THE BIT TO REMEMBER
Clean the electrical path before assuming the motor or decoder has failed.
Start with the rails
Remove loose debris and use the track maker’s recommended cleaning method. Avoid leaving fibres or excess fluid. Do not clean powered track, and keep liquids away from electrical equipment.
Wheels matter too
Dirty wheel treads can break electrical contact. Support the model safely and use its maintenance instructions; do not force the mechanism or power wheels by hand.
Pickups are delicate
Pickups are small contacts that touch wheels or axles. Bent, dirty or damaged pickups can cause intermittent running. If access requires dismantling or you are unsure, use a competent repairer.
Oil is not a cleaner
Use only the lubricant and tiny quantity specified by the manufacturer. Oil on wheel treads or track reduces traction and can collect dirt.
A REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE
If lights flicker and the model hesitates at several places, inspect the rail surface and wheels. If only one location causes trouble for several models, concentrate on that piece of track and its connections.
Your next step
- Switch off and unplug the controller before cleaning.
- Clean a small track area using the maker’s approved method.
- Check wheel treads and visible pickups against the maintenance sheet.
- Test at low speed and record whether the symptom changed.
Read the original instructions
Reviewed 7 October 2026. These beginner notes do not replace the instructions for your exact model.
Hornby · Locomotive maintenance sheets ↗Hornby · Product support ↗