keithp1707821843

Ok thanks for the extra info.

Ok thanks. In the end I went for pins and glue at the bits where pins did not work. That was small pieces of track I had cut that did not have holes for the pins. I don't have a small drill! Its been 24 hours and the track is still holding! So should be ok.

I thought glue would be easier, as like you the pins bent and were hard to fix correctly. Not tried screws - are they easier then? Which ones do you use?

Hello I normally pin the track with Hornby pins, but I saw there were a few posts on using glue instead. Some said PVA some said Copydex, but there didnt seem to be an overall view. I wondered if anyone had used glue instead of pins and if it worked ok? Keith

Thought people may be interested in this - I will still be testing my locos first!

Ok thanks. I do not use the locos as much as other people - I suspect - so that may not be an issue for me. I think I was more concerned about the derailing - etc, but your views are important to me. I am going o set up a small oval with the curves and two straight pieces and try all three locos plus my coaches - which are the small ones and some of the wagons. Hopefully that will let me see if it would work. Thanks.

Ok thanks for the replies - very helpful. I think my best bet is to set up a small test track and try the three locos and coaches. The coaches/ wagons are all small as well, I didnt see the point in having large coaches on the 1st layout - it just looked silly! So everything is small! Anyhow I will try it and post the results here for other people - in case anyone is interested. Cheers. Keith

Oh ok - a few alternative views then! I thunk I will try out the 3 locos i have and see how I get on. Can I just ask what you mean when you say 'flanged wheels?'. Thank you.

OK. As I thought. I will stick to my end to end idea - just wanted to check in case it was an option. Thanks. Keith

Hello All I am just finishing the plan for my second layout - I have enough space for a max width of 36 inches of baseboard - length can be up to 10 foot. Now I had planned on an end to end layout this time - but in another forum I saw comments about 1st radius curves and small locos. I only have three locos -all are 0-6-0. The posts in the other forum indicated that those locos would run fine on these curves. Has anyone had experience of using this small curves? Only I could slightly change the plan and have curves at each end to create a loop. Thanks. Keith

Ok thanks. Yes the idea is that the layout is a small branch line in Yorkshire. There is a small station, at the bottom, with a passing loop, linked to a coal yard. The top siding goes to a goods yard/ timber yard. In the centre is a small village with pub and shop. Close to the station there are two railway cottages. This one is going to be around 7 foot by just under 4 foot, so slightly bigger than the first version. That is shy I was hoping to add the second station/ halt at the top with another passing loop leading tho the goods yard/ timber yard. I only use the J50 and a couple of small locos - the coaches are small as well, so the 2nd radius works ok. My second version had no passing loop, so was unrealistic as it had locos pushing coaches, so I will keep the bottom passing loop. I am getting my head around adding a second power point for the top, but the cable would be longer than the standard hornby link. Still as this version has only just started i have time to stop and think. this is what the previous version looked like.

Interesting. I started using this forum a few years ago when I started my first layout, I was frankly amazed by the help & support offered. In every case I would always thank or acknowledge any reply - I did have to be careful from some users about posting a thank you and overwhelming the system, but in the main it was all good. I have not had any need to post since - but coming back with a new query I am again grateful for the help and have thanked those who replied. I do agree with the comments about thinking you are talking to Hornby staff though. Other forums I use have also had issues about general manners - I think it is just a sign of the times.

Thanks for that. It does look better, so i will try that layout.

Ok thanks. On reflection I will remove the top passing loop, in my plan it was never required as that area is planed as a goods yard, it was just an option for a small halt near the goods/ timber yard in that area. I will look at putting the extra power link in though. Thanks again.

Probably being very dim here, but I dont understand your reply. Apologies - but could you just explain that for me please.

Great. Thanks for the info - I will try that.

Ok thanks. It is not DCC - so I can try that. Assuming that the connections were all ok - is the single power clip as positioned ok though. Reading your post and from my limited understanding, I thought it would be ok - but only if the connections work ok.

Hello All I am starting work on a new layout - but am having some issues with the power and points. Most of the track and the points have come from my old layout, which was not ballasted, and seem to work ok. I have created a layout similar to the previous one only bigger and with an extra loop. I placed the power clip in the same position as previously, as that worked fine for the points at the bottom. Now however the points will not work correctly. They are ok for the top passing loop, but the bottom set just stop power. Does anyone know what I have done wrong please? Or is it perhaps the points are not making contact when thrown? Thank you. Keith

Nope. Checked the main forum - General Discussion, so missed it. Seems I am not alone in my views though.

Over the past few years I have eagerly awaited the Hornby competition - I never win anything, but always try. Anyhow this year was not exception - but alas it was not for me. Like friends, tag this person, mark that...on 'TicTok. instagram, etc ....sorry but no idea what any of that means! Is this the new way forward? I know I am an oldie, but please could we not have some more simple ways to enter as well?

Thanks. The photo only had the problem area - ie the points, the final layout will have extended track at each end. But thank you for your reply, it is appreciated. The idea came from this layout: and this one: However I am only intending to have the two tracks - the top track with a passing loop - but off this loop would be the extended track at the bottom - off to a siding on one side and possibly the other. When I connected the track I did not bother to add the other track as I was only making sure the points worked and so only ran the small 0-4-0 loco. That is the one that would run anyhow. I have tried it and the loco does move pass the points and works ok for this small layout. It is not going to be a large set up - just an idea to do over winter. Originally it was a box file, but I have a long piece of ply in the garage which would work well for this. Perhaps a small industrial layout, with only the single loco. Not sure yet. As I say as the points did not work - and now we know why- but it kind of stumped me, as i was sure I had connected it as per a plan I had seen. However replies are always helpful to allow me to see other ideas.

No that image is the layout. At first the clip was on the top left, than the top right, than in the middle. None worked. I checked the info I had and it should have worked, it is not DCC and I am only using one loco. So I took the photo to show the overall layout and explained I had tried the clip at various points. Then after checking again, I thought this is strange it should work. So I rechecked all the connections and mad sure it was all clean, than tried again and all the points work. The train moves as I wish. The only extra to the image is some long pieces on the ends of the points, which seemed unnecessary in the photo as it would make too wide. So in answer to your post - yes this is the whole layout.

Thanks. I had the power clip in the correct place to start with, however same old story YOU must ensure the track is clean! As it is new, I rather stupidly assumed it was ok - but no. Anyhow you post is useful thank you.

Hello I am trying to create a small shunting layout with a runaround and two tracks leading off. I have connected the power clip on both the top and bottom, and either side of the points but when I change points I lose power to the bottom. Photo attached. I thought if I had the power on the top of the rails, then power would run through the points if they were set for a loop. No matter what I try I can't get it worked out. Can someone tell me where to place the clip please? Photo attached. Keith

Hello As its getting towards winter!! I thought i would have a go at a small box file layout with two box files. I wondered if anyone else has tried this and if so what was the best method to cut the boxes? I am not sure if they are wood or strong cardboard. Keith