Gaugemaster Controls and The Engine Shed were formed in the mid-1970’s as two separate businesses - the Engine Shed as a model shop in Bognor Regis, and Gaugemaster as an electronic sub-assembly business in Worthing.  1977 saw the first Gaugemaster controller produced to satisfy the demand for a modern electronic controller with traditional aesthetics, build quality and durability.

In 1982, after working together for a period, the two businesses merged and a mail order department was added.  A second shop, in Worthing, was purchased and after extensive renovation opened late in 1984.

A period of rapidly expanding sales followed with distribution to retailers becoming well established, making Gaugemaster the largest UK producer of model railway controllers and transformers.

At the same time other wholesale lines were added to our product range, the resulting growth forcing us to find larger premises so, in the spring of 1988, the station goods yard at Ford station near Arundel was purchased.  The site was cleared and our new building erected for a Grand opening attended by many of our trade customers and suppliers on the 21st April 1989.

The 1100 sq. metre building housed a retail showroom, mail order department, packing and despatch area, warehouse, manufacturing department and offices.  Development of the Ford station yard site continued with the building of fifteen light industrial units.

"We now offer the most complete range for model
railways and slot cars in the UK..."

In 1994 we purchased the Seep range of point motors and accessories followed by the Tiny Signs poster range.  Our distribution continued to expand, firstly with Preiser figures and then the SCX slot car range followed by leading brands including Märklin, Trix, Faller, Pola, Piko & Noch in model railways and Fly, Pink Kar & Reprotec in slot cars.  We now offer the most complete range for model railways and slot cars in the UK.

We hosted the first of our open weekends in 1997, with visiting layouts and representatives from the likes of Märklin and Fleischmann there to offer advice and information.  These weekends have been a great success, improving each time as we learn how to better host them!  They have been held every two years since and the trend will certainly continue.

In the new millenium, the continued increase in demand has led to more changes, with a new expanded website and mailorder service, followed by an expansion of our retail floor to enable us to display more stock.  Further refurbishment to our shop took place in mid-2004 as we continue to try and evolve and become as customer friendly as possible.