Layouts
Over the years R&DMRC has established a reputation for building entertaining and quality layouts. Layouts that are currently, either under construction or available for exhibitions, to our same high standards, are shown below.
Okement Quarry
O Gauge 32mm Finescale
The Gauge O Guild has introduced a modular layout design, where clubs and groups can opt to build a 12 or 24 foot long module, with defined track interfaces to Guild supplied end curve and fiddle yard boards. We have decided to create a 12 foot module based loosely on Meldon Quarry, but given the restricted size, we have called it Okement Quarry instead. It will however, feature many of the features of Meldon. We are making good progress with the layout and showed it for the first time at the Guild's Summer show at Kempton Park in May 2025.
©James Aitken
Okehampton
O Gauge 32mm Finescale
The concept for Okehampton was to build a layout in O Gauge which all members can be involved in, both in construction and operating. The size of the layout is dictated by a number of factors. The main one is that a layout should have space for the longest train to come into the layout, be in the layout, and exit. Therefore the entrance space, the central space and the exit space should each be roughly as long as the longest train. In 0 gauge, an 8 coach train and a Bulleid pacific is about 13 feet long, so thus a reasonable layout should be 39 feet at least. Okehampton fits this criterion with a length of over 40 feet along the main line. The width of the layout is a result of the depth of track and required a board width of some 6 feet.
Aylesbury LNWR
EM Gauge
The layout was orginally built by Geoff Williams and his sons.
©James Aitken
Aylesbury Town
P4 Gauge
Aylesbury Town is the latest in a long line of P4 layouts built by the club for exhibition.
Setting the layout in the BR Era of the 1950s/60s will allow a mix of stock from the Great Central, Metropolitan, LNER and GW, through to BR, comprising both through trains and stopping services (north & south). Local trains for Amersham and branch trains to Princes Risborough provide further interest . Measuring 32' by 12' the layout is a ‘roundy roundy’ design. By minimising the handling of stock, it is hoped that the layout, will provide greater interest to those operating and viewing.
Mellin Parva
O 16.5
This is a small O16.5 layout originally built by David Simmonite but now owned by R&DMRC. We have done a little refurbishment due to the time it has spent in storage. We have added the cars and a couple of people and will clean & repair the backscene next. We have been running this in the museum at Quainton and at club events.
Test Track
This is a large oval board system that can be put up or taken down in a matter of minutes, for the use of club members to run in or test their stock.
The gauges on the test track include one of ‘O’ gauge, one of 'Scale7', two of ‘OO/HO’, two of 'P4/EM' and one of ‘N’ gauge. Provision has been made to connect the preferred type of controller for the variety of motors fitted to our model locos. Each track can be switched independently between DCC and Analogue, enabling both types of loco to be run at the same time.
See the Club diary for what club nights the test track will be up.
