TERRY SMITH goes through this new OO Scale item in the Gaugemaster Collection.
The Track Cleaning Wagon is one of the most effective ways of keeping the track on your layout clean, especially if you are a digital user as you can't use the electrical-style GMC-HF cleaners with DCC. The first thing you notice when you pick it up is how heavy it is, which it has to be if it is going to do its job properly. The added weight helps to keep pressure on the large spring-loaded cleaning pad which is fitted underneath.
Such efficiency does however come at some cost and you will find that smaller locomotives will struggle to pull the wagon. If you only run small locos, it might help if you double-head or top and tail. In fact, in real life maintenance trains often have a locomotive at each end and with suitable stock from various other manufacturers now available a whole track cleaning train could be built up and run around your layout.
However, all is not lost if you decide that you have to use a smaller locomotive to pull your track cleaning wagon. Just remove the springs that push the cleaning pad down onto the track. To do this, turn the wagon upside down and turn the screwheads that hold the pad in place anticlockwise until the springs can be removed, then replace the pad without the springs. You will find that lower powered locomotives should now be able to now pull the wagon which will still clean the track almost as well as before. A tip is to lubricate the shaft of the screws with a light oil such as GM619 so that pad is free to drop to its lowest and most effective level.
It wasn't too much of a surprise that this little Terrier could not effectively pull such a heavy piece of stock fitted with a spring-loaded cleaning pad.
Even some evergreen locomotives like the Class 08 find it slightly hard work, but work if double-headed.
No problem however for a heavy flywheel-drive locomotive like this Heljan Class 27.
If you do have an issue with pulling the wagon, turn these screws until the pad can be removed. Do this slowly so that the springs don't just fly out, never to be seen again!
A drop of oil on the screws will help keep the pad working efficiently even without the spring.
Even a Terrier had no issue pulling the Gaugemaster track cleaning wagon. Replacement pads can be purchased as SKU: GM4930101.