THE BIT TO REMEMBER
A bus carries track power around the layout. Droppers connect that supply to sections of rail.
The two rails need two separate connections
For a basic two-rail railway, the controller’s track output connects to both rails. Keep each side consistent around the layout. A metal object bridging the rails can cause a short circuit.
Bus and dropper are just wiring names
A track-power bus is a pair of main wires beneath the layout. Droppers, also called feeders, connect rails to those main wires. Additional feeds reduce reliance on a long chain of rail joiners.
Points need their own instructions
A point is the track junction that routes a train. Its frog is the crossing area where rails meet. Different point designs handle power differently; switching and insulated gaps depend on the exact product and track plan.
Understand the concept before wiring
Wire size, protection and feed locations depend on the system and layout. Follow the controller and track manufacturer’s instructions. This page explains the names, not a wiring plan for every railway.
A REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE
A locomotive stops at the same place, while other sections work. That observation gives you somewhere to start checking track connections; it does not prove the decoder is faulty.
Your next step
- Draw the track plan and mark the existing feeds.
- Identify your controller and exact point types.
- Label wiring consistently and switch off before work.
- Keep DC and DCC controller outputs separate.
Read the original instructions
Reviewed 7 October 2026. These beginner notes do not replace the instructions for your exact model.
Hornby · basic track wiring ↗NCE · layout wiring guidance ↗