Where to start?

Oil on wagon axles? Not something I do. Might use a bit of dry lube such as graphite if I ever thought it would help.

DRC,

For clarity do you mean oil on the whole axle shaft or oil just to the bearings? I certainly have applied oil to my pin-point axle ends on coaches & wagons and would consider this normal.

37lover - My apologies, I could have worded it better. Yes, the pin-point ends. Not the whole axle.

DRC,

No apology needed but thank you for the clarification. In that case, my recommendation is to oil just as you would with a loco & tender [not too much though], and keep the wheels clean!

Have a look at Sam'sTrains youtube channel, he has a beginner's video.

Question about R618 double isolating track, does this separate power from one side of the track to another?

So for example, I attach this piece at the end of a point that I plan to use as a programming track. One side of the R618 is connected to the main track power outlet, then other side of the track is connected to the programming outlet, the loco is shunted past the isolating point, I can then do whatever I need to do on the programming track, then back the loco up back onto the main track.

If not, what is the purpose of this piece, and how does it work? I’ve tried to find information on it, but there doesn’t seem to be much out there.

Many thanks.

@DRC

All it is is a bit of track with a gap in both rails. It isolates one end from the other. You can achieve the same effect with insulated rail joiners and adjacent normal track. You can short these gaps using link wires or a switch for normal isolation purposes but not for your intended programming siding purpose.

To run your programming scenario you need a 6-pin DPDT centre off switch.

The centre pair of pins of the switch go to your isolated siding track rails.

One pair of outer pins go to your Controller Track output and the other pair go to your Prog output.

The method of use is throw the switch to Track and run your loco that needs programming onto the isolated track.

Then throw the switch to Prog to carry out programming.

The reason for the centre off is to ensure a definite null selection between the Track and Prog selections. What you must never do is connect the Prog output to the Track output or you will blow your controller. Your idea of shunting across the gap wired your way will kill the controller. Do it my way.

"If not, what is the purpose of this piece, and how does it work?"

It can be used in any scenario where one wants to isolate a section of track as an alternative to Insulated Rail Joiners. The piece includes sockets to accept X8011 crimp terminals. Hornby's approach to wiring is to try and eliminate the need to solder wires, hence the X8011 compatible terminals. If the alternative IRJs were used, then alternative arrangements using either track power connectors or soldering would be required. Thus from a Hornby perspective, the R618 combines everything into one single track piece.

In Hornby instructions [there are some showing this product in use] it is commonly used to resolve a 'Reverse Loop Short Circuit' on a DC Analogue powered layout.

It CAN NOT be used for a programming track unless more complex switching wiring as described by Rob is used. In its standard [as meant by Hornby] installation implementation. Any metal wheels bridging the isolation gap as you drive a loco onto the isolated siding will connect the controller programming output and track output together and blow the controller. Not only that, but even if no damage was done, once the loco was on the programming track, there would be no track power to drive it off again back onto the main layout. This is also what Rob's complicated switch wiring does. It allows the isolated section to receive track power when needed as well as more robust isolation to protect the controller.

Personally, I would favour the official Hornby approach which is to use a completely separate and portable physical piece of track. Rob's switching arrangement is not 100% foolproof and needs concentration. Let's say the switch is in the programming and not in track power position and you turn up the controller to move the loco back onto the main track, nothing happens and you have forgotten that you have not thrown the switch, so you push the loco thinking it just needs a nudge. Then in pushing the loco you bridge the isolation gap and the result is you damage the controller. Yes you might think this is unlikely, but what if the switch is in the programming position and you accidentally drop a metal object onto the track bridging the gap. The metal object might be a metal watch strap that contacts the rails whilst positioning the loco. These are all feasible albeit unlikely, the completely separate programming track is more likely to eliminate any such possibility from happening.

This is mine, posted to give an idea. I have some banana sockets on my control panel location that wire to my Elite 'PROG' output, thus I only plug my track piece in when I need it.

Now I’m very glad I asked. I wasn’t planning to use it to bridge a gap between main and programming track, but used it as an example, which I clearly got very wrong. However the consequences for doing so sound rather catastrophic.

As always, extremely informative and helpful information provided by 96RAF and Chris.

This may be helpful. Gleaned from another forum

https://d28lcup14p4e72.cloudfront.net/228673/7490681/program%20track%20SW%20PowerCab.pdf