I truly don’t understand the stories on excessive track cleaning. I’ve had track powered garden railways in Germany (3 years), Massachusetts (8 years), Louisiana (3 years), Alaska (3 years) and Texas (since 1998)…And never had to clean track as often or as greatly as the quotes that keep appearing on these train sites.
If you like R/C that’s fine, but track power has worked since 1900 (first Lionel Track Powered Gondola).
To paraphase another fellow, “Can’t we all just run trains?”
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
A small clarification:Strictly by the “A picture says more than a thousand words” method.
Yes, the above also show the boxes my LGB equipment came in.
I use my LGB boxes for room dividers .
I live in an aircraft hangar .
Not much room left .
Now , whose product should I nominate for the lavatory walls ? Hmmm .
I put any equipment I purchase; be it LGB, Bachmann or other; into service and sell the boxes to collectors. There is more damage done taking stuff in and out of boxes than just plain running it on the track.
When not in operation; we store all of our rolling stock on “Bread Trays”; in racks in a metal shed.
The “Lone Railroader” is standing, first in line waiting for any LGB boxes I care to part with…!!!
Oooh , no , you should keep the boxes otherwise your locos and stuff will be worthless . Won’t they ?
Mike M
…“Worthless” to whom…?
I buy or acquire rolling stock to use in my operation.
What in heck do I need boxes for. I don’t give a tin hoot what happens to it after I pass on…I won’t be around to worry about it.
Do you guys keep the boxes your tooth past tubes come in…or the boxes your cereal comes in…or the boxes your Single Malt Whisky comes in…?
WHY.........
In stead of ammassing boxes of toys…take them out of the boxes and play with them…
YOU MIGHT EVEN FIND THAT IT IS FUN.
STOP LOOKING ALWAYS AT DOLLAR SIGNS......play with your toys.
…and I assure you that a bottle of Highland Park, tastes far better than it looks like in it’s box.
Ferd- I do believe Mike is yankin’ yer crank…errr…pulling yer chain.
Track cleaning is odd.
It depends on the environment and the soils.
Acidic soils can wreak havoc with brass.
BTDT.
Had a loop around the ceiling of an office.
About 4-6 hours between cleanings.
That’s a 2017D and all gen-ewe-eyne LGB track.
Don’t recall the controller.
We even bought those little pad kits from LGB that went under the 2-axle cars.
Three days later took them off.
Didn’t help.
You’ve never lived until you’ve had acidic soil, wet weather, track on the ground, and track power, and the LGB joiners eat in half at the sharp bends in less than 60 days.
Thankfully, the longer sections (about 2 feet long) had extra joiners in the middle to use.
Most of those sections in the terminal yard in the shed to this day are missing the middle sets of joiners.
The Lone Railroader said:Marvin,
To paraphase another fellow, "Can't we all just run trains?"
Apparently not, unless you clean the track.
The Lone Railroader said:Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
A small clarification:Strictly by the “A picture says more than a thousand words” method.
Yes, the above also show the boxes my LGB equipment came in.
Gee if that was all the Red Boxes that I had…I would have so much more room for more items…Couldn’t resist…Devil made me say it…Or was it Fr. Fred…Hmmmm?
“Problem” is: I buy very selectively, I’m not a collector, if it doesn’t fit my era and proto I really don’t need it.
BTW I only keep the boxes to take pictures from time to time in order to prove to the RBB (RedBoxBrigade) that I don’t “hate” LGB.
I just know exactly which items I buy (or don’t buy) from which mfg and for what reason.
I know… way too pragmatic when applied to a hobby.
Mike Morgan said:Are you looking for suggestions?????
I use my LGB boxes for room dividers . I live in an aircraft hangar . Not much room left . Now , whose product should I nominate for the lavatory walls ? Hmmm .
Aircraft hangar??
No wonder you have so many computer glitches!! It’s all that “headroom” in those things.
That wouldn’t be “Marvin the Magnificent” would it?
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:The Lone Railroader said:Marvin,
To paraphase another fellow, "Can't we all just run trains?"Apparently not, unless you clean the track.
I just put a train on an outside loop that had not been used in three months…It ran without any track cleaning…Okay, the LGB Sliders on their locos helps greatly…but no cleaning of track was required…and after a couple of laps of running…the track was shiny again.
Others may get different results…but I have never lived in an environment that caused me track cleaning headaches.
The Lone Railroader
TonyWalsham said:And you be "Bologna Tony".
That wouldn't be "Marvin the Magnificent" would it?
Marvin,
I’ve been bemoaning the fact that brass just won’t tarnish properly in the climate here. Looks like I have to paint the rail to make it look more realistic or use a different material.
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
[ I hear you,“Problem” is: I buy very selectively, I’m not a collector, if it doesn’t fit my era and proto I really don’t need it.
BTW I only keep the boxes to take pictures from time to time in order to prove to the RBB (RedBoxBrigade) that I don’t “hate” LGB.
I just know exactly which items I buy (or don’t buy) from which mfg and for what reason.
I know… way too pragmatic when applied to a hobby. [
I sold all of the collector type LGB from the 70s & 80s, that I had picked up over the years, a couple of years ago on eBay. Just got tired of dusting them. Now, I run everything I buy to keep. And I buy mainly the Rocky Mountain Narrow Gauge Style Locos and Cars. I have really have enjoyed riding Narrow Gauge Railroads like the Cumbres, Leadville, Durango & White Pass Railroads over the years.
The Lone Railroader
Hans-Joerg Mueller said:
Marvin,I’ve been bemoaning the fact that brass just won’t tarnish properly in the climate here. Looks like I have to paint the rail to make it look more realistic or use a different material.
I have seen others paint the sides of their rails a dark brown color to resemble aging & rust. It does add a bit of realizim to the look of the rails.
I’m currently trying to find time to expand my railway at my new location, Mission del guerrero…but with my current workload, my free time has been limited.
The Lone Railroader