How to - Episode 9 -Track Cleaning

I've had a number of questions about how I keep the track clean, so here is how I do it.

[@siraujus101]

great video. I enjoy watching all your build, clean and run shots. lets me see yours grow over time reminding me all my work will one day look finished. keep up the great videos

[@DRS37412]

Wow I enjoyed that. That piece of kit is very useful. Very good video. Thank you.

[@grahamebelton9832]

I really enjoy your videos. I've learned a lot from them and they have a lot of detail and great advice in them. Thanks.

[@albietros70]

Hi Like all your videos what is best is how you make things simple in their use, such as cleaning tracks and wheels on your layout. To be able to accomplish both at the same time is brilliant idear

[@rttx]

Excellent video. I have found that while Goo Gone is great at removing dirt and grime, its residue tends to be a bit sticky and can attract future dirt fairly quickly. After using Goo Gone, I like to go over all surfaces again twofold with denatured alcohol. It removes the Goo Gone residue and slows the process of further track grime build up. As far as cleaning wheels, I like to lay down kitchen roll and run the stock over it back and forth using the same formula, Goo Gone and alcohol.

[@stevew.3735]

Having just watched your "Masterclass" on track cleaning, I decided to buy the CMX wagon from DCC Supplies.......it IS a little pricey.....£169.00 just paid, (February 2020), but....it really DOES a fantastic job, so as far as I am concerned, money well spent. Top-Tip ! Many Thanks. Steve.

[@EverardJunction]

Thanks Steve. I made this video a very long time ago and back then the CMX was quite a bit cheaper. Mine is still working just fine. I wouldn't be without it, great bit of kit.

[@uzyadadi]

very well explained video mate looks good and the layout coming on now love the branch and the over pass keep up the great work.

[@impy1980]

Hi m8 I just wanted to thank you for the Go Gone tip, it's fantastic. My 2nd hand Triang tracking cleaning car arrived in the post today along with a bottle of Goo Gone, still waiting for my Class 37 & 40 to arrive & with my Class 08 out of action Jinty was put in charge of track cleaning duties, she did a sterling job. Coupled her up, set the Select to half dial, she was a bit slow & jerky to begin with but after twice round, a massive speed boost as the track cleaned up, the track was a state!

[@bradleytrewin5439]

great video as always. I have the n gauge version and that's a fairly heavy unit too. but as you say it has to be for better pad to rail contact. I struggle getting the flow rate correct.

[@RayCurtis1948]

Some years ago I found a tip from a British Model Train group which suggested cleaning the track with ISO propyl and then using a us product called NO-OX which I got very cheaply from Ebay, the result on my layout which is a 5.5m x 5.5m double level track with a 4 level 3 track 76" dia helix has been nothing short of amazing I have a 10 track fiddle yard on the lower level now so with that much track, cleaning is obviously much on my mind, I have cleaned my track (you can use any track cleaning solution you prefer) then a little bit of NO-OX (the manufacturer and the British Model Train group suggested that 1 teaspoon would cover about 500 ft of track, I have spread it on the track using a Woodlands Scenic tool for track cleaning and I measured the voltage across my track before doing it (using a Digitrax DCC system) 6 months later no apparent oxidation of track, and no loss of voltage at all, trains run smooth and I can only recommend using it, hope this helps

[@XKSteve]

I too thoroughly recommend the CMX. Best track cleaner on the market and I have tested loads of different ways including the Dapol and Lima wagon versions. Well made, very effective and quite. Loving the new branch line by the way, I can see in my minds eye how it will look with scenery and it is looking well cool. All the best Steve

[@scotsoft29]

Good piece of kit saving a lot of effort and well explained ;-)

[@AndyHudson-ModelRailwayBuilds]

nice and simple less to go wrong, thanks for showing this, may be my next investment Andy

[@2KXMKR]

An absolute must if you have coaches with lighting fitted, eh? By my count, my class 37 and six coaches have 60 wheels between them. That's just one train. Couldn't imagine trying to clean all of those wheels by hand!

[@saintrod1162]

Really cool set up, Thumbs up.

[@hovermotion]

I use the same cleaning system & goo gone nothing out there can beat this at the moment...

[@percomotion]

Excellent video mate certainly does the job,I sore the cmx for sale at the Warley show on the Saturday wished I'd picked it up now it was a lot cheaper than on line,live and learn ha see about one next year as I picked up Blue Peter bnib for less than a ton.

[@TestECull]

Odd question: Have you ever considered applying a little Bullfrog Snot(Yes this is what they named the stuff) to a heavy duty locomotive so you don't have to doublehead when pulling this? Or perhaps, to your steamers, so they can actually pull trains up the helix? It's super popular stuff for us N-scalers and it makes a HUGE difference in pulling power. Tiny little 4-4-0 locomotives weighing an ounce and a half that, out of the box, struggle to pull ten old timey passenger coaches suddenly pull 30+ 50 foot hoppers like they weren't even there. Comes in a tin, an ounce of the stuff costs 25 US Dollarydoos. I don't know what scale you run(I think OO? HO?), but for us N-scalers that tin will pretty much never run out.

[@thebritfarmer]

What a great idea to use goo gone. I always have that stuff about the house anyway. Just need to get one of those cleaners and give it a whirl. Cheers !!

[@Synthematix]

Interesting video thanks!

[@EverardJunction]

@AWETDUCK The ballast is woodland scenics medium grey. It has also been weathered with my airbrush.

[@b17marko]

Just discovered your channel and im very impressed with what you have done with your layout, hoping to go the the London Show at the Alexander Palace next weekend so will be on the look out for a CMX, i dont have any kadee couplings but maybe thats something i should get more into as they are more realistic.

[@EverardJunction]

@eanat11 Thanks mate, the 20s have come out very well. When i get round to building the rest of the roads i'll take a look at your signs.

[@dcdad6]

Good Job my friend, and you are right I tried it and it works good..

[@EverardJunction]

@maxilfli1 The dapol one does work, I've seen a few layouts that use it. I don't really like the amount of noise it makes and it seems a little over-complicated for something that just needs to wipe the track clean.

[@EverardJunction]

@80rvp I tend to do between 5 - 10 laps of the layout per track. Sometimes I loose count and just leave it running for 10 minutes.

[@sbucko8361]

Hi, I have a lima great western class 47, would that be strong enough to pull the cmx on a layout without inclines. Thanks in advance Steve

[@EverardJunction]

@XKSteve Thanks mate, I read many reviews saying the CMX was the best option. Well worth the money.

[@davidfrobel7582]

good video,,whot is the make of track you have,,i love the all metal frogs on the points or switches,,i remember as a kid the plastic frogs were out in time,

[@DeanPark]

Hi, see this CMX thing. I am on the verge of ordering one as it seems to be the best available. However I don't have Kadee couplings and I see it comes with these fitted. Do they come with NEM/ tension couplings to fit? So forums seem to suggest they do! Cheers. Dave

[@EverardJunction]

DaveClass47 I believe they do now come with tension locks (I think). Mine didn't but that was 4/5 years ago. Even if it doesn't the kadees can be unscrewed and some spare old style tension locks screwed in place.

[@TimCrinion]

My 11-year old nephew and I have a train set in my parents' attic in France. We only go there once a year so the rest of the time it's covered with a tarpaulin. It's horrendously dusty and this year we found a mouse nest in it, and lots of droppings! We used sandpaper to make it shiny again (although I discovered online today that that's a really bad idea). Any recommendations?

[@EverardJunction]

@poisonarrowfrog100 Good idea, the design of the track rubber means you have to scrub the track almost constantly. However don't throw it away, there are some bits of dirt even the cmx can't shift.

[@HungryGuyStories]

How would you compare the CMX to the DAPOL? Anyone run both a DAPOL and CMX in one big honking track cleaning train?

[@BastiaanBlinksma]

Very interesting, and LIKE.

[@bloodmarine77]

good demo there richard.looks like a good bit of kit.i have the dapol cleaner and it is rather loud but im unsure whether to get the cmx now that i have paid out for the dapol cleaner. also that class 150 looks the nuts.they do look good dont they? i love my one as its my fav dmu. but isn't it out of your era???

[@EverardJunction]

@11hotmod Set them both at a speed. Then take control of the second train and see if it catching the next train or falling behind. Then adjust the speed accordingly.

[@edmiller6688]

hi richard. Do the retaining clips hit platforms as they seem to stick out quite a lot? cheers ed

[@80rvp]

great for your bigger layouts and ones which tight spaces, your branchline also looks really good and smooth and love the new purchase.. can see it running smoothly on the clean track well.... quick question.. how many times would you run the cleaner over each loop? cheers.. Ethan

[@EverardJunction]

I have, will get one at some point.

[@nordenstation]

I just got my CMX today, its actually smaller than expected bu it shifts the muck.... I am using the dapol track cleaner fluid but will the goo gone give me better results???

[@philladams2088]

good video I brought goo gone and use cotton buds to clean track that looked like it hadn't been used for a long time and it cleaned it up a treat and the use of a track rubber it looks like new. any cjance you could do a how to on train maintenance oiling and things please?

[@Synthematix]

Do they make one of these cleaners for N gauge?

[@EverardJunction]

They are set as a double headed unit in my controller, so both will respond to any commands. I've fine tuned the cv settings in each one to ensure they both run at the same speeds.

[@JtagSheep]

@EverardJunction ahh i sea what about the wheel cleaning when you run the trains and the dirt just falls of and you run the cmx over it again then its virtualy cleaned 100% ? thx

[@Matthewmodeller229]

Looking on DCC Supplies it is about £95, although it does come with extra couplings and spare polishing pads

[@TrainMadJames]

Nice i'll have to get one for my model railway.

[@EverardJunction]

@OOTrainsandModels It's a small siding, just so i can keep a loco on standby.

[@wheaa1]

How do you programme your two class 20's to run in that configuration?

[@clanks5086]

I know this is an old video but I must ask, how regularly would you recommend the track gets cleaned? Once or twice a month?

[@class37thrash]

Would a Bachmann 37 be able to handle the weight of the CMX on level track? I do have engines it could double with, But im just curious.

[@MrJDMmills]

doe you recon that my vitrains 37 would be ok to pull a cmx around a layout like yours as the center axle is non motorised (so only 8wd not 12) or would you double head with 2 of them as ive got the intercity twin pack or would one of my Bachmann FGW 57's do the job better. chears

[@EverardJunction]

@pyronathanpyro isopropal alchohol is very good as it evaporates quickly. Goo Gone does evaporate, it just takes a day or so. While the residue is there it's very useful for wheel cleaning as i explaned in the vid. 1 day later and there is no sign of any goo gone on track. isopropal alchohol is great, but I've been using goo gone for 2 years and never had a problem.

[@Matthewmodeller229]

Do you need a few more drops to come out on an uphill helix?

[@EverardJunction]

@bloodmarine77 Thanks mate, I would stick with the dapol one as it does a good job. I would say the CMX is a bit better but it's noth the extra cost if you allready have the dapol one. Class 150s where first built in 1984. The livery that mine is painted in was around from 1987 to the late 1990s. So despite the modern appearance, it's a perfect fit for the layout.

[@Matthewmodeller229]

Can I use goo gone in a Dapol Track Cleaner? If not, could I put a drop on a kitchen paper sheet and rub it on the track?

[@EverardJunction]

@MrJezza31 Not sure as i've had it for 2 years, might have been between £60 - £70

[@Matthewmodeller229]

You could paint the CMX in the same livery as your shell tankers, and make it fit in!

[@modeltrainteen95]

how many times will the cmx have to go around the same track

[@mattyspillman3936]

Hi mate - Do you still use this method?

[@dmaxsba]

Using any kind of cleaning fluid only causes the need for more cleaning. The residue left behind always attacks more dirt. A simple masonite cleaning pad weighted properly at a cost of around 15 bucks works just as good without any kind of cleaning fluid. One or two passes and you are good to go without the $100+ price tag!

[@lukeyoung6139]

how often do u clean it as i just got a dapol trackcleaner and my track is 1 year old

[@EverardJunction]

@Yorkiepudd1966 The space will be filled with more scenery, perhaps a dissused bit of track too.

[@jackbrown2830]

Hi richard, would one fill of the cmx clean your whole layout ? Thanks Jack.

[@EverardJunction]

Jack Brown If I fully filled the cmx it would clean the whole layout many times. Probably 10 times before it needs a refill.

[@toffie702]

is the 150 going on the branch line ?

[@Nbjessen]

How do you make to different trains pull at the same speed, out letting the ram each other. I have tryet to put them on the same channel but thay don't have the same speed. (sorry for my bad english)

[@NewoakJunction]

Hi, my track on my layout gets dirty very easily and i am wondering whether the CMX would be a better buy than the dapol track cleaner? Thanks

[@EverardJunction]

***** The dapol cleaner is good but I personally prefer the cmx. The extra weight of the cmx gives it more cleaning power.

[@EverardJunction]

@siobhan104 They are where the flexi-track joins up. Extra sleepers will be added later.

[@mattlowcock9936]

Where’s you 50 sounds from?

[@Matthewmodeller229]

What about sidings? Do you just go back and forth?

[@rhysgregory8572]

Thats clever!!

[@EverardJunction]

Best to use two 37s, I've found that most locos struggle to pull the CMX on their own.

[@Nbjessen]

how long and how wide is your tabble? :)

[@siobhan104]

Not having a layout of my own I found that very interesting. Just came upon your videos by chance so there are quite a few to catch up on from what I can see. Just a question. Why are there sleepers missing in certain parts of the track? Is that where the joins are? Nice one.

[@EverardJunction]

It's 2ft wide and about 30ft from one end to the other.

[@MrJezza31]

how much was your cmx?

[@TotallyScaleModels]

its an expensive bit of kit !! how do you think it compares to the peco version ??

[@MrCoolred1998]

would either the class 73 (R3136) or class 31 (R3044) do the trick?

[@nickmiduck]

What make are your 20's? I need one/a pair.

[@lukeyoung6139]

if a loco sparks this goes kaboom

[@EverardJunction]

@scotsoft29 thanks mate

[@EverardJunction]

@5786Dan A loco fleet vid is on the way soon.

[@jessesim9906]

hey what website did you buy the goo gone off? as i went to buy some and they wont ship to australia? cheers jesse

[@EverardJunction]

+Brighton Junction I bought mine form DCC Supplies.

[@jessesim9906]

thats not the australian shop DCC concepts is it? or is this one in england? :)

[@rookycanadiantrucker]

+Brighton Junction I live in Canada, and I can send it you if you want

[@szymongorczynski7621]

+Brighton Junction I don't know if yous have it over in Australia but Sticky Stuff Remover is amazing and I'd say it should do the job rightly

[@JtagSheep]

hi there i too want a cmx but i strongly strongly advice that you dont use goo gone it leaves residue on the tracks or so i have found alot before what i normaly used in my mates cmx is isopropal alchohol

[@EverardJunction]

Yes

[@EverardJunction]

I use a lenz LH100 system

[@Matthewmodeller229]

At 8:35, you say leave it over night and it will go back to being as gritty as it used to be. So does that mean that this product is useless, or are you talking about the weathering?

[@joeyoung19475]

thank you very much.....usa. pa.

[@1920Sparky]

how much did you pay for the cmx

[@emmapopham]

cool

[@EverardJunction]

@toffie702 Yep

[@scuboo]

Is it possible to email you?

[@EverardJunction]

Doesn't appear to cause a problem. In the vid I show how you can use it to clean wheels.

[@MrCoolred1998]

ok thanks

[@EverardJunction]

I said grip, not grid. Overnight that track will be gripy again once the fluid has evaporated.

[@CentralWestRail]

I have the CMX Track cleaner off a website and I can get steam locos to haul it fine. 1 AD60 or a 36 or 38 but I guess your refering to British steam locos as they are not as strong as Australian or American models.

[@TaynuiltModelRailway]

What a peice of kit.I am currently just using the standard horny track rubber so I will see about getting one

[@davidfrobel7582]

ok thanks,,,,

[@MrJezza31]

@EverardJunction way beyond my reach then as a dc kits strathclyde class 303 is first on my mind

[@EverardJunction]

I use peco track

[@EverardJunction]

A shop called DCC supplies.