Help ID Track Cleaning Device

[tundracamper]

I recently purchased an old LGB car off of eBay and it came with these round abrasive track cleaning pads attached to the bottom of one of the trucks. The car does not track very well on the track unless you use some sort of weight to hold down that truck with the pads. I’m curious about this device and if I can get replacement pads or if there’s some sort of soft pad that’s supposed to go on the part that I’m seeing. I can’t seem to locate anything about. Has anyone seen this device before and know what it is?

 

[Gizzy]

Never seen one of those before, but I would try metal wheels to see if the wagon tracks better....

 

[dutchelm]

Looks home made to me.

 

[maxi-model]

Home brew using 2 "Dremel" type rotary tool arbor mounted rubber abrasive wheels. Looks nicely made. Those discs really need to be sprung, and not have curved faces going to railhead, hence your poor tracking. If you must use wagon mounted, and only on swb non bogie stock, then LGB's sprung #50050 track cleaning attachment. See below fitted to Aristocraft 20' gondola (Aristocraft actually made this wagon with a solid cleaning block mounted underneath !). OK for a bit of "in session" remedial cleaning. Always ran mine as part of a consist. Now I'm battery powered no need for it. Edit, I notice you have a replacement Kadee coupler mounted to the bogie. What are you coupling up to at the other end ? I use same make with their "large offset" shanks to fit this wagon into 1:20.3 scale (Fn3) consists, like Bachmann's Spectrum large scale range products.

 

[tundracamper]

Thank you for all the replies. It is clear looking at the device that it is not a one-off prototype that is handmade - the disks are on rotating posts that are spring loaded. It clearly looks like it is manufactured. After having a lengthy discussion with an AI chat where it kept telling me this was made by LGB or Aristocraft (both square pads!), I finally got it to consent that it wasn’t and it finally opened up that it was likely made probably by a company called San-Val Total Train Supply that went out of business many years ago. Attached is a copy of what it knows about the Little Wheelie Worker. It seems it was designed with a clever nature to rotate. It’s a shame this company could never make a go with this product.

Guess I need to do more research.
This page shows an image with some discussion: GIRR.ORG

 

[maxi-model]

Thank you for all the replies. It is clear looking at the device that it is not a one-off prototype that is handmade - the disks are on rotating posts that are spring loaded. It clearly looks like it is manufactured. After having a lengthy discussion with an AI chat where it kept telling me this was made by LGB or Aristocraft (both square pads!), I finally got it to consent that it wasn’t and it finally opened up that it was likely made probably by a company called San-Val Total Train Supply that went out of business many years ago. Attached is a copy of what it knows about the Little Wheelie Worker. It seems it was designed with a clever nature to rotate. It’s a shame this company could never make a go with this product.

Guess I need to do more research.
This page shows an image with some discussion: GIRR.ORG

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Ah the good Mr Scheyer's ever indispensable words of advise. Been using reffering to them the past 23 years, mostly the bits about locos and Crest's Train Engineer kit. Live and learn as my dear father used to say. Wasn't far off though, and nailed it on the rest. You obviously are quite capable of doing your own research. All the best.

 

[dunnyrail]

Thank you for all the replies. It is clear looking at the device that it is not a one-off prototype that is handmade - the disks are on rotating posts that are spring loaded. It clearly looks like it is manufactured. After having a lengthy discussion with an AI chat where it kept telling me this was made by LGB or Aristocraft (both square pads!), I finally got it to consent that it wasn’t and it finally opened up that it was likely made probably by a company called San-Val Total Train Supply that went out of business many years ago. Attached is a copy of what it knows about the Little Wheelie Worker. It seems it was designed with a clever nature to rotate. It’s a shame this company could never make a go with this product.

Guess I need to do more research.
This page shows an image with some discussion: GIRR.ORG

View attachment 360193

View attachment 360194

View attachment 360195

SanVal well remember them from my visits over the pond last century, think I bought some of their stuff. There were other options as well (besides the LGB offerings of the day) below is a Ebay Purchase possibly previously resourced from USA. The 12v Battery is long dead but it did make a very satisfying whirring sound but not much good for very tarnished track though possibly OK on a regularly used line.
Next up ws this I think a USA Trains offering with my own scratchbuilt body on it. Another OK for the iccasional keep clean ootion. Both off these needed a goood so,id item of power to pull them thus on tarnished track of little use even when both propelled, believe me I did oersevere with them in my track powered days.

Finally possibly purchased in USA somewhat similar to your disks, I did have the bogie to go with them perhaps still have somewhere but clearly a different way if using them to yours.

All are unused now since my cead rail conversion and just sut in the shed taking space!

 

[SevenOfDiamonds]

Finally possibly purchased in USA somewhat similar to your disks, I did have the bogie to go with them perhaps still have somewhere but clearly a different way if using them to yours.

Just to contribute to the (slight) thread drift . . .

As the leaflet says, it's from the erstwhile Norm's Model Supply and, as per the photo, uses vertically-mounted grinding wheels.

I have one of the "bogies" mounted between the normal bogies of a Bachmann bogie flat wagon. The way it is mounted allows it to pivot (to follow curving track) and the grinding wheels rotate diagonally across the rail head (with pressure reliant on the weight of the central metal "bogie". Adding weight to the wagon body would have no effect) . . .



I confess I bought it on a whim and haven't really "put it to the test", so can't report on how useful it is.

All the best

David

 

[maxi-model]

SanVal well remember them from my visits over the pond last century, think I bought some of their stuff. There were other options as well (besides the LGB offerings of the day) below is a Ebay Purchase possibly previously resourced from USA. The 12v Battery is long dead but it did make a very satisfying whirring sound but not much good for very tarnished track though possibly OK on a regularly used line.View attachment 360197
Next up ws this I think a USA Trains offering with my own scratchbuilt body on it. Another OK for the iccasional keep clean ootion. Both off these needed a goood so,id item of power to pull them thus on tarnished track of little use even when both propelled, believe me I did oersevere with them in my track powered days.View attachment 360198Finally possibly purchased in USA somewhat similar to your disks, I did have the bogie to go with them perhaps still have somewhere but clearly a different way if using them to yours.

All are unused now since my cead rail conversion and just sut in the shed taking space!

Interesting what comes out of the woodwork here Jon. Love Norm's and San Val cleaners. Your "USAT" cleaner actually looks like the Aristocraft caboose one in George Schrayers compendium Track Cleaning Tips It's actually an adaptation of the basic Aristo' chassis I am using, fitted to the gondola body, just a different superstructure. Look at the side moldings and sprung axle guards, identical. I tried an LGB track cleaner loco, total waste on my line, never dry enough as it is mostly in full shade. Went with GRS's twin Garryflex abrasive pad holder on a jointed mount fixed into a broom stick. Much as Mr Schrayer favoured.

 

[tundracamper]

I tried an LGB track cleaner loco, total waste on my line, never dry enough as it is mostly in full shade. Went with GRS's twin Garryflex abrasive pad holder on a jointed mount fixed into a broom stick. Much as Mr Schrayer favoured.

What an interesting discussion to which this has evolved. I thought the LGB Track Cleaning Loco was the end-all as far as cleaning powered track was concerned. Interesting to hear that you don’t think that. Was gonna shell out for a used unit, but may have to do some more research. Right now, my layout is on a covered deck. So, cleaning with accessories like the San Val option and some LGB car-mounted pads works fine. When I eventually move to a fully “outdoor” layout, I suspect I’ll need more robust cleaning options. Thanks again for all these ideas!

 

[Software Tools]

I thought the LGB Track Cleaning Loco was the end-all

It is a good solution overall. The only real caveat is that you need to watch it in action ensure it does not stall on any obstructions, as then it may grind a dip into the track.

 

[maxi-model]

It is a good solution overall. The only real caveat is that you need to watch it in action ensure it does not stall on any obstructions, as then it may grind a dip into the track.

......And it's a bit noisy. I had to think of the neighbours. Those grinding wheels make a horribly irritating sound. Horses for courses as they say. Test before you buy. At least I sold mine for as much as bought in the 2 years I owned it.