So while I've had my Aristo 0-4-0 starter set on the ground since 2006, I only recently stopped lurking here and had my first post here (with photos!)
http://www.mylargescale.com/Communi....com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/forumid/23/postid/101364/view/topic/Default.aspx
What can I say, I'm slow and not particularly handy. Definitely a beginner after three years.
After I immodestly stated I'd had little trouble with my stainless track, a few days later everything got buggy. Stalls, Basic TE not responsive, etc. I had previously ordered some metal wheels for the two carriages and installed them yesterday. Likely related to using the thing more.
Close examination of the track and 0-4-0 wheels revealed serious crud. So this morning I had time to use some medium grit sandpaper on the track, followed by some household oil wiped off with paper towels. (Luckily this is a very small oval.) I also cleaned the locomotive wheels and the once-used metal carriage wheels.
This evening the Headmistress returned with the Sproutling Engineer (age 9 and very cute) with a menagerie of non-scale plastic animals for the layout (that cow is about 10,000 pounds!)
We ran the train for about two hours, and it was working like new. Obviously one aspect is that with a short oval, the engine is returning to the same spot about every thirty seconds at a medium slow pace. Lots of chances for oxidation.
And that's what I believe happened. I had cleaned the track, the locomotive wheels and the one-day old carriage wheels quite thoroughly this morning. Near dusk, the locomotive started slipping on a slight incline in a curve, so I wiped my finger across the track and it came back black as coal.
Obviously the use of oil could have played a role in the slipping, as suggested by Mr. George Schreyer at his track cleaning tips page.
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips2/track_cleaning_tips.html
Since I have the small layout, I grabbed a Swiffer and stuck a paper towel in it, and removed some black stuff before dark rather easily. Still, I'm rather surprised at how much oxidation occurred, as I've always assumed the plastic wheels were partly to blame. At least tonight I'm convinced most of the black stuff was oxidation. I'm also intrigued by George's theory that dust plays a role. Since my little oval is irrigated it would be trivial to turn the sprinkler on an hour ahead of play time to reduce dust on the rails.
I finished this evening by letting the sprinklers run on the oval, as the plants needed water and it will likely dispense with the small amount of lightweight household oil on the track.
The good news is the train actually ran quite well with the metal wheels, and Sproutling had a grand old time. I'm thinking it might be SOP to just Swiffer the track after running with a paper towel attached, which would at least grab some powdery stuff, and clean the wheels once a week or as warranted.
Best to all.
http://www.mylargescale.com/Communi....com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/forumid/23/postid/101364/view/topic/Default.aspx
What can I say, I'm slow and not particularly handy. Definitely a beginner after three years.
After I immodestly stated I'd had little trouble with my stainless track, a few days later everything got buggy. Stalls, Basic TE not responsive, etc. I had previously ordered some metal wheels for the two carriages and installed them yesterday. Likely related to using the thing more.
Close examination of the track and 0-4-0 wheels revealed serious crud. So this morning I had time to use some medium grit sandpaper on the track, followed by some household oil wiped off with paper towels. (Luckily this is a very small oval.) I also cleaned the locomotive wheels and the once-used metal carriage wheels.
This evening the Headmistress returned with the Sproutling Engineer (age 9 and very cute) with a menagerie of non-scale plastic animals for the layout (that cow is about 10,000 pounds!)
We ran the train for about two hours, and it was working like new. Obviously one aspect is that with a short oval, the engine is returning to the same spot about every thirty seconds at a medium slow pace. Lots of chances for oxidation.
And that's what I believe happened. I had cleaned the track, the locomotive wheels and the one-day old carriage wheels quite thoroughly this morning. Near dusk, the locomotive started slipping on a slight incline in a curve, so I wiped my finger across the track and it came back black as coal.
Obviously the use of oil could have played a role in the slipping, as suggested by Mr. George Schreyer at his track cleaning tips page.
http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips2/track_cleaning_tips.html
Since I have the small layout, I grabbed a Swiffer and stuck a paper towel in it, and removed some black stuff before dark rather easily. Still, I'm rather surprised at how much oxidation occurred, as I've always assumed the plastic wheels were partly to blame. At least tonight I'm convinced most of the black stuff was oxidation. I'm also intrigued by George's theory that dust plays a role. Since my little oval is irrigated it would be trivial to turn the sprinkler on an hour ahead of play time to reduce dust on the rails.
I finished this evening by letting the sprinklers run on the oval, as the plants needed water and it will likely dispense with the small amount of lightweight household oil on the track.
The good news is the train actually ran quite well with the metal wheels, and Sproutling had a grand old time. I'm thinking it might be SOP to just Swiffer the track after running with a paper towel attached, which would at least grab some powdery stuff, and clean the wheels once a week or as warranted.
Best to all.
Just don't have any kerosene, although I can see why that would likely achieve the same result. 
