The sight of a locomotive moving slowly across plain track and turnouts is for many what a model railway is all about. It is to do no more than replicate the everyday operation of the prototype. However, how often is this achieved both on the home layout, and on layouts seen at exhibitions. Many regard this performance as unreachable by the average modeller. Five factors effect running performance on a layout - Track type and quality of fixing, controller, locomotive mechanism, cleanliness and wiring.

	Track type and quality of fixing - Track is dealt with in much more detail in our Track Laying section. However the basic requirements for good performance are careful fixing of your track, ensuring it is flat, level and correctly joined. Do not force the track, if it looks good to the human eye, and smooth to the touch, performance should be good - if in doubt look at the track in a mirror - it will make any errors more apparent. Any irregularities in the track will soon emerge once running commences. It is better to spend more time initially carefully fixing the track, than risking deformation or permanent damage to the track by having to lift and relay. Electrofrog turnouts are essential where size permits, and most experienced modellers accept nickel-silver or phosphor-bronze to be the most reliable materials. Where understanding allows, convert electrofrog turnouts to livefrog removing the need for the switch rail to retain pressure on the stock rail to achieve a circuit. This requires a switch to change frog polarity either on the turnout motor or as a separate SPDT switch.
	Controller type - Generally the modern electronic controllers perform better at low speeds than the older 'rheostat' controllers. It is not fair to expect miracles from a twenty year old controller. Would you expect a television from 1970 to perform like a television purchased in 2000? The controller should be matched to the size of the layout and to the stock running on the layout. If the layout is under powered, poor performance and damage to the transformer may occur. Contact us for advice.
	Locomotive mechanism - motor, gears, collectors (pick-ups) & wheels. As with controllers, it is not fair to expect a locomotive purchased many years ago to perform as well as modern stock. In the last few years we have seen major improvements in the quality of mechanisms. Better quality motors, gears and wheels are now being used as the major manufacturers realise the demands for quality from the enthusiast. Locomotives constructed from kits usually have the benefit of the builders choice of wheels, gears and motor. With a wide variety of materials available careful consideration should be given to these essential components.
	Cleanliness - The most common cause of non-running and a large contributor to poor running is cleanliness. The best quality track, controllers and mechanisms will all be adversely effected by dirt. Dirt accumulates on the track, locomotive wheels and axles, and within the locomotive mechanism, particularly on the commutator of the motor. Regular cleaning of the track and servicing of the locomotive is essential. Electronic track cleaners can be installed to help fight the grime. Remember dirt will always get in those hard to reach places. On insulfrog and electrofrog turnouts dirt will accumulate on the rear of the switch rail blade and in the stock rail rebate. If this is not cleaned the turnout will not conduct power correctly requiring the tie bar to be pushed over. Clean with 1000 grade wet and dry paper folded back on itself to make it double sided - then trap the two rails and clean.
	Wiring - Correct wiring allows locomotives to run around a layout at low speed. It should not be necessary to have to run at high speeds to change between controllers operating different sections or circuits - this is usually a common return problem. Larger layouts should be broken down into electrical sections or blocks to achieve better running. The type of track wiring used on a layout depends on who is going to use the layout, the size of the layout and the locomotive movements required on the layout. On small layouts particularly those for children or the beginner, keep the wiring simple so it is easy the understand. If Setrack is being used with insulfrog turnouts, use the turnouts to feed the track rather than switches. On larger layouts break the layout into operational blocks/sections usually determined by the running requirements. Isolate the blocks using insulated/plastic rail joiners (or a simple break in the track) and feed each block from a switch allowing the block to be switched off. Use a common return system where two controllers are in use (check your controller is suitable) allowing locomotives to cross between controllers without the need for speed. The introduction of two way switches with a centre off position (SPDTc/o or DPDTc/o) produces the greatest operational freedom on the layout, allowing each block to be controlled by either controller or to be switched off. Other useful additions to track wiring are 'push to make' switches (PTM) located to control the ends of sidings. A single cut in one rail approximately 300mm from the end with a PTM switch across the break, automatically stops a locomotive as it crosses the break preventing damage to the buffers. The break also allows a locomotive to be stored at the end whilst moving another locomotive on the same track. The stored locomotive can be moved simply by pressing the PTM switch. Additional track wiring can include train detection circuits and automatic shuttles and station stops. Contact PLS for more details of our track wiring service.

2. Turnout motor wiring