Olney Station in '00' Gauge
Following a Special General Meeting of the club in March 2011 it was agreed a project to build a replica of Olney's railway station should be built. It was appreciated from the outset that this would be a very significant undertaking, and indeed it took many years for the layout to achieve fruition. On completion the layout took up a significant amount of the space the club had use of.
![PXL_20240716_120456856[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/93e558_49e95277ce3a4b75b135b0c83363cf9a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_460,h_345,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/PXL_20240716_120456856%5B1%5D.jpg)
![PXL_20240716_094459911[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/93e558_1cf43e7ee88a4cf58f6576f5adadd75b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_460,h_345,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/PXL_20240716_094459911%5B1%5D.jpg)
The layout consists of a continuous double track circuit layout, each track [up and down] capable of being operated independently [as if two separate layouts) with seperate ''up' and 'down' fiddleyards. However, cross-overs between 'up' and 'down' lines were included in the construction.
Digital Command Control (DCC) is used to control traffic across the whole layout - a decision to use this being made from its conception.
![PXL_20240716_094604429[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/93e558_21d1929216cf49f0a6191fd5974f3ace~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_460,h_345,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/PXL_20240716_094604429%5B1%5D.jpg)
![PXL_20240716_094621837[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/93e558_6e6fd963c1db4c26900913058bf133e2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_460,h_345,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/PXL_20240716_094621837%5B1%5D.jpg)
Two control panels with 'mimic' LED lights - one to control the main layout points, the other to control the fiddle yard area - were constructed. The layout was extensively landscaped, and models of the station buildings were constructed to replicate as accurately as possible the originals.
If of interest, a detailed description of the layout's construction can be found HERE.
Sadly, at the end of 2024 it became necessary for OMRC to vacate the premises it had occupied since 1994. With no availability of a similar, affordable premises in sight, a decision had to be taken to either break up the layout, put it into long-term storage, or find a new home for it.
In the event, the club was very grateful to receive an interest in the layout from RAILWORLD WILDLIFE HAVEN, based in Peterborough. The layout was duly dissembled and transported to their site, where in the near future (Spring 2025?) it is hoped the layout will be made operational again and feature amongst the attractions to be enjoyed by their many visitors.