Peco or Hornby ?

[FattishBoy]

Hi all, looking to get started re-building my layout again and I have a lot of Hornby System 6 track mostly steel and a little nickel silver but reading through some posts it seems that Peco is very popular no mention of the Hornby stuff. So should I clean up the old stuff or start afresh with Peco, also can you mix and match the different makes ?
Any info appreciated.
Thanks.

[IanS]

The Hornby track can be used, but be prepared for regular cleaning. Peco code 100 is compatible and that is likely what you have.

When I have replace points I use Peco electrofrog so that if I ever go DCC I've already got the points sorted.

[Brian]

Hi
Firstly, myself if starting out afresh, I would ditch the steel rail track. It rusts and needs much more maintenance than Nickel Silver rail track does.

Next you need to decide what type of points you're going to be using? Assuming all are to be Code 100 rail profile then...
All current Hornby and all Peco Setrack points are identical and one make can replace the other make and they are all of the Insulated Frog type. That is the point switches the rail power off to the unset route. Insulated frog points can be used with DC or DCC. If used with DCC they need either Hornby Electro point clips fitted (Two per point) or install additional rail feeds after the vee rails to overcome the self isolating feature of the Insulated frog point. Insulated frog points have a plastic frog area.

Next are Peco Streamline points, sold in both Insulated frog and Live frog (Electrofrog). They are identical to each other and are interchangeable with each other, but are to a much larger footprint and radius than the Hornby or Peco Setrack points, so they are not directly interchangeable with these.

Both Insulated frog and Electrofrog Streamline points work with both DC and DCC. Insulated frog points in Streamline will need additional rail feeds installed after the point for DCC operation to overcome the self isolating feature. They apparently do not take the Hornby Electro. point clips. Electrofrog Streamline points need to have Insulated Rail Joiners (IRJs) - Nylon fishplates used on the Vee rail ends to replace the metal fishplates. Then additional rail feeds are fitted after the IRJs. Again the Insulated frog version has a plastic frog area while the Electrofrog one has an all metal frog. Using Electrofrog offers a continuous metal rail throughout the point and provides normally better slow speed running over point work. Electrofrog points work straight from the packet but should have the two IRJs fitted. The only exception is the Peco Electrofrog 3 way point which needs frog polarity switching added before it can be used. The Insulated frog 3 way version though is of course usable straight away.

Finally just to add to the confusion more, Peco are slowly releasing all their Streamline points in UniFrog format which is a 'Best of both worlds' point. It is a Insulated frog point but the frog is made of an isolated section of metal rail, so from the packet its basically the same as a Insulated frog point and is very easy to convert to Electrofrog too.

Just be aware that Peco is considered to be the better make in any type of point and that all points work with DC and DCC. There is no such thing as a DC only or a DCC only point. Hornby and Peco Setrack points are interchangeable but not directly with the larger Streamline versions

[FattishBoy]

Guy's, thanks very much for your advice, and Brian thanks for writing such a detailed reply. There is lots of things for me to consider before I decide what route to go down but starting to think DCC and electrofrog and because I have older rolling stock code 100 (I think)
Iam sure I shall be back asking more questions.

[Mountain Goat]

Don't throw away old track though. Plenty of uses. I have recently purchased a gaggle of clockwork engines... They dont mind plastic or steel or nickel silver...
Ive made old track into waggons... Lots of uses. How about loads for wagone or even fenceposts!

[footplate1947]

May I just add that I prefer Peco (just my choice) but must be honest I have used Peco since 1972 when I bought my first house and built my first large layout in the loft.
I have never used Hornby, but back in those days Peco was far better than Hornby. I would go Peco I think it has the edge. Certainly it has better selection of points making it more versatile. I would go with flexi as you can make more realistic curves with it, To me set track always looks a bit toy like. What ever you chose make sure you go for nickel silver. You will save yourself a lot of trouble in the long run.

[Malcolm 0-6-0]

Don't throw away old track though. Plenty of uses. I have recently purchased a gaggle of clockwork engines... They dont mind plastic or steel or nickel silver...
Ive made old track into waggons... Lots of uses. How about loads for wagone or even fenceposts!

I've got a box full of the old track which can be chopped up for fence posts, posts for mounting odd pieces of equipment on etc. plus it can be chopped into suitable lengths and placed around the layout to look like those ubiquitous piles of replacement rails the engineering departments seem to dump everywhere.