Putting Oil On Rails ???

[dannyboy]

I have today received a 'Con-Cor' piece of rolling stock, (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=19985.msg721220#msg721220) which I am quite pleased with.  However, I am a bit confused - one of the end flaps on the box says "Modelling Tip: Clean rails, then apply drop of LaBelle #108 every three feet on rails to improve loco performance". Thinking that LaBelle #108 was some sort of miracle cure I looked it up - its a light weight multi purpose oil for model locomotives!  . I would have thought that putting oil on the rails would be akin to dumping a load of leaves on a real railway line. Anybody any thoughts? 

[emjaybee]

Thoughts? Yes...

...Don't do it!!!...

...as you were.

[ntpntpntp]

There are people who are convinced using things like Rail Zip, oil, graphite, even brake fluid on the rails makes their trains run better.     

Not for me thanks, I just keep the rails and wheels clean.  NO MAGIC POTIONS ON MY LAYOUT TRACKWORK EVER!

[Bob Tidbury]

In my opinion give the track a good clean and then a soft graphite pencil especialy at the points ,I only clean my track about once a year and have no problems ,My track was laid in 1982 and some of the points are still the originals Though I  am slowly replace them as the spring gets very weak they are all insulfrog on the main layout but electro frog on the new branch line .
Bob Tidbury.

[bluedepot]

i watched a video the other day and this american guy was putting a very thin layer conductive grease on his track - which apparently stops oxidation... i cant remember the name of it...

anyway i just use ipa or track magic, and v occasionally graphite pencil on troublesome points...


tim

[Bob Tidbury]

DONT USE TRACKMAGIC in the Tomix/Dapol trackcleaner it melts the tiny hole in the plastic that the fluid is supposed to drip onto the pad .
DONT ASK HOW I KNOW .
Bob Tidbury

[Newportnobby]

...Don't do it!!!...

Wot he said

[dannyboy]

I wasn't contemplating doing it - the only 'stuff' that goes on my rails, (on purpose anyway  ), is the iso thingy whatsit alcohol. Even I know what oil between two metal surfaces does.  . It just seemed a strange thing to read on a box containing a model railway item. 

[Tartaruga]

i watched a video the other day and this american guy was putting a very thin layer conductive grease on his track - which apparently stops oxidation... i cant remember the name of it...

The video is from Ron's Trains n things, I happened to watch it yesterday, and he got the idea from Aussie under the name Fishplate films. They say it also helps conductivity.

I've reclaimed my old track from over 30 years ago and wondering  how to clean it all.

[LASteve]

I thought the post was the latest "groaner" installment until I realized it was (potentially) a serious question.

IMHO

Don't do it.

IMO - not humble

Don't do it.

[Bealman]

DO NOT do it. I know you wouldn't, David. As you say, weird advice to be on the box.

[Bigmac]

a pencil rubbed on the railhead works wonders.

[jpendle]

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of US Model Railroading, Bullfrog Snot and all 

John P

[The Q]

I have seen people use electrolube in the past.. Gets a bit interesting when too much is put on and it coats the points..

There's nothing I can see in the spec of Labelle that says it's electrically conductive..

I do use graphite.. It works and you'd have to work hard to short out a point..

[signalman1]

DONT USE TRACKMAGIC in the Tomix/Dapol trackcleaner it melts the tiny hole in the plastic that the fluid is supposed to drip onto the pad .
DONT ASK HOW I KNOW .
Bob Tidbury

Similar sort of thing, I put ipa in mine, next time I went to use it it was in bits. the ipa had done a right job on it