Hi jcpetri,
I wouldn't bother cleaning the track. Each track section has to be clean both on the outside as well as the "pin" connectors. Remember electricity has to flow through all three rails from one track to the next. Based on my experience, your just not going to be able to successfully rehab older track.
If your convinced the old Lionel stuff is what you want it sells on Ebay for very little money, just be sure and ask the seller for close-up photo's as well as overall condition. New 027 track is also available through your Hobby Shop, stop in and talk to them. Leave your check book at home the first couple of times though...their's way to much info to absorb to make the best decision the first time around. I can't forget to mention OGR magazine. (O Gauge Railroad) a wealth of info...
Cleaning the engine and cars is a different matter. You didn't mention what type engine you have. All early post war Lionel steamers were mostly metal cast bodies. The diesel's are plastic as well as almost all cars. If any decals remain, cleaning with mild soap and water shouldn't hurt but be careful of rubbing to hard as decals and even some lettering can come off. If your thinking of repainting as I sometimes do, remove the body from the truck assembly, scrub it with a soft brush (soap and water)dry it and soak the shell in brake fluid overnight to loosen the remaining paint. Other solution's might attack the plastic. It will take several overnight soakings and brushings to remove all the old paint but this will leave the plastic or metal details unaffected. Then a final washing with soap and water, dry throughly and air-brush the new color on. Decals can be purchased at almost any Hobby Shop or they can order them for you.
Cleaning surface rust off of truck and contacts on engine's is best done with a Dremel tool with a brass brush. I usually dab on some light oil and let it set for a week before I start. Using a Dremel will clean off all of the surface rust and polish the surface but it's not going to remove rust that has pitted the surface. If things are that bad you might check out Ebay for replacements or your local Hobby Shop.
I wouldn't run an old engine without first doing a complete lube job. Oil on the bearings and lithium grease on the gears. Apply sparingly at first adding a bit more as you re-brake-in the old engine.
O Gauge: 1/48, and 027: 1/64.
Larger, longer trains run best with long straightaways with wide curves, while small layouts with tight curves favor the O27.
O and 027 are the same track dimensions, (height and width) Your old stuff is refered to as 027 and the engines are sometimes marked that way on the bottom. The difference is in the size or scale size of the loco's/cars. O Gauge being a little bit larger in appearance. Both will run on either old style or new style track. (the 027 refers to the radius of the curve track sections) New engines from Lionel, MTH (Mike's Train House) Weaver, K-Line, etc. are made in both sizes. The largest new engines can require an 032 or 054 minumum curve radius. The sharper curve can be negoiated by smaller (shorter) engines. IE. Almost anything made by Lionel up to the early 1980's will negoiate an 027 radius curve.
PS. I have a photo of an Sl, Lionel 6-8-6 Turbine on my web site that I rehabed from pieces/parts, check it out.
Let us know how your making out on this project.
Rich
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Rush Run River Logging Co.
[This message has been edited by Shay2 (edited 05-04-2001).]