Call me stupid, but I just noticed on Insulfrog turnouts that the 2 metal check rails each side of the frog are not connected to any other part of the track. Would it make for better running if these were connected to the thin wire under the turnout? Most of my stock is new Hornby and some Bachman / Heljan. I looked at the Peco instructions but no mention of it TA Rob
Peco Insulfrog
Jan 03, 2005
5 Replies
You could go to the trouble of electrifying these. Even better would be Electrofrog type points with the frog switched by a properly constructed switch. The links underneath should be removed, and the point blades bonded to the stockrails. Lastly cut new gaps to isolate the blades from the frog. Then you would have conductivity all the way through. This results in the same method that has to be used and is extremely reliable for handmade points
The Peco instructions for wiring should be discarded unread, they only lead to wrong impressions. Peco reply on their tags on the blades and seem like a good idea. However they lose contact for various reasons over time causing failure.
Kevin Martin
Should mention I am usind DCC Thanks Rob
No - the blade contact is used to enliven the point blade and frog rail. It provides the track/siding switching which is so useful in non-DCC operation. It would be an advantage to wire it permanently for DCC except that Peco have brought the two frog rails well into the frog where it occassionally happens that wheels link the two rails electrically. Kleinbahn wheels, which have no tread coning, link them every time.
You probably should have, but I guessed that you were.
Regards, Greg.P.
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