TheRailwire

General Discussion => N and Z Scales => Topic started by: LIRR on October 08, 2013, 01:55:49 PM

Title: Cheap and easy track cleaning car
Post by: LIRR on October 08, 2013, 01:55:49 PM
Built a simple track cleaning car that will be part of a non-stop coal drag that runs staging to staging
Started with an Atlas hopper….
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/lirrlirr/track%20cleaning%20car/zhackedout_zps2c396ce5.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/lirrlirr/media/track%20cleaning%20car/zhackedout_zps2c396ce5.jpg.html)

(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/lirrlirr/track%20cleaning%20car/zfiledclean_zps4c03e41b.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/lirrlirr/media/track%20cleaning%20car/zfiledclean_zps4c03e41b.jpg.html)

Built a styrene box….
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/lirrlirr/track%20cleaning%20car/zbox_zpse436daa5.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/lirrlirr/media/track%20cleaning%20car/zbox_zpse436daa5.jpg.html)

Some weight over the trucks..
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/lirrlirr/track%20cleaning%20car/zweights_zps24a6c2bb.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/lirrlirr/media/track%20cleaning%20car/zweights_zps24a6c2bb.jpg.html)

Some buck-shot in the styrene box
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/lirrlirr/track%20cleaning%20car/zbuckshot_zps9cc91623.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/lirrlirr/media/track%20cleaning%20car/zbuckshot_zps9cc91623.jpg.html)

Closed up with masking tape & painted
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/lirrlirr/track%20cleaning%20car/ztapedbox_zps16417573.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/lirrlirr/media/track%20cleaning%20car/ztapedbox_zps16417573.jpg.html)

Self-adhesive magnet on a Masonite pad, another magnet on the underside of the styrene box
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/lirrlirr/track%20cleaning%20car/zmagnet_zps5aa9acb0.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/lirrlirr/media/track%20cleaning%20car/zmagnet_zps5aa9acb0.jpg.html)

Finished car….
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/lirrlirr/track%20cleaning%20car/zcloseup_zps21bdbb15.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/lirrlirr/media/track%20cleaning%20car/zcloseup_zps21bdbb15.jpg.html)

Barely visible in a train. It’s the car under the blue cap
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/lirrlirr/track%20cleaning%20car/zbluecap2_zpse73eeb9d.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/lirrlirr/media/track%20cleaning%20car/zbluecap2_zpse73eeb9d.jpg.html)

(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/lirrlirr/track%20cleaning%20car/zbluecap1_zps9a1697ff.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/lirrlirr/media/track%20cleaning%20car/zbluecap1_zps9a1697ff.jpg.html)

Earlier car, but not built to operate in a regular train…
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii62/lirrlirr/track%20cleaning%20car/zoldclcar_zps3519afda.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/lirrlirr/media/track%20cleaning%20car/zoldclcar_zps3519afda.jpg.html)






Title: Re: Cheap and easy track cleaning car
Post by: mu26aeh on October 08, 2013, 04:07:32 PM
Is the box/masonite affixed to the car, or just floating ?
Title: Re: Cheap and easy track cleaning car
Post by: Scottl on October 08, 2013, 04:19:20 PM
Great idea, thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Cheap and easy track cleaning car
Post by: LIRR on October 08, 2013, 05:39:48 PM
The box floats in the car. There's buckshot in the box, so the weight on the pad can be changed. The Masonite pad is attached via the magnets. I have other magnets with different pads on them, easily interchangeable. one with 600-grit paper another with sheet balsa. The balsa pad I dip in denatured alcohol before running the train.
Title: Re: Cheap and easy track cleaning car
Post by: Philip H on October 08, 2013, 08:37:12 PM
Agreed, this is a neat idea. Wonder if you could do it for an Ortner or something since I don't have a coal mine.
Title: Re: Cheap and easy track cleaning car
Post by: mu26aeh on October 08, 2013, 08:52:54 PM
Agreed, this is a neat idea. Wonder if you could do it for an Ortner or something since I don't have a coal mine.

You can't have a run-thru single car ?  There are no mines or delivery points for coal hoppers in my area, but they sneak thru on the locals once in a while
Title: Re: Cheap and easy track cleaning car
Post by: nsbob on October 08, 2013, 10:38:25 PM
That's a great idea, especially since I plan to move a lot of coal on my layout.  I will be using both hoppers and gons, so I think this would be a great way to make a really inconspicuous track cleaning car out of a tub type coal gon.  If you leave the sides on the tubs, it would be very difficult to see.
Title: Re: Cheap and easy track cleaning car
Post by: nkalanaga on October 09, 2013, 01:43:06 AM
NSBob:  That was my thought as well.  Some of the NS tub cars I see along the Big Sandy have square tubs, which would make an even better disguise.

Me, I'd probably put it in a boxcar, for 1974 Montana.
Title: Re: Cheap and easy track cleaning car
Post by: LV LOU on October 09, 2013, 10:15:05 AM
I actually have a kit coming out soon that will drop into a boxcar that works exactly like this.It's a casting with a weight inside.It will be available with either a Masonite pad,or a stone..I'll post some pics tonight.
Title: Re: Cheap and easy track cleaning car
Post by: Ed Kapuscinski on October 09, 2013, 10:50:33 AM
I dig it!

I also like that it'll make your coal drag a real drag. Better tie those helpers on!