| Building, maintaining and operating a model railroad is a | | | | Big, complex sets can take a long time to clean |
| past time many people enjoy for hours on end. | | | | correctly and are sometimes easier to maintain using a |
| However when the initial excitement of creating your | | | | liquid cleaner. |
| layout and watching your first trains run smoothly | | | | There are specialist cleaners available, but some types |
| round your track is over, the gaps between using your | | | | of normal cleaner work just as well. |
| model railway may become longer. | | | | The cleaning is much simpler. Brush the cleaner evenly |
| Like most things in life, if you don't use it you lose it! | | | | onto the rails before rubbing down with a clean, dry |
| Not running your model trains is actually one of the | | | | cloth; a lot easier and quicker than hand rubbing. |
| main causes of grime and dirt build up on the track. | | | | The main reason model railway tracks become dirty in |
| It might not seem like a big deal to maintain a clean | | | | the first place is from not being used. |
| track; however it is essential that you take the time to | | | | The wheels of the model trains actually self clean the |
| remove the build up of dust on the tracks to keep | | | | tracks simply through moving contact and friction. |
| operation at full potential. | | | | Running your model trains a couple of times a week |
| Depending on the material of your track, you may also | | | | will save you a lot of time cleaning and mean that |
| discover the negative effects of oxide building up over | | | | when you want to spend longer improving or operating |
| time. | | | | your model railroad, you do not have to waste |
| If your railway track is made of brass, a layer of oxide | | | | precious time cleaning everything first. |
| prevents good electrical contact between train and | | | | Although any normal carriage will do the job, it is |
| track, which is obviously unhealthy for your model | | | | possible to buy carriages with especially abrasive |
| railway's operation. | | | | wheels to clean the track more thoroughly. |
| To remove this oxide, as well as regular dirt and grime, | | | | Ask at your local model railroad store for more advice |
| from your model railroad, you may choose to use a | | | | as to which car you should buy. The cleaning cars are |
| specialist, abrasive block cleaner. | | | | generally available in many different scales and styles. |
| This requires you to rub the track yourself, being | | | | The best way to keep your model railway track clean |
| careful not to do any damage to the surrounding | | | | is through regular operation. |
| accessories. | | | | Giving the tracks a quick clean every week, and a |
| Take care to do an even job, being gentle but firm, | | | | more thorough clean once a month, will mean you |
| and remove any leftover residue with a cloth. | | | | don't have a huge build up of oxide and grime when |
| It's worth investing in the proper cleaning equipment. | | | | you want to show off your railroad or simply have fun |
| Using sandpaper or steel wool seriously damages your | | | | operating it. |
| model train track. Buying a proper cleaning block will | | | | There is nothing worse than a locomotive that stops |
| save you replacing ruined track. | | | | and starts because of a dirty track. A small amount of |
| However, you may wish to use an alternative to | | | | maintenance will avoid this. |
| hand-cleaning the track. | | | | |