carbon sticks

[steve836]

For my sins I am also on the facebook model rail forum and on there some people advocate rubbing their rails with graphite sticks. The graphite is spread round the layout by passing trains and supposedly removes the need for track cleaning.
Has anyone here had experience of this? I have concerns,
1, does it work?
2, does it make the track slippery and reduce the haulage capacity of locos?
3, Would the lack of cleaning allow dirt to get into the locos and cause problems?
Your thoughts and experience please.

[Malc]

I have used a graphite stick and not noticed any issues with traction. However I have only been using if for a short while.

[crewearpley40]

Steve. I use a little graphite stick with power off, place it lengthways and add a tiny piece of pressure,  lightly rub so it cleans inside of rail heads , I then take care on points one rail at a time. Exercising care on the frogs , stock rails . Improved running here. Its worked better than abrasive peco rubbers and dies conduct electricity a little . I've noticed a difference. The haulage capacity does not matter here as I run up to 6 coaches or ten wagons. A good artist's shop will stock. I paid 7 pounds a stick. Bob did mention this at # 33 here https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=35808.30 @Bob Tidbury  did you to comment

[ntpntpntp]

I've seen a few posts from people who like the idea. 

Personally I wouldn't use them, they certainly won't remove the need for track cleaning.  For me, cleaning the track, locos and stock wheels is part of the hobby and essential maintenance. Going round the layout encourages checking for faults, picking up loose bits and pieces etc. and just keeping everything tiptop.   I don't use any potions or gadgets etc., just a fine grained track rubber used lightly and without generating grains or rubber etc.

[steve836]

To me, haulage capacity is importand as I like to run scale length trains, 10 or 12 coaches on an express and 35 wagons on a freight It would be more on a freight but (1) steam locos from Union Mills are the only ones capable of handling more and (2) my passing loop isn't long enough for longer.

[Newportnobby]

Based on what folks said about graphite pencils I bought one in 'The Works'.
Tried it on point blades but not on track and, TBH, noticed no difference so it's not been used again.
I think there's no substitute for a good old IPA/hardboard or IPA/Track Tidy ex Woodland Scenics.
(The stuff they put in with the kit is rubbish)

[njee20]

I've used them. They're fine, I would say they degrade haulage capability, yes. I prefer cleaning the dirt off with a bath rubber or similar, rather than covering it with graphite.

[swisstrains]

I've tried graphite sticks out of curiosity and although you do get an initial improvement it's short-lived and no substitute for proper cleaning. You are basically covering the normal dirt with conductive dirt. It's also quite a good lubricant so haulage will suffer and will be particularly noticeable if you have any gradients.

[steve836]

Thanks guys. Looks like its a non-starter for me then. I rather thought that would be the case but, as I have about 170 ft of track in tunnels it seemed worth concidering.

[Newportnobby]

I have about 170 ft of track in tunnels

Cripes! That's going to need something good, and I've heard decent reports about these track cleaners but have a read of any reviews you can find. I seem to recall @lil chris has/had one but may be wrong...........

https://www.model-trainstrack-cleaner.co.uk

[crewearpley40]

Hope Steve has thought about lift out sections for ease of track cleaning ,maintenance etc. 170ft ? My thought .. I had to look twice at that post

[steve836]

I have about 170 ft of track in tunnels

Cripes! That's going to need something good, and I've heard decent reports about these track cleaners but have a read of any reviews you can find. I seem to recall @lil chris has/had one but may be wrong...........

https://www.model-trainstrack-cleaner.co.uk

Sure is Nobby, if you look at my thread "Cromford" you wont see, but under the canal area there are 8 storage sidings plus another 6 under "Crich". With my annual trips to India the layout tended to sit idle through the worst of the winter so needed a good clean before running could resume. As summer came on I tended to leave it so have not run trains for a couple of years. I have now aquired two track cleaning wagons, one is the Dapole the other is a brass bogie tank wagon with a pad underneath, I forget the make but it cost nearly £100  so should be good. Before I can use these though I need to go round with a track rubber & vacuum, a job I keep putting off!

[lil chris]

I have a few track cleaners, a Sharge which was a little wide and high and the paint started to come off when I used isop. I also have a Tomix ( converted to dcc ) which was also a bit high, the vacuum cleaner is very good on it. I have recently bought a Gaugemaster ( Minitrix ) cleaning van, that is the only one I have tried on my new layout it is quite heavy. My Jinty would not pull it up my inclines plus it also snagged on points, I have adjusted it so I intend to try it again. Keep safe.

[chrism]

I get pretty good results using the Gaugemaster/Noch axle-hung cleaning pads. I trim the sides so that they will just fit inside the underframe of a Peco 15'wheelbase wagon (a 10' one is too short) but leaving  them still wide enough to not drop down between the rails, hook 'em on and include the wagon in a freight train. If I'm just playing then I'll tack 'em on the end of a passenger train too 

They fit best on metal axles, the Peco plastic ones are too thick and won't rotate inside the clips, and some wheelsets also need a sliver taking off each side of the cleaning pad clips so they don't bind behind the hub moulding.

They get pretty mucky, so they must be cleaning something off the track, but are easily cleaned with IPA and eventually don't get pretty mucky.

If I'm using a length of track that hasn't been used for a while I bung the wagon in front of the loco and propel it for a few passes over that length before putting it back in the train instead.

[Bob Tidbury]

I still think graphite sticks are helpfull especialy on pointwork between the blades and stock rails ,I use the very soft type but you do get very black fingers after holding them so DONT PICK UP STOCK WITHOUT WIPEING YOUR FINGERS FIRST .I havnt found any problem with haulage though my layout is flat and NO sharp curves .
Bob Tidbury