Over on another forum, there's a seemingly endless debate about what causes black deposits on track.

 

There seems to be a contingent that wants to blame ALL deposits on only ONE thing.

 

Of course nothing is ever simple, if it was, the problem would be solved.

 

I've studied this a lot, and having a background in science, it helps to believe in physics not voodoo.

 

From my experience, and everyone I have talked to and taking into consideration every post on every forum I have read, I have come to the following conclusions:

 

 

This is affected by the brand of the wheels, how hot it gets, what (if any) solvents are used to clean track, other contaminants, and most importantly (in my mind) the sharpness of the curves. Of course running more often is directly related.

 

Deposits from plastic wheels have two main characteristics:

 

These deposits are normally a dry black powder, but sometimes, with the addition of water or other contaminants, are oily or gooey.

 

These deposits usually wipe off with a finger or rag, and do not normally need any solvent, although getting other stuff on the rails might require a solvent.

 

As far as I can tell, you can get carbon deposits from electrical arcing. I have watched my railroad at night and can often see sparks between the drivers and the rails.

 

Poor plating or dirty wheels can also cause this.

 

There is a reasonable argument that a form of copper oxide is also black, which could reasonably be caused by electrical arcing on brass track.

 

I don't think anyone has proven what this black power is, but many people have experienced it, and with all metal wheels, and both brass and stainless steel track.

 

 

So, when people have deposits on the rails, it's been my experience that there can be a combination of causes, it's not always just one thing.

 

What's your experience?

 

Regards, Greg

 

p.s. I use Aristo SS track, no plastic wheels, DCC with 23 volts constant track power, high currents, and I have some dry powder that washes off with a hose.

'

 

Greg,

 

 When I had plastic wheels, I had a lot of black gunk. I notice it a lot more with Aristo and USA plastic wheels. Had some with LGB but not as much.

I think it makes a difference in what the wheels are made of.  The early Aristo engines were bad, I got tired of cleaning their wheels all the time  so  I sold all of them, and ran strictly LGB engines. I didn't have near the problem with LGB. I'm battery now with metal wheels on everything so dirt is not a problem any more.

For what it's worth I have to agree with Greg about multiple causes of deposits on rails.
I'm using Aristo 332 brass track and have one section that takes a lot of cleaning to keep my loco running smooth. I had been suspecting mineral deposits from the water from lawn sprinklers. but now am pretty sure most of my problem is just very fine dust causing a lot of arcing on the wheels and pickup shoes. I'm finding going over the rails with fine wet/dry sandpaper followed by going over it with a scotch brite pad on a pole sander gets everything really clean. Going to try a drywall abrasive pad next time I get to Home Depot and see how that works. I hesitate to use solvents for fear of causing damage to the plastic tie strips. Wondering if something like Simple Green might work, will prbably try that on a section and see how it works.

 

Joe Mc

I can get carried away "oiling around" while I wait for steam pressure to come up, but then... I enjoy greasy track... I can "peel out" when I get the "highball" for the long straight-away and then spin the drivers backwards when I throw the Johnson bar into reverse trying to slow down for the curve!   YeeeeHaaaa!

 

 

 

 

I'm a baaaaaad engineer!

Has anyone of these debaters expressed a plan that once they are elected president how they are going to elimanate "BLACK STUFF" on the tracks?

This is a major issue.    This and  getting medicare to pay for  burt fingers of live steamers.

Actually, I DO have a web page on track cleaning, but of course I'm just a common grunt, no one is electing me for prez!

Regards, Greg

Determining the effects of plastic wheel deposits is easy.

Set up an oval of G-scale track.  Then do another oval of H0 track running right down the center of the G-track oval.  Use an H0 engine to pull some G-scale cars around the oval for some duration and examine the track for the plastic coating.  This takes things like carbon arcing out of the equation because that would only happen on the H0 track.