Layout 2026

This page will be used to document the planning and construction of the new club layout.
The layout does not yet have a name but will be known initially as Layout 2026.

Notes from the CMRC meeting on 27/01/2026 on the new OO gauge layout.

The project leader will be Martin Head. ( Layout2026@Mainthreado.uk )
Martin Turner will be the link between the group and the club committee.
The new layout has to be built to exhibition standards.
The group has to be willing to take the layout to shows if needed.
The size of the layout would be 28' x 2' 6" on 30" legs.
Each board will be 4' x 2' 6" open board plan design.
The layout will be both DC and DCC.
This will be an End to End layout.
The layout will be freelance on multi level.
The track will be a mixture of code 100 & 75 track laid on cork.
The points will be electro frog with slow action point motors.
A mixture of semaphore, ground and light signals to be decided later.
The DC controllers from Clevemoor to be used and the club DCC phone controllers used if possible.
Control panel to have route indication built in.
A period between 1920 - 1968 for the track work.
Type of buildings and scenics to be decided later when the track plan is agreed.
The project to take approximately 2 years to complete.
Tension lock couplings to be used for rolling stock ( small Bachmann type ).
A budget of £2000 to be requested for the project.

The members were asked to go away and design a track plan for the new layout and bring it to the next meeting which will be held on Tuesday 10/02/2026 starting at 16.30. There will be a follow up meeting on Tuesday 24/02/2026 at 16.30.

Notes from the CMRC meeting on 10/02/2026.

We reviewed the use of code 75 track and decided that we would standardise on just code 100. All points to be electrofrog.
In light of 1 above and the need to be able to allow short 0-4-0 locos it was decided to not use any double slips.
Item 6 above was debated at length and it was decided to use flat top boards and not an open framework.
The boards would be 6mm ply top at 4' x 2' 8" ( increased from 2' 6" ) and the framing would be contructed as per Stockton i.e a sandwich with intermediate blocks to help keep weight down.
No decision was made as to a track plan although 2 ideas where proposed by Paul Winner and Martin Smith. It was decided to further refine these plans and discuss them at the next meeting.
Both proposed track plans did seem to fall within the proposed budget.
Further track plans are still welcome provided they follow the guidelines proposed here.

No decision as to a region although a North Eastern flavour seemed to be favoured. Period of 1920 - 1960 ish seemed suitable i.e Pre nationalisation, Big Four, early/late Steam & early diesel. Buildings could thus be those built as part of the development of the railway and then surviving into the 1960s. A clearer picture of these elements would come from the agreed track plan.

Next meeting to be on Tuesday 24/02/2026 at 16.30 for further discussions etc.

Reg Co: Cleveland Model Railway Club Ltd No. 07261492