About the Group
The group was founded in 2004 by five friends, with the aim of enjoying running sessions on each other's layouts. We also aim to encourage those who are actively engaged in or who have an interest in the art of modelling items of railway locomotives, rolling stock, track, signalling, and other railway infrastructure to the scale of 16mm to each imperial foot, or, to put it more simply to a scale of 1/19th the size of the prototype.
There are currently no membership fees payable in order to join or to be a member of the group, just an interest in the art of modelling in 16mm to 1ft is all that is required.
Our members currently have a range of layouts, some of which are indoors, but most of which are set in our members' respective gardens.
Although a working track gauge of 32mm used to be the most common one amongst our membership, we do have more and more members who are able to offer running facilities for 45mm gauge locomotives and vehicles and one garden railway capable of both, being dual gauge.
Our members are also very flexible in their approach and very few of us count rivets or spend weeks deciding on the correct shade of whatever colour for their latest creation (although we do have some such clever people), and, of course, you don't have to restrict yourself to steam power. Mainly, however, we find that 16mm people are out to enjoy their modelling whatever their ability or following, and it's even better when they can all enjoy it together.
Providing you are a member of the Association of 16mm Narrow Gauge Modellers (for insurance purposes), it does not matter what type of locomotive you own, whether live steam, battery or diesel outline, you will always be welcome to run it at any of our publicised events, unless specifically stated by the host who is holding the event.
During the spring and summer months, group members are meeting frequently for a running session at the garden railway of one of our members somewhere within the area. The original Monday evening meetings have been supplemented by extra meetings, usually at the weekend, at one of the railways of our members who tend to live further afield. A detailed list of these meetings together with contact information needed before your visit can be found on our 'Forthcoming Events' page.
The original six founding members normally hold a meeting during the latter part of the year to arrange the following season's outdoor running sessions.
All that remains for us to say now is, that no matter who you are, where you live in our region or whether you are just visiting, whatever you run in 16mm, or indeed whatever the aspect of railway modelling is that interests you, please feel free to attend one of our events - just introduce yourselves and you will always be made very welcome!