I have Glued Snow (ballast) to my model train rail and now it doesn't work, why?

Question

I have Glued Snow (ballast) to my model train rail and now it doesn't work, why?

Answer 1

Clean the rails with  solvent appropriate to the glue.

Answer 2

Clean the rail heads - solvent is preferred (follow safety precautions).  Any sort of abrasive system will cause the rails to get dirty very quickly.

Next time cover the rail heads and inside of the rails with very narrow 3M masking tape (blue) before you ballast.  Do the same when you paint the rails.

You may want to join one of these forums:

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/b...

http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/88/S...

Answer 3

In addition to cleaning the tops of the rail like people have already said, make sure the flange ways are clear.  If there is too much ballast right next to the inside edges of the rails, it will hit the flange on your trains' wheels.  This can cause the wheel to actually roll on the ballast instead of on the rail and make it lose electrical contact.  To test for this, just take a freight car and roll it over the track with your hand.  Anytime you feel a bump, it means the wheels hit some ballast.  Just take a flathead screwdriver and scrape off anything that is in the way of the wheels.

Answer 4

Even if there is no actual ballast on the rails, the glue can coat them.

an easy way to avoid this is to put the ballast on dry... you can take as long as you want then to get it right.

then spray LIGHTLY from a height with plain water with a drop of washing up liquid in it - this will soak the ballast.

finally make a very thin mix of pVA and water again with washing up liquid in it, and apply with an eye dropper BUT NOT DIRECTLY ONTO THE BALLAST! a cm either side willl be ok as the wetted ballst will "draw" the glue mix into it and none will get on the rail heads.

once dry, a quick whizz over wit your track cleaner will restore the rails and you're away.

sounds tedious but once you get the wetting and mix to your needs (i have the glue mix really thin) you can do ametre in about 5 mins

have fun!