Q: I have a bunch of old track – maybe 500 pieces – which I’d like to use on a layout. Most of it is dirty, greasy, and rusty, and I’d like to know how to clean it without doing each piece separately. – Larry Novis, Hermitage, Tenn.
A: There is no mass-cleaning technique, shortcut, or magical formula that will make cruddy track serviceable for use on a layout. In the final analysis, you will have to deal with each piece individually in some way.
Start by soaking the track pieces in a laundry tub and rinsing them under warm running water. Use a strong laundry detergent solution and a scrub brush to remove accumulated dirt and grease.
Dry each piece thoroughly to prevent new rust from forming. In the winter, I usually stack the washed sections next to the warm air vent on my furnace. In the summer, I take them outside to dry in the sun. You could also use a blow-dryer.
Inspect each track piece to see that it isn’t warped or bent and the insulators are all in place, and discard the bad ones. Make sure the pins are tight and the holes in the other end are not disfigured. Use track or needlenose pliers to reshape the holes. A tight fit is essential to good contact and smooth operation.
Spray a cloth with WD-40 and wipe down each section. This penetrating oil cleaner leaves a rust-preventing residue. If some obvious oxidation remains, remove it with a ScotchBrite pad. Do not use steel wool on track. It leaves metal shavings that can foul locomotive motors.
Toss out any track pieces that are still visibly rusty after this treatment and don’t try to salvage every section. While you save money by recycling used track, your layout is only as good as the track you put on it.
