Keeping My Trains Running / Track Cleaning & Dusting (Tutorial 12)

In this video I show what I do to keep my trains running on the layout. I try to run my trains 1-2 times per week to ensure that everything continues running. This also prevents built-up of dust on the track. In this video it's been 5 weeks since I last used my layout.
There is many ways and opinions on how to clean your track. In this video I show how I clean and dust my layout. This works for me and may - or may not work for you. I use the following:
• A cleaning train with Märklin 46049, a heavy locomotive and a car with light
• Cardboard
• Lint free cloth
• A paint brush with very soft and fine hair for dusting
Tips & How to included:
• How do I clean my track
• How do I dust my trains and buildings
• Tip: Run your trans 1-2 per week to minimize track cleaning
• Tip: Use a cleaning train once in a while to clean the track
• Tip: I use the Märklin 46049 cleaning car
• Tip: Use a heavy locomotive for your cleaning train
• Tip: Use a car with a slider/pickup to give clean the 3rd rail
• Tip: Use a car with light to spot troublesome spots on the track
• Tip: Use cardboard for extra track cleaning
• Tip: Sometimes a lint free cloth helps with track cleaning
• Tip: the felt pads of the Märklin cleaning car can be washed
• Tip: Put the track cleaning car in front of locomotive to clean before loco
• Tip: Do 3 passes at high speed, then some passes at low speed
• Tip: Ensure turnouts are set correct when running cleaning train
• Tip: You can also push the Märklin 46049 cleaning car with your fingers
• Tip: Use a brush with soft long (1 cm) hairs to dust
• Tip: The brush should have a wide and a narrow side
Enjoy and have fun with model trains :-)
Interesting links (English):
- Märklin: www.maerklin.de/en
- Märklin 46049 cleaning car: www.maerklin.de/en/products/d...
- Märklin E106291 replacement felt pads: www.maerklinshop.de/en/SpareP...
- MarklinofSweden track cleaning: • No More Track Cleaning...
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:07 My tools for track cleaning & dusting
05:02 Changing felt pads on Märklin cleaning car
07:12 My cleaning train
08:54 Running the cleaning train
13:51 Dirt closeup after cleaning train
14:14 Using cardboard to remove stuck dirt
15:24 Cardboard cleaning track
15:53 Cardboard cleaning turnouts
16:53 Sometimes cloth cleaning
17:35 Dusting trains with brush
19:31 Dusting buildings with brush
20:17 Dusting my layout
20:44 Outro

[@soerenwizard]

Using cardboard is a good idea. I usually use a small piece of folded paper. No track rubber for me - especially on the third rail contact studs!

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Søren, I also take care not to scratch the rails. You can also use a wooden block. I typically clean the center rail mostly by running trains and only use cardboard when really bad... Enjoy ;-) Bo

[@geoffwalker315]

Hi Bo, you convinced me of the ease of building a Marklin system. i only have space for an 'N' gauge layout ( i have had it for a few years) so i bought a Minitrix Starter set. I also bought the track cleaning wagon which gave excellent results on my old 'N' gauge track. Thank you and a Happy New Year.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Geoff, Sounds great that got a Minitrix starter set. I really like the modern N-scale where you can find full DCC with sound and lights. Definitely a great option if you have limited space. I am glad to hear that the track cleaning wagon helps on your tracks - thanks for the tip! Happy new year to you as well. Enjoy ;-)

[@thomasmarklinmodelleisenba4012]

Hi Bo I use denatured alcohol to clean my tracks. It works good, even by older tracks ( m track). Don't forget to clean the wheels on your rolling stock.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Thomas, how do you apply the denatured alcohol? just with a cloth? Agree - cleaning wheels is essential as well! Enjoy ;-)

[@thomasmarklinmodelleisenba4012]

@@ModelTrainFun hi I apply it with a paint brush, then I wait a short time, now I take a cloth for the finish. Sometimes I take a cloth for both.( In the area of ​​the railway switch i use the paint brush always, for the finish I use a cloth too).

[@ModelTrainFun]

@@thomasmarklinmodelleisenba4012 I like the use of a brush - in the past I tried the same, but just with cloth. Enjoy ;-)

[@Trainsbigandsmall]

I use a popsick stick to rub on the track to clean the track.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi, do you mean a popsicle stick? Great idea! Enjoy ;-)

[@erichendrikse2946]

Hi Bo How many do you charge per hour to clean a lay out at home ?

[@ModelTrainFun]

HI Eric, LOL - unfortunately not a service I provide. Enjoy ;-)

[@arturspipins7385]

I cleaned rails by white cloth and found lot of oxidation deposits.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Arturs, nice - it seems like your track were dirty. Enjoy ;-)

[@ModelTrainFun]

BTW - it is typically not oxidation, but oil from locomotives and cars, dust and remnants from layout construction.

[@ernesto5990]

I always follow your videos with great interest even if I have a little trouble with the language, in particular this video ( Märklin C-track Geometry (Beginner Episode 3) I really enjoyed it, but I'm missing one thing .... how do I do it to assemble the tracks well with the 3-way switch ? so that they remain straight at the output .... thanks .... google translate

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Ernesto, I am glad you like the videos and I hope they help you. The 3-way turnout has same geometry as a standard turnout - just only able to turn one way. As with the standard turnout you can use the 24224 curve to get back to straight. Enjoy ;-)

[@ernesto5990]

Hello Bo .... Thank you very much for the answer now I have solved ... I continue to watch you with great interest .... good videos for the future I look forward to ... CIAO from Ernesto ( ITALY ) google translate

[@Mikakp]

hi were are you from witch contry ?

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Mnik, I am from Denmark. How about you? Where are you from and what is your favorite train? Enjoy ;-)

[@Mikakp]

@@ModelTrainFun Jeg er også fra Danmark sytens navnet lød dansk og helt klart det danske my i rød sort er favorit men det næste jeg får er tomas tog 29120 ;)

[@ModelTrainFun]

@@Mikakp MY er klart også blandt mine favoritter og jeg har indtil flere af dem fra Märklin og nogle dansk lavede. Jeg var ikke klar over at Märklin lavede et thomas tog 29120 - Nice! Enjoy ;-)

[@JohnPap_Net]

Yet another great video! 👆👆👆 I use the Märklin Article 46010 Cleaning Cars, but mainly I follow your advice. I run trains very often. They say that a walking path gathers no moss. In the same way used tracks gather no dirt! 😁 At the beginning of this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJbIp5-FaZV1bsU one can see how a real train cleans the rusty tracks.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi John, I see that the Märklin 46010 is two cars like the Märklin 46049 permanently connected. I wonder if always have two cleaning cars is more effective? I like the video you linked to - hanks! I know that in Denmark they also run "rust trains" - usually one locomotive for this. Removing rust is essential for the safety mechanisms to work. Enjoy ;-)

[@OnnoDonald]

Your cleaning car is crooked... The blueish top is tilted.... It shouldn't be. Mine definitely isn't.

[@ModelTrainFun]

Hi Donald, yes it is crooked. I dropped it on the floor and something broke. However, it still works. I might fix it one day... Enjoy ;-)