ClubHistory4

Olney Model Railway Club History

2011

With Bridge End (OO) and Market Cross (N) nearing completion, thoughts turned towards construction of a new Club layout.

Following an initial discussion at the AGM, Members met again in March and agreement was reached to build a DCC, finescale, exhibition standard OO gauge layout based on Olney station and yard. Throughout the year much research and discussion took place and a computer-generated track plan was prepared and agreed in principle. Little did we realise just how much time, effort and money this project would consume over the following years.

In addition, we also agreed to build a small, portable OO layout to develop our knowledge of DCC operation.
The test track facility was fully completed and started to be utilised on a weekly basis by Members keen to run their own personal rolling stock.

No decision was taken in respect of Townley Mine, and it remained in storage.

The 13th OMRC Exhibition was held in the Concert Room of the Olney Working Mens Club (OWMC) on 10 September and proved to be a successful day with a resulting profit of £42.63. Layouts exhibited were:

Market Cross (N) – OMRC
Bridge End (OO) – OMRC
Lydgate (OO) – Mid Essex MRC
Cannons Lane Scrapyard (EM) – Dave Tailby
Ditchford Treacle Mine (OO9 – NG) – Bruce Farr
Foxbile Brewery (O) – Colin French
Hemyock Road (3MM) – Mark Haynes
Orchard Sidings (O) – Ron Bailes
Lathbury Upon Ouse (N) – Jack Garbett

At the AGM, all three existing Management Committee Members, Alan Beresford (Chairman, Malcolm Haynes (Secretary) and Peter Revitt (Treasurer) were re-elected.

2012

The inherited Townley Mine layout was dismantled and all reusable trackwork salvaged for possible use on future projects. Both the Bridge End (OO) and Market Cross (N) layouts were stored on purpose-built wooden racking, thus freeing up space for construction of the Olney layout.

Following agreement to the final version of the computer-generated track plan. work on the Olney Project commenced and it was quickly realised that a good deal of modellers licence would be required during the construction phase. Work on construction of the first two scenic baseboards commenced, supporting legs were designed and built and the method of joining all boards together agreed and purchased. It was also agreed that we would use Markway kits for the bulk of the point work and SMP Finescale for the track.

Work also commenced on a small, two-board portable OO gauge layout to enable Club members to develop their knowledge and use of DCC operation.

The 14th OMRC Exhibition was held in the Concert Room of the Olney Working Mens Club (OWMC) on 15 September and proved to be an extremely successful day with a resulting profit of £344.82. Layouts exhibited were:

Tiny Lane Sidings/Box File Yard (N) – Chris Avis
Dock Green Loco (O) – Colin French
Hampton End (G) – Dale Gillard
Thrasher Road (OO) – Colin Goodenough
Fryton (Z) – Graham Jones
Elmwood Quay (OO) – Mick Wooldridge
Lathbury Upon Ouse (N) – Jack Garbett
Market Cross (N) - OMRC

The detailed layout plan for the scenic part of the Olney Project, plus information boards, were also displayed at the Exhibition and resulted in many questions and discussions taking place with visitors during the day.

At the AGM, all three existing Management Committee Members, Alan Beresford (Chairman, Malcolm Haynes (Secretary) and Peter Revitt (Treasurer) were re-elected.

2013

Both the Bridge End (OO) and Market Cross (N) layouts remained in storage.

The first Club Dinner was held at Donzella Restaurant in the town.

Progress on the Olney Project continued apace and construction of the first two scenic baseboards was completed. It had been intended to use Markway kits for the point work and SMP Finescale for the track, but the quality of the trial Markway kit purchased proved to be poor and not fit for purpose. The decision was therefore taken to use Peco track and point work throughout. It was also agreed that details of outstanding work to be completed would be recorded on a dedicated whiteboard to help ensure that regular progress was maintained.

The layout, in its partially completed state, made its debut at our own Exhibition and was accompanied by an extensive photographic display depicting Olney Station, prepared by Tony Foster, who was still working at the station when it closed in 1964.

Work on the small, two board portable layout, named St Peter’s Yard, reached the stage where we were also able to include the layout in our own Exhibition.

The 15th OMRC Exhibition was held in the Concert Room of the Olney Working Mens Club (OWMC) on 7 September and proved to be an extremely successful day with a resulting profit of £309.00. Layouts exhibited were:

Olney (OO) – OMRC
St Peter’s Yard (OO) – OMRC
Cucknoe (N) – John Boot
Webber Heights (N) – Gareth Homersley
Enfield Hall Sidings (OO9) – Mark Haynes
Snape Maltings (EM) – Dave Tailby
Holby Airport Parkway (N) – Shaun Gates
Putnoe Halt (G) – Simon Marshall

At the AGM our Chairman, Alan Beresford, stood down and long-serving member, Ken Knowles, was elected in his place. Malcolm Haynes and Peter Revitt were re-elected as Secretary and Treasurer.

2014

Steady progress was made on the Olney layout and, by the time of our annual Exhibition, the track and point work on the main scenic boards had been pinned down and wired ready for final fixing and electrical completion.

There was, however, a degree of frustration as some avoidable delays occurred where decisions on some of the track work was changed on a weekly basis. This was primarily because of the decision to use Peco track and point work throughout.

Both the Bridge End (OO) and Market Cross (N) layouts remained in storage and work continued on the small, two-board, portable DCC layout (St Peter’s Yard).

The 16th OMRC Exhibition was held in the Concert Room of the Olney Working Mens Club (OWMC) on 05 September and proved to be a successful day with a resulting profit of £272.38. Layouts exhibited were:

Olney (OO) – OMRC
St Peter’s Yard (OO) – OMRC
Wainhouse Corner Bossiney (OO) – Chris Toyer
Blackwell Shed (O) – Geoff Blackwell
Tinners Wharf (N) – Peter Johnston
Abbey Street (EM) – Dave Tailby
Hammerford (OO) – Shaun Greet
Obergammerau (Z) – Graham Jones
Oddstones (O) - MKMRS

At the AGM our Treasurer, Peter Revitt, stood down and Chris Toyer, was elected in his place. Ken Knowles and Malcolm Haynes were re-elected as Chairman and Secretary.

2015

The first five boards of the Olney layout reached the stage where the electrics where ready to be thoroughly tested in readiness for the scenic work to commence. As the project was moving apace, it was necessary to hold an EGM to determine the format and size of the fiddle yard boards and reorganisation of the Club accommodation to ensure that sufficient space was available for both work and socialising. It was agreed that the larger of the two upstairs rooms would house both the existing test track and the Olney layout and the smaller room would be used for all other activities.

Work also began to upgrade the existing test track facility to enable both DC and DCC working.

Both the Bridge End (OO) and Market Cross (N) layouts remained in storage and work continued on the St Peter’s Yard layout.

The 17th OMRC Exhibition was held in the Concert Room of the Olney Working Mens Club (OWMC) on 05 September and proved to be a successful day with a resulting profit of £220.00. Layouts exhibited were:

Olney (OO) – OMRC
Evington St John (OO) – Shaun Greet
Eastbridge (O) – Les Pace
Weslo Steels (EM) – Dave Tailby
East Beckton (EM) – Brian Wakeling
Lovett Upham (OO) – Paul Stigter
Broadgatw (OO) – Les Williams
The Lane (N) – Peter Johnston

At the AGM all three existing Management Committee Members, Ken Knowles (Chairman), Malcolm Haynes (Secretary) and Chris Toyer (Treasurer) we re-elected.

Author: Malcolm Haynes – July 2026