Members Competition 2026

We are very pleased to announce our very first Members Competition! This has been something a few of us have been wondering about for a few months, and at last it is here! Full details below. 

EMNGM members’ layout challenge competition 2026

The EMNGM Committee is excited to announce our first layout challenge in a competition open to members only.

Layout challenge rules

1.     The layout must be no larger than 1,000mm x 450mm footprint (not including fiddle yards, fiddle sticks, cassettes etc). It can, of course, be smaller.

2.     The layout could be in any scale within the permitted footprint.

3.     The layout must contain some narrow gauge railway track. Narrow is defined as representing anything less than standard 4 ft 8½ in track. 00 gauge track in 4mm scale representing standard gauge is specifically excluded but it could be used to represent 4 ft 0in track (for example, the Pardarn Railway or Derby Corporation Tramways).

4.     There is no restriction as to prototype, freelance or fantasy. It can be any theme you like.

5.     The layout must be capable of depicting a moving railway vehicle and any method of control/power source is permitted. However the judge is unlikely to be impressed by the “finger of God” approach to locomotion or tilting the baseboard to generate gravity operation.

6.     Members can present an existing layout for the competition or build something specifically for the competition brief – your choice.

7.     Members are restricted to one entry. Please notify the Chair or Secretary if you intend to enter by Saturday 25thJuly.

8.     The layouts will be judged by an esteemed modeller (to be confirmed) at our group meeting on Saturday 26thSeptember. Your entry must be physically present at that meeting to be eligible for judging.

9.     All entrants will be invited to bring their layout for a group static display at Narrow Gauge Now on 31st October. 

10.  The judge’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

11.  The winner will receive huge esteem and a prize with a modest cash value (to be confirmed).

We decided to go with members only to trial the competition format with a possibility of opening it up to non-members for Narrow Gauge Now 2027 if it proves successful.

We also decided to go for a static display at Narrow Gauge Now 2026 because we need members on deck supporting the running of the show so we did not want to lose potential stewards/helpers on the day.

We definitely encourage members to share progress on our Narrow Gauge Now Facebook page, but it is not a requirement. 

This page last updated on 09/02/2026