How to Care for Your Model Train

Caring for model trains is not unlike caring for any other sort of model. Dust them to keep them working regularly.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hobby Paintbrushes
• Compressed Airs
• Dust Rag
• Touch-up Paints
• Vacuum Cleaners
• Lens Cleaner
• Vacuum cleaners

1. Check the electronics. Change or recharge batteries regularly.

2. Take the cars off the track and dust them thoroughly.

3. Clean connections with compressed air, available where photography and computer supplies are sold.

4. Clean connections with contact cleaner, using a small piece of linen.

5. Don't repaint your train cars unless they start to look scratched. A slightly haggard or weathered look is fine if it looks genuine.

6. Repaint your cars if there's a derailment or they get scratched. If you repaint, try to touch them up rather than totally redo them.

7. Sweep the surrounding area regularly to keep dust down before it dulls the layout and affects the electronics.

Tips & Warnings

• Covering your train set shouldn't be necessary. Besides, you want the set out for viewing even when not in operation.
• If you have a cat, keep it away from your trains. It will chase the train around the layout and destroy everything.

on 3/21/2006 To really clean your track, buy a kit from your local authorized Lionel seller. If you just want to clean it up, rub a wet wipe on the track. A small portion of black should come off onto the wipe.

on 11/22/2005 If you have a pet, don't put your train on the floor. The wheels could be damaged.