Blackcloud Railways

Model railways by Bob Hughes

CRM Modules - On30 Scale

Cheshire Railway Modellers is not a conventional model railway club but a group of individuals all doing our own thing while sharing ideas and advice via our website and forum, so it is perhaps fitting that our club layouts should reflect this individuality. The modules do not create a sectional layout but a series of small layouts which can be assembled in virtually any order with the overall size depending upon how many individual members' contributions are present. 

Asilo (above and below) was the first section to be completed for use with the new CRM On30 modular layout. The baseboard is 30 inches long, this measurement being chosen to reflect the 2ft 6in gauge of the line. The siding is non-operational, included as a scenic feature where spare items of stock can be displayed.

 
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Barranca Phoenix (left) is the smallest of the On30 modules at one cubic foot, the railway is seen briefly between two tunnels as it crosses the river in the canyon. This began as a OO scale module but I had a change of plan and the On30 scene arose from the ashes. The module is now complete and ready for use with the layout. The train in the picture is "Jubilee" from the Bachmann Underground Ernie series, needing just a little work on the face to convert it into a reasonable looking modern railcar in On30, but I think this one will be left unaltered as amusement for younger visitors at exhibitions.

 

 

Rio Paleta (below right) also started life as a OO scale module, built by Nick Palette and donated to CRM following the 2009 show in Crewe. I have rebuilt the module, adding much dryer looking scenery and a small wayside station, for use with the On30 layout. This module is now completed and ready for exhibition once the fiddleyards are made. A short video of Rio Pateta and Asilo being tested can be seen here.

 
Perejil Apartadero (below) has a short passing loop and two spurs, it may be used for a railcar set to pass another train but there's not enough room for two loco hauled trains to cross. This module is almost completed, the photo (below) will be updated as work progresses.
 
 
When my modules are assembled with those of other CRM members the layout will normally be operated by Digital Command Control. However, if I attend a show using only my own sections of the modular layout I will stick to DC for running the trains, with this in mind Perejil Apartadero will be wired with switched track sections for crossing trains under DC control.
 
Fiddleyards - I have a traverser based fiddleyard under construction for use at one end of the layout. Brian Mosby is building a second fiddleyard for use at the other end but when I am operating my own modules, in ones and twos at home or more at a show, I will also use one of the fiddleyards from the OO modules.

Modules > OO > On30 - Layouts > N > OO & HO > On30 and O > 10mm > Gn30