Like many other railway modelling enthusiasts I started out with a modest Rovex/Triang layout in OO scale, then moving on to Tri-ang TT, and finally to a fully scenic OO scale layout, much of it scratch-built of necessity when product ranges were pretty basic.

Inevitably perhaps, marriage, professional committments, and raising a family interrupted my modelling interests for only about 40 years, but in 2000 I accepted early retirement (phew!), and moved into my first love, but originally unaffordable gauge: 45mm or Gauge 1.

Initially, 16mmNG prevailed, but having joined the North London and then Chichester Model Engineering Societies, 10mm to the foot standard Gauge 1 took my interest; since then it has been my complete pre-occupation. For me, the Premier Gauge means live steam, so I own four spirit-fired locos, and one diesel outline 06 LMS diesel shunter which is radio-controlled. All have the correct rolling stock to pull behind them... an example is shown here, a Southern Railway ex-SECR Wainwright ‘C’ class with appropriate carriages finished in mid-1930's livery....and the sort of outdoor track G1 requires. Nowadays, more commercial suppliers are moving into Gauge 1 so that already established firms such as Marklin and Aster are being joined by Bachmann, Accucraft, Slaters, and Aristocraft... the Premier Gauge lives on!