Newbury MRC have embarked on an exciting new 00 project for the 2006-2008 period. We agreed the outline and budget in November 2005, which will replace the old rose shaped test track, you may have seen at our last annual exhibition.

That old layout is now no more. After all the years of use, entertainment, and Friday night outings, it took barely 3 weeks to strip and recover all the parts. As most of the track was in very good condition, it will be reused, and assist with keeping the cost of the new project down. As for the baseboards well they really had seen better days...

Please Note: The updates are now listed in a diary style format with the newest entries at the top.

October 2007 Update   November 2006 Update   August 2006 Update  
June 2006 Update   April 2006 Update   Project Information  

The main test track part of the layout is now fully functional with all the construction, track laying and wiring complete.

Work has now started on the four backboards that will form the fiddle yard at the back of the oval layout.

Design of the track layout for the front scenic boards has also been started and this is now close to being finalised.

Each Friday night 2-4 members of the club are now honing their skills, by wielding drills, hammers (small ones), soldering irons etc, with the result that track is going down to a very good standard, and considerably faster than the real thing. We are now about 80% complete and the planned circuits have now taken shape. We are on target to complete the entire track laying for this section before Christmas.

As a result the wiring phase has also now started, and the first board has now been completed only 11 more to do! However we are still very much on course to complete this entire section of the layout in time for the next NMRC show in February 2007.

Consideration will be given in the New Year to phase 2.

After putting in a few extra sessions, we managed to complete two full circles ready for the open day. We arranged the boards to be on view, with trains running, and while there were a few necessary temporary short cuts (wiring), these did not hamper the project progress and gave us the second real project milestone.

The sight of Sir Sam Fay (LNER B3 4-6-0 Class) progressing steadily around the track with no stalling or derailment problems was real sight, and lead to a very successful test of the teams initial work during the day.

We will now able to lay the cork underlay, and mark out the track plans, ready for the real railway construction - track laying. Watch this space, as our short term aim is to have something running at the August 5th open day, and to complete this entire section of the layout in time for the next NMRC show in February 2007.

The new layout baseboard construction has also started moving fast. Over the Easter period, the first baseboard assembly took place, and the subsequent Friday night turned into a real glue and power screwdriver party. At that point the project changed from an idea, into a reality for everybody within the club. It was also a real pleasure to see most of the available members, what ever their gauge, get involved. As a consequence, we had the new baseboards completely assembled by the end of April.

The first stage of painting has also now been completed, but we did not use the same production line approach. This may have had something to do with free flowing matt black paint, however the benefit of seeing a snowman in the heat wave (you had to be there), and some very enthusiastic paint application made for some entertaining moments, and another task completed.

PHASE 1

The first will be a much needed direct replacement of the 00 test track. While this has served the club well, it is showing its age. The basic concept is very sound and lends itself for some interesting ideas. So initially we plan to directly replace the board shape, and redesign the track layout. Our 7mm narrow gauge members are keen to ensure we allow them at least one circle to run their stock.

PHASE 2

The second stage will be built in 2007/8, and will be the extension sections to slot into the test track as both a scenic show display and running storage sidings.

1. Set in late 1940s early fifties Accommodation of members rolling stock
2. Engine sheds and turntable Allow engine exchange.
3. Express milk drop off probably towards London. Not often modelled, and will provide opportunities for interesting trains and operation.
4. Mainline and through traffic operation, with 2 x 2 track main lines.
5. Meeting of two former rail companies (A challenge will be when our GW, LMS, and LNER members all want to run their stock at he same time! Plenty of excursion and cross country trains! )
6. More detailed location on which to base our design, are being researched.