Help - train novice

[joanne_forster]

ok, so I've bought the eurostar train set for my little boy (6) and the necessary extension packs so we have an inner and outer circle of track, BUT how do I control control each train? Any help is appreciated.

[2e0dtoeric]

There are lots of almost identical questions on here.

First, you need to tell us WHICH Eurostar you have - R????.  (probably R1071) That will tell us which kind of control you have over it.

Also the controller number, if you can find it - R???? (probably R8250).

In which case, it is DCC ready, which in plain English means it is analogue, not digital.

What is 'the other train'?

The Eurostar has only one 'engine', the other one is a dummy, ie - no motors in it, and two coaches, making up one train.

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So - the transformer part P9200 plugs into a wall socket, the wire plugs into the controller, which probably has a socket on the 'back'. (I don't have one to look at!) Then there are probably two spring clips with little levers on, one red, one black, which the thin wires that go to the track clip into.

The other ends of the thin wires go to the power track R8206, which appears to have another two spring clips on it.

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Then with all the track carefully plugged together, making sure there are no bumps or square corners because a joiner 'missed', and with the train on the track, turn the speed knob to zero, the wall socket on, and then gently turn up the speed controller knob until the train goes. There is a switch on the controller that decides the direction.

If it seems to go in the wrong direction, accordng to the switch, all you need to do is swap over ONE END of both the thin wires into the other spring clips, and try again.

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Remember, it is not a slot-car, so although it is supposed to go fast in real life, in the model world, if you try it, it will just crash.

Also, a new loco, just like a new car, needs running in before it will perform at it's best.

 

Have fun, and don't panic if something goes wrong.

Let us know how you get on - - and be prepared to spend a lot more money buying more track, more trains, and a bigger house to keep them all in!

(Edit for a typo)

[Chrissaf]

Joanne.

Welcome to the forum with your 1st post. I'm making some assumptions here, I'm assuming that in order to create an inner and outer oval you have purchased at the very minimum Hornby Extension Packs B & C. The Eurostar contains the Basic Oval and Extension Pack A. The other assumption I am making is that you have only the one Eurostar train and the basic controller included in that set. That is to say, no second locomotive or controller. And that the Eurostar DCC Ready set R1176 has the R8250 controller. If it is the R1071 Eurostar set that 2e0 mentions, then that set is not DCC Ready, so ignore all references to Digital DCC made below.

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On the basis that my assumptions are correct, then Extension Pack C should contain a R8201 Link Wire kit. This needs to be fitted to the left hand side of the ovals between the inner and outer oval track. The included R8250 controller plugs into the R8206 power track which typically will be somewhere on the outer oval. The R8250 knob will control the train speed and the slide switch will control the train direction.

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A set up like this can only control a single train at a time. If you want to control a second train at the same time, then you will need a second R8250 controller connected to the Inner oval and remove the R8201 link wire kit. It is also recommended that in a two controller setup that R920 Insulating rail joiners are used to join together the points that face each other where they provide a crossover route between the inner and outer oval. The R920 joiners will need to be purchased separately. You only need two joiners but the R920 is a pack of 12.

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Alternatively if the Eurostar is the R1176 DCC Ready set, then the whole layout could be upgraded at additional cost to a Digital DCC controlled layout, but this is something you probably wouldn't want to do at this time. Until your son gets a little older. A DCC layout allows a single controller to control multiple locomotives. An approximate cost of an upgrade to DCC would be about £100.

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I have produced a "Guide to Getting Started with Extension Track Packs.PDF". It has been submitted for publication on this Hornby forum website. It is currently being reviewed by Admin for athorisation to be posted. When it is posted, I am confident it will answer all your questions and more. So basically watch this space.

[NormanQ4]

Hi Joanne

Welcome to the forum.

You only mention one train set.

If you haven't bought any trains other than what was in the box then you only have one train consisting of four pieces.

Although they may look the same one end is just a dummy.

If you pick up the two end pieces individually you'll notice that one is heavier than the other, that one is the loco with the motor in it.

[2e0dtoeric]

Also, Joanne might like to look at a brand-new item, R8153 - the Hornby Handbook, that explains with pictures and words how to put it all together, and much more - available from Dec 1st.

See the new thread just started in this forum!