Tomix track cleaning car now in US

[VonRyan]

I know of one of these doo-jiggers that runs on DCC even without a decoder and on full-blast. (it is not self-propelled, just the vacuum takes power from the track)
 It sure does wonders to find all the loose bits of ballast and what-not that may be strew along the right-of-way.


-Cody F.

[DKS]

Well, if there's a risk of damage, it hasn't affected the units my friend has; he's been running them on DCC (without decoders) for several years, and they have not shown any ill effects.

[SkipGear]

Well, if there's a risk of damage, it hasn't affected the units my friend has; he's been running them on DCC (without decoders) for several years, and they have not shown any ill effects.

It may be relative to the track voltage used for DCC. Some systems are stuck at 16V, others are selectable / adjustable down to a proper 12V for N scale. I can't see running on 12V hurting it, but 16-18V could pose problems.

[pnolan48]

I set my DCC track voltage at roughly 10.6V, and ran two of the cars without decoders for years. While most of the 1100 feet of track was readily accessible, I liked the gizmo aspect of them. They ran in a consist with two CMC tank cars, two Aztec rollers, and a number of pad cars, one self-built to dry whatever was left on the track by the tankers. The vacuum did pick up tiny bits of dust and detritus. The sanding disk always came back with a glaze that was silverish, so I assumed it was doing some polishing. I could never figure out how long it took that glaze to form, but I believe it was in the first 200 feet or so (I really didn't care much anyway). They were not good at cleaning really dirty track, as they seemed to suffer from pickup problems after a few feet.

If my track got really dirty, I had to clean it the old fashioned way, with lots of elbow grease. My track cleaning consist was more for show than actual cleaning. But I did love fiddling with those tank cars.

[Bob Horn]

My track voltage is 11.5-11.9. I have run the car on 00 for more than 5 years with no problem. Just vary the speed of the motor as you want. No problems, some day I will get around to adding a decoder just for lighting effects. Bob.

[Philip H]

I will wait for the Dyson version
 

Ritchie,
THose are fabulous, what are they Russian ice melters?

[pnolan48]

Ritchie,
THose are fabulous, what are they Russian ice melters?

Nah, that's just reverse gear. You oughta see what's on the back.

[nkalanaga]

The NYC used jet engines mounted on flatcars as yard snowblowers, so I wouldn't be surprised if many of the world's air forces do the same.  The NYC found that they also worked very well as ballast and debris blowers, and at full throttle could damage switches.

[peteski]

The NYC used jet engines mounted on flatcars as yard snowblowers, so I wouldn't be surprised if many of the world's air forces do the same.  The NYC found that they also worked very well as ballast and debris blowers, and at full throttle could damage switches.

..and a model is available...
http://nscaleenthusiast.com/ZNSC_SR/NSE_NYC_Snow_Melter.asp

[haasmarc]

They were not good at cleaning really dirty track, as they seemed to suffer from pickup problems after a few feet.

That is why I have two of them in between two Lifelike PA's and all are MU'd together.  The rear unit is always running on clean track.  They have never stalled.

[C855B]

That is why I have two of them in between two Lifelike PA's and all are MU'd together.  The rear unit is always running on clean track.  They have never stalled.

My workbench-project dream is to build a track cleaning train very similar to a Loran grinder train, where everything is wired together - all wheels with pickups are on a power bus running the entire length of the train. I'm pretty sure it's been done. But keying on the Loran concept, with all the exposed equipment and support bits... very industrial... that should be fun to freelance.

[rogergperkins]

A careful re-read of Ron Bearden's article in N-SCALE Sept/Oct & Nov/Dec 2012 is worthwhile for anyone already using the Atlas/Tomix track cleaning car.
I have used my in vacuum mode more than any of the other options.

[pnolan48]

That is why I have two of them in between two Lifelike PA's and all are MU'd together.  The rear unit is always running on clean track.  They have never stalled.

When I wanted "never stall" I just used this twin engined unit:

[pnolan48]

More than one railroad, and more than one airport, have used jet engines to blow/melt snow.

[rogergperkins]

My Atlas version is now equipped with a DCC decoder per Ron Bearden's instructions.  I assigned an address to the track cleaner so I can operate the speed independently from the locomotive use to pull or push it.

I have run it around the layout several times in vacuum mode. I used a DCC locomotive running slow to pull it and set the "speed" of the track cleaning car at "50 to 60" on 1-126 scale.   I am open to recommendations from anyone who is using the car with DCC as to settings, CV or otherwise.
 
The Tomix version is out for DCC decoder installation.
  Hope to have it on the layout later this week.