Steam engines hold a peculiar fascination. For me, the technical
details of the mechanism are the real attraction. Others like the
aesthetics of steam locomotives, or simply recognise the central place
that steam driven technology has in the first two centuries of the
industrial revolution.
My current interests centre around small scale live steam locomotives; ones that are small enough to be made in my workshop but which still embody the principles of the full size version (which basically means they use a forced draught multi-tube boiler). Gauge 1 (roughly 1:32 or 10mm to the foot scale) is big enough to allow such designs, whilst still being manageable for somebody with only a small machine tools or limited free time for construction.
Gauge 1 Model Railway Association's Surrey Group: information about Gauge 1 modelling in Surrey
The Gauge 1 3D Circle: forum for applications of modern manufacturing techniques to Gauge 1 modelling
The Surrey Signal: newsletters for the G1MRA Surrey group
The Ashford High Line: my Gauge 1 test track which is designed to float out across the flowers
Aladdin: an O gauge live steam design published in the early 1950's
RCH PO wagons: information about Railway Clearing House Private Owner wagons, including scans of diagrams
The Bromley North branch: some ephemera and an article about a short suburban branch line in South London
Pages written by Adrian Johnstone, last updated 1 October 2026