Can anyone help a 6 year old with a hornby points problem? I...

Can anyone help a 6 year old with a hornby points problem?

I see that there are many complaints about derailments caused by these points but our problem arises from the fact that on passing over the points (which are without motors} the power cuts out.

The layout is a child's first and consists of a simple oval with an inner oval accessed by a couple of sets of points.

The solution may be obvious to an expert but help would be appreciated by child, his father and grandfather!

Hornby points if pinned down too tightly can cause a power loss. The point blades(the rails which switch the track direction) have a tiny contact fitted to the underneath which makes contact with a neighbouring rail depending on which way the point/turnout is switched. If you pin the head of the point down too much this causes the blade contact to loose contact with the outer rail when switching and results in power loss. Even with a point blade pushed hard up against a rail there is no guarantee of a perfect contact without the little spring contacts on the bottom of the blade doing their pin.

Solution ease the pin holding the head of the point and also check the other end for distortion due to too tightly pinning down.

You will still get a momentary power loss as Hornby points are what is called Insulfrog points, the frog of the point is made of plastic. Frog being the big plastic bit in the point where two rails join, it is a V shape.

to hard to ex plain call me 07786985538

I too have yesterday bought for my son with similar frustration. The web is full of people with problems with Hornby points: 1) derailment due to poorly fitting guide rails, and 2) trains stopping on them because they lose power. Peco (Hornby's main rival) have points without these problems: 1) their guide rails are 'fit for purpose', and 2) they (optionally) have 'Electrofrogs' as opposed to plastic ones that give the power to the train 100% of the time. Poblem 2 above also suggests that engines do not have electrical pickup on all their axles. I would say all engines should always have pickup on all its axles.

As I'm about to spend LOTS, I have taken the advice of many to buy Peco track instead of Hornby. It means adjusting my design a little but it'll be worth it. Peco is also cheaper!

I've been planning for some time now, comparing Peco and Hornby, and remain staggered that Hornby do not react to this problem - despite the evidence.

ps. In my day, the hooks between trucks were metal and rivetted on. Already after only 2 hours play, a Hornby hook has come off its plastic mounting.

If you have older models you may find problems with some older Hornby stock and Peco points Bob, there is an incompatibility issue between the two. Some Hornby Locos and stock made from 1973 to 1992 tend to be intollerant of Peco points, the flanges of the wheels are too deep for the Peco track system, it often means a rewheeling of some locos and rolling stock to run on the Peco system of track.

Electrofrog(live Frog points) are good but they have the disadvantage/advantage of having all track sections live, you loose the ability to isolate a siding by using the point to switch power as you can with insulfrog. Using electrofrog points can mean more complicated wiring and more isolating track sections than the usual if you are using DC.

Modern Hornby locos made after 1995 will run on Peco track without bother. The build quality of Hornby models and Hornby points certainly aren't always as good as they have been in the past alas but it's the price to be paid for extra fine detail and overseas production in far eastern lands where labour is very cheap and plentiful.

Such is the cross we all bare as modellers today.

I sincerely hope you get your layout running, we are all here to help you, feel free to ask for help if you need our help.

A little off-topic, but I hope I can address what look like some misconceptions.
Thetriangman - what you describe as "electrofrog" turnouts sounds more like "power-routing" - electrofrog points by definition have to switch the current to whichever way the points are set. "Non-power-routing" points are the ones where both roads are live at all times.
Bob - Ealing - I think the coupler on your new Hornby coach may have just come out of its NEM coupler pocket. Just snap it back in. If it comes out again, talk to your model train shop about a new one. NEM coupler pockets allow the modeller to replace couplers with other couplers of the modeller's choice - very handy when buying locos from multiple manufacturers which may not come with matching couplers. Beats drilling out a rivet, then cutting, filing and gluing.

Worded the best way I can JB. Will re-explain. Electrofrog points are commonly known in the UK as live frog points with both exits and the entrance track to the point being live. You will note I mention the point has all track sections live in my original post.

Electrofrog points can requires more wiring up than the usual insulfrog points and aren't generally used in the mainstream market in the UK, most home users carn't be bothered with the extra wiring and they aren't generally used for someone starting out. Hornby Dublo slipped up badly when they brought out their two rail system going for electrofrog points, Tri-ang went for insulfrog points it meant less wiring for the beginner and Tri-ang won the day. It wasn't the only reason H/D went bust but it added to their problems.


Insulfrog points have a dead frog point, and switching them causes one outlet switched to live the other to be dead thus providing an insulated track section.

The standard plastic bar and hook tension lock coupler Bob is eaisly fixed a lot of them have a tiny spigot on the plastic underneath the bar, the hook simply clips onto this spigot, NEM pockets aren't fitted to all Hornby stock in the catalouge yet, a lot use the tension lock couplers which hasn't got NEM sockets.

Beware of buying older stock on the likes of eBay Bob if you are tempted you may find you have a re-wheeling exercise on your hands if running on Peco track.

I don't know who gave you your info Bob but it's partially incorrect. A lot of older locos do not have pickup all wheel pickup, the Tri-ang and indeed Hornby system until recent years used a system of pickup plates with one side of the loco being insulated by plastic wheel bushes and the other side live. Pick up for the insualted side was usually by a wiper that ran onto the back of the insulated wheelsets. Very seldom were live axles used in the range except for ringfield locos. Those of you who have such locos will know this to be correct.