This page provides a brief outline of the project currently being undertaken by the members of the Midlands Model Railway Club. For further information relating to the Club and its activities, please follow the links on this page.
Current Project
The room in which we are building the layout measures approx. 17’ 10” (5436mm) by 11’ 8” (3556mm). For the sake of simplicity and maximum track length, we decided that the layout would be built along (though not attached to) the walls, giving a continuous run of about 50 feet (15 metres). A lift-up section has been installed to provide access to the central area from where the layout will be operated.
The track is being laid onto ⅜” (9mm) plywood, which has been inset into a bed of 4” (100mm) Kingspan Insulation that will form the base for the scenic area. The frames are constructed of 2” X 1” (50mm X 25mm) softwood. Individual boards are 2’ (610mm) wide and a maximum of 8’ (2438mm) long and are supported on trestles at an approximate height of 4’6” (1372mm).
The layout is being built in 1:76 scale, i.e. 4mm to 1 foot. It will represent a double track main line at a fictitious location in the Irish Midlands and will incorporate a station, with 4 platform faces and passing loops. The inclusion of a rail served industry is also being considered.
As far as possible, commercially available products will be used for all track, structures, scenery, etc., whereas locomotives, coaches and wagons will be whatever the members wish to bring along from their own stock.
A Lenz 100 Digital Command Control (DCC) Command Station will be used to control the movement of trains, but one track will be switchable to DC, so that locomotives without DCC decoders can also be run. No decision has yet been made on the method of control for accessories, such as signals and points.
Although not to scale, we are using OO gauge (16.5mm) track. This combination of scale and gauge is, perhaps, the most popular in Ireland and certainly in the UK and, as a result, there are a number of manufacturers supporting this combination with a vast range of ready-to-run models, including some models of Irish prototypes.
In order to avoid potential problems with older models, due to wheels having overscale flange depths, we have decided to use code 100 track. For plain track, we are using nickel silver flexitrack throughout with dropper wires soldered to each metre length. Points will be of the insulfrog type.
Gaugemaster ballasted underlay is being used as the track bed, although some loose ballasting will also be done “to enable some members gain experience” of the ‘tried and trusted’ (but very laborious) method of applying PVA with an eye dropper.
The first locomotive to run on the layout – ‘Hogwarts Castle’
(the only DCC-enabled loco available on the night!)See photo
N.B. The following donations have kindly been made to the Club and are gratefully acknowledged:
Baseboards – Michael Allen
Timber frames – Brendan Curran
Lenz 100 DCC Command Station - Graham’s Toymaster
Selection of points – Brendan Maxwell
Various figures and lineside accessories – Dick Brennan
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Current Project
The room in which we are building the layout measures approx. 17’ 10” (5436mm) by 11’ 8” (3556mm). For the sake of simplicity and maximum track length, we decided that the layout would be built along (though not attached to) the walls, giving a continuous run of about 50 feet (15 metres). A lift-up section has been installed to provide access to the central area from where the layout will be operated.
The track is being laid onto ⅜” (9mm) plywood, which has been inset into a bed of 4” (100mm) Kingspan Insulation that will form the base for the scenic area. The frames are constructed of 2” X 1” (50mm X 25mm) softwood. Individual boards are 2’ (610mm) wide and a maximum of 8’ (2438mm) long and are supported on trestles at an approximate height of 4’6” (1372mm).
The layout is being built in 1:76 scale, i.e. 4mm to 1 foot. It will represent a double track main line at a fictitious location in the Irish Midlands and will incorporate a station, with 4 platform faces and passing loops. The inclusion of a rail served industry is also being considered.
As far as possible, commercially available products will be used for all track, structures, scenery, etc., whereas locomotives, coaches and wagons will be whatever the members wish to bring along from their own stock.
A Lenz 100 Digital Command Control (DCC) Command Station will be used to control the movement of trains, but one track will be switchable to DC, so that locomotives without DCC decoders can also be run. No decision has yet been made on the method of control for accessories, such as signals and points.
Although not to scale, we are using OO gauge (16.5mm) track. This combination of scale and gauge is, perhaps, the most popular in Ireland and certainly in the UK and, as a result, there are a number of manufacturers supporting this combination with a vast range of ready-to-run models, including some models of Irish prototypes.
In order to avoid potential problems with older models, due to wheels having overscale flange depths, we have decided to use code 100 track. For plain track, we are using nickel silver flexitrack throughout with dropper wires soldered to each metre length. Points will be of the insulfrog type.
Gaugemaster ballasted underlay is being used as the track bed, although some loose ballasting will also be done “to enable some members gain experience” of the ‘tried and trusted’ (but very laborious) method of applying PVA with an eye dropper.
The first locomotive to run on the layout – ‘Hogwarts Castle’
(the only DCC-enabled loco available on the night!)See photo
N.B. The following donations have kindly been made to the Club and are gratefully acknowledged:
Baseboards – Michael Allen
Timber frames – Brendan Curran
Lenz 100 DCC Command Station - Graham’s Toymaster
Selection of points – Brendan Maxwell
Various figures and lineside accessories – Dick Brennan
Back to Top
View of bridge and Forest |
Up and Running |
Where did they get that ballast |
Under the watchful eye |
