Model Railway Forum

So, we’ve got a siding on our layout which only has power when the points are in the right direction.

Wasn’t a problem with DC and now we have DCC you have to reconnect the loco to the controller every time you change the point. This is also not a problem really.

Now a strange thing is happening today after we fitted our first point motor to the point. If you move to loco into the siding it’s works fine. The moment you switch the point away and the back the loco will fail to connect no matter what we do. We can only get it to reconnect if we push the loco past the point and onto the main line.

I’m happy to add dropper wires to the siding which should cure this but just interested to know why this has happened?

On a DCC layout one solution is to fit Hornby point clips to the point. This maintains the current constantly to the siding.

Is a puzzling one actually because in theory it should behave like an ordinary DC siding with a self isolating point and the DCC side should in theory operate the loco only when the point is set correctly so the current reaches the loco. (Yes, one will ideally need to add link wires etc).
The only delays to get the DCC loco to run are if one has set inertia on the DCC decoder where there will obviously be a delay before the loco will run. Other than that, it should run ok when it picks up the current and the DCC signal.
Does it run ok on the rest of the layout? Is current still getting to the siding anyway when the point is set that way? (Try another loco?)

The point could be faulty or the point motor isn’t driving it fully over. Hornby had a batch of points that would short when selected and they will be replaced f.o.c through your retailer or customer services. There is a check out procedure on the Hornby General Discussion forum in the FAQs. In the second case check alignment of the point motor and observe its travel limits.

Highly likely the point blade isn't closing tightly onto the stock rail when the two are closed together. Check and adjust motor throw as needed. Also worth cleaning the inside faces of both the switch rail and its mating stock rail - Use ideally a fibre pencil or if you don't own one use very fine wet and dry or Emery cloth wrapped around a lolly stick of similar. Also check the two metal rail joiners at each end of the point are making good tight connections onto their rails.
Ideally do as you suggest and add droppers to the rails.

Thanks for the reply’s guys.

Haven’t had time tonight to investigate but will look into it later this week.

I tried to fault find today. After about 20 mins I got fed up and just added dropper wires.

Don’t judge me