NEAG August 2026 meeting

After some unscheduled milling about in the church hall car park, about 20 of us eventually convened for George Falkner's presentation about his "Skeetsmere" layout, based on Laxfield on the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway.

Whilst it is to 4mm scale (EM gauge), George's presentation focused on the philosophy and design behind the layout, all of which is equally applicable to 2mm scale. The layout has progressed significantly since George's previous presentation, and he brought it along for everyone to see up close. It was running and a bit of shunting was indulged in during/after tea, although we didn't get any photos. Scenery continues to progress but there is much detailing to be done.

The layout sits on a pair of DIY-store metal trestles, and the small cassette fiddle yard cantilevers off one end, along with the control panel (still under construction): 

NEAG April 2026 meeting

About 20 members gathered on Saturday to hear Tony Simm's presentation about his joint layout project with Edward Sissling: "Hambleton Terrace". This is their entry for the Platinum Jubilee Layout Competition, the culmination of which will be the 2mm Expo in 2030.

Tony explained the inspiration for the layout, the planning, and the construction so far. The layout portrays Rowntree Halt on the Foss Islands branch in York, but viewed from the side of the Rowntree's cocoa works. The backdrop is a terrace of houses: the eponymous Hambleton Terrace. Tony has recently made considerable progress on the houses, making use of card, home-printed brick paper, 3-d printed windows and chimney pots, and Redutex slate sheets.

Attendees were able to see the progress first hand on the two scenic boards, including Edward's fastidiously-laid track and scratchbuilt aluminium trestles. This is definitely a project to watch!

Also on show at the meeting were a rather nice gas holder and water tanks, produced by Jim Rowbottom for Laurie Adam's "Yeovil Town" layout:

The North East Area Group - 2mm Scale Association

This group exists as part of the 2mm Scale Association and as such encourages all aspects of modelling in a scale of 2mm = 1 foot. Mostly although not exclusively we model UK prototypes and the periods modelled can (and do) vary widely.

We are not a model railway club and have no desire to become one. We are simply a group of like minded individuals who all happen to belong to the same modelling association. We meet bi-monthly from February onwards on the 1st or second Saturday in the month at Saint Barnabus Church Hall, Bournmoor, Near Fencehouses, Houghton le Spring in the heart of North East England.

We welcome all to our meetings which generally take the form of an instructional session during which one or more group members discuss/demonstrate how they tackled a particular modelling project. This is always timed to be concluded around 4pm when our ladies, who also attend, provide us with a bit of light refreshment (well it's probably a bit more than that) and a small charge is made which covers the cost of providing the food and paying for the hire of the Church Hall.

Membership of the 2mm Scale Association is not a pre requisite of attendance but beware you may well enjoy your afternoon so much that application for membership follows none too soon afterwards.....!

An 'e' mail request to Mick Simpson at dentoncottages@orange.net will ensure you receive detail of the meetings and their proposed content.