A brief history

The main object of the club is to provide an opportunity for enthusiasts of N-gauge model railways to meet and to run trains. We also meet to exchange experience, information and ideas for the general benefit of members - and of course to meet with friends.

The club started in May 1997 and during 1998 found a regular meeting place in Earlswood. The club has been set up as a ‘modular’ club. As we have no club house for a ‘permanent’ club layout, we decided to take the modular route. Members are encouraged to build individual modular layouts which can be interconnected at our meetings to make a large "club" layout but enable each member to take their own layout home (see the meetings page.)

Over the years, the member have branched out into other projects. Many of us have our own home layouts, the more portable of which appear at the club exhibitions. We have tried a number of different modular specifications. We have also built two club layouts. One, Dreibruken, has been a great success and has been widely exhibited. The other, Reigate, we are still trying to get right, but we have learnt a lot in the process (see the layouts page).

In 1999 we held our first open day in Earlswood to show people what our group does and to get more people interested in the hobby. The day went well, and steadily grew. We moved from one room to all of Earlswood Baptist Church. We outgrew this open day format, and started to hold a one-day exhibition at the Methodist Church in central Redhill. Again this day grew, from just the main hall, to all the available rooms in the building. In 2008 we held our tenth open day/exhibition, and are now planning our 13th extravaganza.

Other club activities include occaional small "swap meets" of our own, film evenings, members exhibiting their own and the club layouts, members travelling together to shows and exhibitions, visits to other clubs and, of course, gallons of tea, coffee and the occasional curry!

Have a look at our layouts and activities on the website. New members are always welcome and if you would like further information send us an e-mail or just drop in to see us one club night (information.)

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