tree sap

A

aovenden

Registered
Hi guys,
Probably a common issue maybe with garden railways, but I went to use my layout after a week of none use and found that the track was covered in very small sticky droplets. The layout runs under some large oak trees mainly which i assume is the culprit. Does anyone have any suggestions for what could get this off at all.

Thanks in advance,
Alan.
 
I have same problem!

This is the drawback of using track power. All I had to do is to wipe track with scotchbrite every time I run train.

Then within 2-3 days it happens again. So I had to clean again.

If possible go for battery power. However, if you read my long thread in Battery power sub-forum you might discover that has its own problems (especially if you wish to convert your own).
 
I have a similar problem on one section of track. I am told it is droppings from aphids in the bushes. I just wipe it off with a wet sponge (dipped in the pond). Maybe spraying them would stop it but the wet sponge is quicker.
 
Ants herd Aphids or "Ant cows" for their "Milk". So convince some friendly ants to set up a colony nearby. ;)
 
Madman said:
Ants herd Aphids or "Ant cows" for their "Milk". So convince some friendly ants to set up a colony nearby. ;)
Click to expand...
I have plenty of ants. They live in the buildings around the pond. That's another problem as I would like to get rid of them without poisoning the frogs.
 
If you have one, the track cleaner loco moves it. may take a couple of passes.
Highly recommended for track power lines.
 
stockers said:
If you have one, the track cleaner loco moves it. may take a couple of passes.
Highly recommended for track power lines.
Click to expand...
If it is sticky the track cleaner is not recomended. The sticky just makes a mess of the cleaning wheels.
 
From experience - no it doesn't. ;)
 
I have used 'swiffer' pads on a long pole in the past, but agree that the track cleaning loco does the trick too.
 
I have just suffered this too, on my new extension, which is partly under trees. The stickiness was so bad that one of my points had seized up! I used some spirit to start getting it off and then a hand held grinding block to get the track completely clean.

The point needed the contact pads and wing rails rubbed over with a fibre glass pen to free it.

As you say, every time it rains the same thing happens, although I am hoping it is a short lived 'spring related' phenomemon, as it is new to me since the extension was built earlier in the year.

Please could someone assure me that it is short lived?

James
 
It is a summer phenomena. Resin, sap, pollen, snails, slugs, crushed ants and the rest!

Bachmann steel wheels and battery power makes life easier. ;D I do run track power, from time to time, as I still have three locos than are not equipped for battery power. I use a pole with a green kitchen cleaning pad (the thicker type as the thin ones soon wear out) which polished the track very nicely. Easily done, but not on too warmer a day of course. ;)
 
Only solution, cut the Tees Down. I did this in my Garden end of problem. Sorry Tree Huggers. If Trees not in your Garden or SWMBO will not let you do proper fix as outlined above. Well yes Mobi has it right, Battery or Steam Power. Better still both.
JonD
 
In my case, the tree is on neighbor's garden [emoji35]

Sent from my SM-T530 using Tapatalk
 
Our railway is under a full canopy of trees and other vegetation so nectar, pollen etc from the trees especially some silver birches caused real problems at times when the railway was solely track power. Honey dew from insects (polite name for their droppings) is also a issue. Some years the silver birch nectar is worst than others, in the worst year track could need recleaning after two hours in certain areas. It was then I too adopted the damp thin sponge method like others mentioned above.
In my case I wrap it around a small wooden block as you see in the picture. While our railway is now predominantly live steam and battery power we still do run track power occasionally. Even now I still wipe the track down before a run with the damp sponge if it`s been more than a couple of days since the last run. By doing so firstly I help stop the sticky stuff getting on to wheels and secondly track power continuity is maintained for when needed.
Very occasionally, may be once every six months the good old LGB track cleaning block gets lightly used, but with a twist. First a quick wipe with the damp sponge then the track cleaning block then followed by the damp sponge again to pick up any grunge. A bit pedantic yes but it works and with the railway now having been down for over 9 years so it`s a time proven method! :D
IMG_1948.jpg

Oh yes and recently a visiting track powered loco was used and ran with no problem. I was very pleasantly surprised as it had been many months of battery power and live steam use since track power was last used. Granted it was a 4 axle loco with pick up on all wheels but a very good sign than by frequent wiping of the track with a damp sponge is worth the effort :D
 
It's really sugar solution from the aphids as the ants can't milk them all. It will wash off with water. My car has to be washed every few days as I park under an oak tree. Doesn't need a hard scrub if you can soak it a minute with a spray bottle, wet it well then wipe off. As Jon says deforestation is the only cure.
 
Mobi,

I am sure that you could quite legally cut back the branches overhanging your land, but I feel inclined to leave my trees alone and put up with it.

There are lots of trees on our land, they give us privacy, if slightly too much shade) and I rather like running the train on the shady part of my new extension, despite all that work.

I may cut back some a bit, but my trees are staying!

James
 
Thanks for all the advice on this. I did initially use a track cleaning block but found it took me nearly 2 hours to get the track clean enough for smooth running. I tried out using meths last night and that did the trick. A quick wipe round with this and a paper towel after and job done. I notice the mention of a cleaning loco, I have been thinking about it, as I have mostly DCC locos and whether it would be a good investment for the future. I do have one radio controlled Stainz that has a battery in a trailing wagon which I fitted some of the cleaning legs to. But this just never seemed to do the job as well as a good cleaning block.

Cheers,
Alan.
 
I have had the LGB track cleaning attachment that has two emery/sand paper strips that rub on the track.

This is OK as far as it goes, but is no good here.

I am looking to eventually obtain an LGB sized version of my old Tri-ang track cleaning wagon where spirits can be soaked into/supplied to a pad that wipes the rails.

Grease is the main long term issue, just rub a clean finger on the 'clean' rail after your trains have been running for an hour or two and you will see what I mean. Sap etc is a short term problem, (I hope), but a wagon like this wagon would help with both.

I hear that PIKO do one now, but I have not seen it in the plastic yet. This will be on my Xmas list!!

James
 
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