CUMBERLAND GAP OO GAUGE

All track and points are of the Peco brand, set track and flexitrack is used throughout. The initial build is a montage of the railway scene in the small town of Egremont Cumberland. It illustrates the industry of the period with coal and iron ore being the principal good traffic of that era. The buildings are mainly kit build examples, usually Metcalf, with some bespoke builds from European suppliers. 

The initial concept was to build a shunting layout to demonstrate the workings of this yard in the 50’s/60’s. Further additions were made to the layout with the introduction of a road system based on the Faller type of animated road vehicles. A working conveyor, for loading wagons, was added at a later stage. This was linked to the road system, to give a more authentic presentation of working models. 

The main principal, adopted by the layout team, is to build and demonstrate a layout which gives an active visual representation of modelling and a panorama of activities for the individual to watch, rather than a somewhat static scene.

Originally, the layout operated through DC control. We have chosen to switch to DCC control with the option of DC Control, should the need arise. Cumberland Gap is /can be dual control.

Currently, we are re- building the fiddle yard, which was attached, a number of years ago to extend the running track to a full return track bed. This new addition with be a generic track fiddle yard, DCC controlled and operated through bespoke controllers (built by group members) and using DCC point motors to enable grater control and a more authentic track changing system.

This layout will be on display at the 2025 Club exhibition and will include further additions to illustrate and enhance modelling image of miniature Railway building.