I know this is an old vid, but I wanted to point out that the fundamental error in the design is that the cleaning pad rolls. As a single car you want the cleaning pad to be stationary. A rolling pad only moistens/softens the crud, it won’t remove it. If on the other hand, an additional car with an abrasive pad followed, it would remove the moist crud on the rail head. To this end, I am currently building a MOW track cleaning train with 4 cleaning cars which include, in order, 1 wet-clean car, 1 abrasive clean car, 2nd abrasive clean car (different type of pad), and lastly a soft-clean (buffing pad) car. Mixed in will be a crane, flat car, and flanger caboose on the tail end. Another commenter questioned about how someone should make a Loram track cleaning car. Myself & a couple other modelers discussed this some years ago. That is, making a prototype to look into mass production. It ended up never materializing on the basis that we felt too few people would be willing to spend $800+ on a track cleaning train. It might make more sense for someone such as Walthers or Atlas to manufacture such a thing, but not a start up company as their very first offering.

I really appreciate this quieter corner of YT with your informal informative format. Nice mix of fun, ingenuity, and practicality. Thank you Mr. Stuff.

Some funny stuff here!! 👍

I just love it when a plan comes together but even better that it is that long. Cut to fit. I like it. Thank you for sharing.

Great build...and I enjoyed watching you figure it out as you went....so I don't have too!!!!

Just watched your video. Nice job, I have the exact same gondola and i think I'll give it a try.

Easy and on the cheap side. I just love this idea. Great video.

Just finished test running this past week and must say how pleased I am with the result. The only real difference in mine to yours is the use of lead shot instead of nails in the middle which is held with two part epoxy which was dribbled in very wet and allowed to set fully. I then filed and sanded the ends flat and set the roller as you suggest. I did add a 'load' over the roller which is removable with a magnet and it too (the load) has lead shot mounted under it to balance the car heavily over the axles. I also added brass baring cups (reused from percussion caps as used in historic weapons) for the pin point axles to allow for these added weights on the non-conductive wheels.

I was expecting to see dual motorized rotating wire brushes powered off of the track

I convert older Atlas diesels to track cleaners, Use a dummy and place a cut to size Masonite board to float between the shells fuel tank. Mine work flawlessly and keep track spotless.

G’day, just found your channel, nice collection of videos. I have joined you and will follow your journey from down here in New Zealand…………..cheers Mark

I've wondered why some one hasn't made a track cleaning car which is modeled after a rail grinder. It would be more prototypical. You could even incorporate a flint wheel from a disposable lighter driven by a small motor hidden inside the car. Way cool! (as long as you don't start your layout on fire) :-)

Interesting build. You should try a different mic setup. My eats are still bleeding

Because I have my interests into so many types of hobbys,I tend to cross reference over into others when I come up with stuff. Using an abrasive pad like a scotchbrite pad cut in a strip and glued to a floating brick of some kind would also work as a track cleaner. I would use varying weighted blocks to get the desired contact to the track,mabe even mount steaps with springs over the block to gently push down on the scotch brite pad. The saying whatever works is not wrong,its more like whatever works best. Even running a pad with the cloth on afterwards to clean up the raild. few drops of alcohol to the pad mabe even helps. I worked our festival of trains during Christmas and 90 percent of what I did was track cleaning,just to keep things moving. Comming up with track cleaning cars saved alot of time and effort.

I would have cut a little bit of the styrene out of the inside of the car and added some weight inside the car then covered it with a fake coal load.

Hey , if you happen to see this comment, just wondering if you were happy with the results. I use 3 wagons, the first with a masonite pad like your other cleaning car and 2 others of same design but 1 with a piece of plastic non scratch scouring pad and the last with a felt square soaked in alcohol. Seems ok but wondered if this was better or worse in your opinion.

do you have a gerbil running in a wheel?

Nice idea, but doesn't the wire wrapped around the roller cause a short when negotiating a turnout?

You ought to invest in some new hacksaw blades

use thread

Hello, for another video put the camera in front so that you can see what you do ...

This chap does not work like a professional. Not a clue.