Open Day – Sunday 23rd April 2017

Our next open Sunday is on 23rd April 2017.

We’ll have a special focus on modelling in O gauge and 7mm:1ft scale, and featuring one of the last public operating sessions of our well know layout “Happisburgh Goods” before it retires later this year.

Other MRC layouts include:

“Lacey Dale”  – our N gauge mainline layout with branch line. normally running late BR steam from the Peak District

“Empire Mills” – An EM gauge goods line set in the west country.

And the Gauge O Guild will be there, showing the range of opportunity to model in this scale.

Plus a special offer for new members applying on the day

Open Day – Sunday 29th April 2018

Our next open Sunday is on 29th April 2018 – it’s a great chance to find out more about us and the benefits of joining our friendly club.

We’ll have a selection of our layouts operating, including:

• Putnam Yard – the original section of our HO layout, set in New York State.
• Lacey Dale – our N gauge layout set in Derbyshire, featuring a striking viaduct with automated main lines, and a small branch terminus below.
• Empire Mills – the final showing of our current EM gauge layout before it moves onto its next chapter.

Plus displays from our OO and Scale 7 layouts which are under construction to find out how you can get involved

Layouts on tour – Spring 2016

Our layouts are all designed to be portable, so they can be taken to exhibitions. This spring we are delighted to have been invited to some great shows, including: 20th Feb – Minories (GN) headed into Southern territory at Tonbridge, whilst Happisburgh Goods went in the opposite direction to Biggleswade 12/13th March – Caledonian Goods (aka Mrs …read more.

“Narrow Gorge” – OOn3 microlayout

“Narrow Gorge” is Tom Cunnington’s entry in the MRC’s 2015 layout challenge.

Although not his first layout,, it is a first attempt at a number of techniques, including narrow gauge (all the kit-built stock is new for the layout), modelling cliffs and water, and trying to give depth in a very small footprint. It was also a bit of a rush, having previously decided (several times) that it would be a distraction from other projects.

It’s built at 1:76 scale, the same as OO, but with narrower 3′  gauge track – normally called “OOn3”

Here’s the diary of how it was built over 18 days, mostly an hour or two later in the evening (with apologies for viewers on some mobile devices – the photos keep rotating back)