After a recent visit back to visit family in the UK, I have uncovered a box of my old LEGO. I had a quick sort through, and found it has been used/abused quite a bit in the last 20 years...

So firstly I noticed the center metallic rails in the old train sets have corroded, is there any tips for cleaning these up?

One of the engines was actually dismantled although all the bits seem to be there, but with a worn gear on one of the axles, so not too hopeful for that one :(

Also pretty much all my minifig spacemen have lost their faces, is it possible to still get classic face replacements? I know LEGO recently had a classic space minifig for VIP members, but is it really the same? maybe I can get parts if so...

I left some yellowed white bricks behind, they seemed to almost have gone softer with age.

It seems I had a few blue train rails!? but I dont recall where they came from, did they pre-date the electrified rail stuff?

Anyway I hope the box of LEGO will arrive soon and I can have a proper rediscover and reminisce. The big question being then, do I keep it all separate from my AFOL collection!!

I always keep vintage pieces separate, myself. Occasionally I might have to use an old trans-yellow windshield or CS logo brick on a MOC, but I keep most of my old bricks separate in case I need to replace pieces in old kits I buy. :)

As far as your spacemen go, you can easily get the old, solid-stud smiley faces on Bricklink.com.

It seems I had a few blue train rails!? but I dont recall where they came from, did they pre-date the electrified rail stuff?

There were already 12V (electrified) rails in the 70s, they were blue back then. They switched to grey in the 80s keeping the same models of rails. So both colors can be mixed when building tracks.

There were already 12V (electrified) rails in the 70s, they were blue back then. They switched to grey in the 80s keeping the same models of rails. So both colors can be mixed when building tracks.

Now you are showing my age :)

There were already 12V (electrified) rails in the 70s, they were blue back then. They switched to grey in the 80s keeping the same models of rails. So both colors can be mixed when building tracks.

They can be mixed, but not really indescriminately. Blue rails won't fit on to the dark grey sleepers/ties with clips as they do not have the required slots, but both will fit on the standard 2x8 plate, so they can be used together if required.

FWIW you could also cobble the old tracks with modern RC tracks or 9v tracks if you can find a way to lock the rails together. The spacing are the same, only the connector is different (RC and 9v used flat ball and socket while older ones used plain studs)

The only hard limitation are the 9v train can't be used on non-9v track. 12v train can be used on almost all tracks provided you have enough 12v track contact to connect together.

I've managed not to buy any of the newer trains stuff. Maybe it's just me being old fashioned, but nothing quite seemed as good as the 12V stuff with the nice points and lights controllers. I'm just hoping I can get it all working after so long. Well UPS is out for delivery, so I will find out this weekend :)