split axles and motor gearbox

[Philip Hall]

Without wishing to add to the split axles v. pick ups debate unduly, can I say that I have always got on with pickups. I have used various designs over the years, culminating now with a preference for a coiled thin brass wire bearing on the edge of the flange, as shown many times on the Forum.

However, I am just tidying up a very old model of a SECR P Class 0-6-0T (for use on 'Lower Exbury' at 101 Not Out) that I built over forty years ago. It hadn't run for about five years and the thin nickel silver wipers bear on the backs of the flanges and are a bit worn. I spun the wheels on the track for a few seconds and after a few stutters it ran away smoothly. It's a bit noisy (all right very noisy, it's a MW005 and Romford gears) but it is very smooth. I think that indicates that 'fit and forget' for pickups works as well as it does for splits!

Philip