How to clean black residue on tracks and train wheels?

[cteno4]

I would try some electrical contact cleaner. These usually can get gunk off rails and wheels without scratching them up. They also usually formulated to help prevent corrosion and microarcing that leaves the black oxidized metal “black gunk” on track and wheels.

 

fiber and wire pencils can put a lot of micro scratches which is where things like water and alcohol can stick in and cause microarcing.

 

once track is clean and good contact cleaner used the appearance of black gunk goes down dramatically.

 

jeff