Hornby A4

I have seven Black fives on my layout (LMS Far North division - we only had Black 5s north of Perth). Five of them are Hornby (new type) and none of them are high at the cab end. If they were, the middle drivers would be lifted clear of the track which they manifestly are not. IF, and it's a big IF, you have one which is high and you think it is the spring, it is an easy matter to take a coil or two out of the spring or maybe even leave it off. I'm not needing to do this. I think this minor bit of springing, plus the tender pick up system now in vogue at Hornby (Bachmann may catch up - you never know) gives the best pick up I have ever seen on any RTR locos. I'm not really able to comment on the problems of 'unsul frogs' as my track is all handbuilt and has live crossings. I think insulated crossings are a nonsense and instantly mark a layout as a 'trainset'. I don't use DCC either as it wouldn't add anything to my operations so I can't comment on problems there caused by dodgy pick-up.

Alistair

[ context left un-snipped intensionally ]

I suspect John was talking about this from a traders point of view, he should not have to do anything to a new model...

Another thought, are the points electrofrog? Have you done anything to make them "DCC friendly" (I know there's really no such thing and best practice applies equally to DC, but it seems to be the term in vogue)? Have you checked B2Bs on the wheels?

Momentary shorts due to poor electrical design of points can lead to all sorts of problems and may even explain some of the interference to the WLAN (extra radiated energy from the high current spikes).

MBQ

On Mon, 5 Jan 2009 02:24:02 -0800 (PST), " snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com" said in :

I think you might be onto something. I have a suspicion about the back-to-back. I use electro and insul frog, depending on the application - anywhere a four-wheel loco is likely to be running slowly, I use electro.

Guy

Actually, even insulfrog can cause problems. If you have any stock with particularly wide treads, it's possible for a wheel to short between the two frog rails where they meet the plastic frog.

MBQ

What f*ck are "frog rails"?!

So I couldn't think of the proper term. Anyone with half a brain will know what I'm talking about.

MBQ

So I couldn't think of the proper term. Anyone with half a brain will know what I'm talking about.

MBQ

would that be 'at least' or 'only' half a brain :-)

Cheers, Simon

As everyone who is anyone knows : Frog Rails start at Calais!

Regards

Not at the mid-point of the Chunnel?

Whilst perhaps not prototypically correct, if you open your eyes, and maybe your mind, you'll find that "frog rail" is quite widely used to by railway modellers to describe the two rails leading away from the vee.

You can find a few clues on Google, but I'll save you the trouble, just look at

the first pretty coloured diagram for one example which is probably well known to anyone with at least half a brain and using DCC .

MBQ

"MartinS" wrote

No that's in the middle of the ENGLISH Channel. ;-)

John.

Actually ITYWF that they start somewhere around CT rail terminal on the *UK* side of the channel.

La Manche?

In message , Jerry writes

When I read this, it was so obvious from the context that "point rail and splice rail" were what was meant.

Which bit of the example of my usage of the terminology I gave (and you conveniently snipped from your reply) are you struggling with?

To say '"frog rail" is quite widely used to by railway modellers to describe the two rails leading away from the vee.' is CORRECT. I never said it was the only usage of the term, nor that it was the correct usage of the term, but the fact of it's usage is there for all to see.

MBQ

I'm not interested in whether or not it's prototypically correct language, only what is in common usage among the intended audience.

MBQ

If you're so clever and knowledgeable, educate me, instead of resorting to abuse, as usual.

Put up or shut up!

MBQ

Would everyone please stop reply to Jerry's abusive tirades ? They are totally uninteresting, and I'm afraid so are the responses. Arguing with trolls or other useless people is not worth it.

The only effect is to make the drivel visible to those of us who killfiled him months ago.