Manufacturers Description: "Basically the cleaner is a fairly heavy
absorbent roller that is saturated with any of a wide variety of available cleaning fluids. The roller is guided
along the rails by the frame of the cleaner car and the roller is allowed to "float" (vertically) and
will press firmly onto the rails. The wrap-on roller cover is resilient and there is some friction at the roller
pushing surface of the car. Due to the interaction of force and friction, the roller will resist rolling, to some
degree and will actually be slipping on the rails (even when turning). This patented "Limited Slip" feature
provides the action to clean the rails. The fluid that remains on the rails (before evaporation) will loosen built-up
"crud" from the wheels of any locos and cars that follow. After several passes, the rails and the wheels
of all rolling stock should be electrically clean and free from slippage".I have tried a number of track cleaning devices over the years and all have suffered from one drawback or another. The Roco track cleaning wagon with its dry "abrasive" block works reasonably well but the high friction developed makes it hard to propel and the long-wheelbase 4-wheel chassis causes the block to lose contact with the rails on sharp curves, often leading to derailments. Another cleaner that I have used for many years with fairly good results is the one manufactured by Herkat. It is based on a European short-wheelbase tank car which acts as a reservoir for the cleaning fluid. Gravity and capillary action direct the fluid onto a felt pad which is held in contact with the rails by means of a sprung plate. When used regularly the cleaner is quite effective but its reliability suffers because of poor build quality. Its flimsy construction and badly made couplings make propelling difficult and the felt pads soon become soiled and worn. Spares are not readily available in the U.K.
The Centerline rail cleaner works on the principle stated by the manufacturers
(above) and overcomes all of the problems that I have encountered with the other devices. The "car" is
easily hauled or propelled by most locos without risk of derailment and the short length enables it to operate
on 9" radius curves. When tested on a length of track which was dirty enough to cause poor running, smooth
operation was obtained after only two passes. The wrap-on roller covers do eventually become soiled (proof of efficiency)
and require changing but the cleaner, when purchased, comes with enough spare covers to last quite some time (see
photo). Replacement covers can be obtained from Centerline but it is much cheaper to make your own using strips
of kitchen cloth (known in the U.K. as "J-Cloths") I do not use the cleaner in areas which are easily
accessible but it is certainly an asset where the tracks are in tunnels or under complex catenery. I have had good
results using both Herkat SR24 "Modelbahnoel" and Isopropyl Alcohol and I am sure that any of the available
track cleaning fluids will work equally well.