewise poor electrical joints can cause carbon deposits to build up on the wheels and rail head.
5.High Frequency rail cleaners will also make your track dirtier, by leaving carbon deposits on the wheel and rail head, they may even pit the rail or wheel surface, the only advantage to these units is that you won't notice the track is dirty till it is completely filthy and unusable.
6.Don't use abrasive track rubbers to clean your track, these will damage the rail head leaving small scratches for dirt to accumulate in. Some chemical cleaners can have similar effects by pitting the rail, in fact I once spent a whole day scrapping the goo off of the rails of an 0 gauge layout after using one of these chemical 'rail cleaners'. If you must clean the track use a piece of hardboard (masonite) rough side down, this will polish the railhead without damaging it, or for a really stuborn deposit a little white spirit on a cotton tip does wonders.
7.If your layout is in a dusty place, try either covering the layout when not in use or using a dustbuster type of vacuum cleaner to vacuum the track when you haven't used the layout for a while.
As long as you follow at least the first four suggestions, the best way to keep your track and wheels clean is to run your trains! Ever see a well used stretch of track on the prototype that wasn't shining? Or an inservice coach with rusty wheel treads? No.
A rolling stone gathers no moss, well the same applies to the wheels of your models.
It works for me!
