Club History

The Area Group was formed in 1986 and started meeting in Steyning in a small room used by other groups as well. The four or so members quickly realised that a layout the size of Clapham Junction was out of the question. One of their number wondered if the N-Track system used in America could be the answer to their dreams!

The members sat down and started deciding on the standards on the modules and set about building them at home. Meeting together on club nights they discussed the pitfalls and joys of the system they had taken on-board. The club was then invited to show their hard work to the public by exhibiting the layout at the Worthing Model Railway Club Show in the Assembly Halls in Worthing. Some boards were joined in an end-to-end formation and the group attended its first exhibition which resulted much interest in the Group.

More members took an interest in this concept as it meant no large layouts at home so keeping the peace at home. As the membership grew so did the amount of modules available to exhibit so the space at Steyning was then becoming cramped to say the least. A few frantic phone calls resulted in the club moving to its present location in Sompting Village Hall.

The group has its heart in N Gauge (being an Area Group of said society) but welcomes anyone who models in other scales (we understand that not all can see the advantage of this small scale, in deed not all can SEE it when trying to build that building or scratch build that locomotive)

The club still uses the module system for its layout as the present hall like the old one is still multi purpose so no permamnet layout can exist.

The group is now made up of about 50 members who model in various themes and countries, some with module boards and some who just bring their stock along for some well earned running. We normally have a layout on most club nights and anyone is welcome to run their stock during the evening.

The club is at present looking into the DCC concept and some members have already 'chipped' steam and diesels locomotives quite sucessfully including the Dapol 14XX.

This page was last updated on: 01-JAN-07