Does isopropyl alcohol strip metal/steel rails and parts of their protective coating (the coating that stops rust and corrosion from forming on them)? - Model Railroader Magazine

To reiterate some points:

Yes, nickel-silver is the most common track available these days. However, *also yes* to some snap track included in cheap train sets having steel rail.

Steel rail is a very greyish-silver colour.

Nickel "silver" is mainly a silvery colour but *does* in fact have a slight yellowish tint compared to steel if you put them side by side, but you don't really see it if it's by itself.

Brass of course is a strong golden colour, but can easily tarnish and turn a darker colour.

Like everyone else, I've never heard if any sort of "protective coating" on any sort of metal rail. Likely that would defeat any sort of electrical conductivity.

Some people will use stuff like electrical contact cleaner, graphite, or other products that may form an electrically-conductive film, but this is something that has to be regularly cleaned and maintained. Not something that is there from the manufacturer.

Alcohol is widely used for cleaning rails and wheels. It will not harm either metal or plastic.

It *can* be used to strip paint off models, but only if you soak the model for extended period of time to loosen up the paint. It may be more or less effective with different types of paint. You can take off acrylics with alcohol fairly easily.

One thing to be careful of is that alcohol can react to DullCote and cause a whiteish haziness from the talc suspended in the DullCote, so be careful not to drip or smear a wet finger on a care that's been custom painted/weathered/finished with a DullCote clear-coat. But this is easy to avoid unless you're splashing the alcohol all over the place....