At the end of spurs I like to install Hayes Wheel Stops by Tomar Industries. I used those on my N-scale layout and I was glad to find that Tomar makes them in S-scale also. I believe that was actually my first S-scale-specific purchase!
Another detail I want to add is joint bars (strips of metal that hold two pieces of rail together in the real world). In our model they are only used to add that extra level of detail. I bought the ones that Tomalco Track sells, but they seem way too big for code 83 rail. I am thinking about buying brass ones from Free State Systems (no web site, but they are discussed on this web site; I don't know if they are still being manufactured), from Proto:87, or from Details West. From Internet discussions I have learned that a lot of people use rail bars designed for the next smaller rail height than the rail actually being used. So, since I use code 83 rail, I would use rail bars designed for code 70 rail. This kind of detail can be added at any time, so it is not critical for track laying. I would only add joint bars where they are visible from normal viewing angles. Joint bars would be glued every 39 feet or so of track.
When the track is done, I use a Bright Boy eraser-style block to remove any remaining rail paint from the tops of the rail. I only use this block after I have laid the rail, because it is quite abrasive. For regular cleaning, I will only use "Babycare" lap pads. A fellow model railroader highly recommended this method to me a few years back. It is a dense 100% cotton pad that is used under the baby when he/she is changed. Because it is a dense pad, it doesn't tear apart or get snagged by rail joints. I usually cut a piece about the size of an eraser block and rub it along the track, using the eraser on top of the lap pad. The eraser helps hold the pad in place and also keeps it horizontal as it moves over the two rails. You will notice a difference on how the pad interacts with the rail. If the pad doesn't move freely, it is a clear indicator that there is a layer of muck on the track.
