Leaderboard

Invest in a set of broaches. These are fine square bars of ascending sizes, slightly tapers. They are a cutting tool - you insert, turn and they enlarge the hole. When you're down to the handle, you insert the next size up. They're a rather cool tool for enlarging holes and making them perfectly round. If you don't have the right drill size, a broach should sort it out. And a set of broaches should cost less than a point...

A solution to a point that has lost its spring is use a solenoid point motor with an over center spring fitted to it such as the SEEP PM4. A more advanced solution is to use slow motion point motors like a Tortoise or DCC Concepts Cobalt which work off dc rather than ac used for solenoids. The problem you may find with Hornby points is the size of the dead frog leading to locos with limited pick ups stalling.

The only thing I can say is ,if your not doing it already ,that you lay the points first and then match up the track in the chosen local of track laying .I clamp mine down with netting staples so I can fiddle around to my hearts content though course you can run stock though it until they are out .I glue my track down with foam tack glue so it can be ripped up easily .The other thing I do on tight curves leading to a point is to solder it to the point,still using fish plates then bend .That way the joint is nice and smooth and natural .No idea if this any help so good luck .

Welcome to world of model railways my friend. I’ve been back at the hobby for the last 11 years and I still get things wrong regarding track laying and electrics etc. The hobby can be very frustrating but also very rewarding. Just keep plugging away and it’ll all come together in the end. Keep posting too - you’ll get plenty of help on here. Good luck and regards, Mike.

I think the Nene Valley one may have gone to Holland now, but the Bressingham one should still be there. I dug out a couple of pics of the TCDD 8F at the GC, dated 9th April 2011, and these should be included below. The other 8F in the lower shot is 48305, which I think still lives there.