You can’t stop your model railway track getting dirty but it doesn’t have to cost a lot to keep it clean and your trains running smoothly. Here’s what I do.
If you have a large layout it can cost a lot to keep it in tip-top condition. I seem to burn through track rubbers (even though I don’t like using them but that’s another story) at an alarming rate! And even on temporary set or small layouts — especially those in living areas such as tabletops where they attract dirt — you can spend more than you’d expect cleaning them.
Luckily, there’s an alternative and he’s my latest YouTube video to show what I use and how. It’s a far cheaper and easier technique for track cleaning.
This works on all gauges of metal track model railways, including of course N, OO and HO.
It features Isopropyl which you can get on the high street although as mentioned in the video I get mine in 1lt bottles from eBay for around £6 to £8, link here.
> A final, personal, note: I spend a huge amount of time testing, photographing, writing and researching techniques for these articles and pay for all the running costs of MRE out of my own pocket. If you found this article useful you can support me by making a donation on my fund-raising page. Thanks and happy modelling, Andy.
Andy is a lifelong modeler, writer, and founder of modelrailwayengineer.com. He has been building model railways, dioramas, and miniatures for over 20 years. His passion for model making and railways began when he was a child, building his first layout at the age of seven.
Andy’s particular passion is making scenery and structures in 4mm scale, which he sells commercially. He is particularly interested in modelling the railways of South West England during the late Victorian/early Edwardian era, although he also enjoys making sci-fi and fantasy figures and dioramas. His website has won several awards, and he is a member of MERG (Model Railway Electronics Group) and the 009 Society.
When not making models, Andy lives in Surrey with his wife and teenage son. Other interests include history, science fiction, photography, and programming. Read more about Andy.