About Us

As we are today and also showing some historic models over the years

GRS was started in 1982 by Michael Adamson from a passionate hobby which has grown into an international business. The business started off in G Scale (1:22.5 scale, 45mm gauge) and 16mm narrow gauge (1.19 scale, 32mm gauge) and has steadily grown into the largest supplier in the UK. Over the last 20 years Michael’s son, Matthew Adamson, has worked alongside his father sharing his passion for the business and the range has been extended to include Gauge 3 (1:22.5 scale, 64mm gauge), Gauge 1 (1:32 scale, 45mm gauge). Now Matthew has taken over the running of the business and has introduced ready to run 5 inch and 7.25 inch coal fired ride on locomotives as well as O Gauge (1;43.5 scale, 32mm gauge), 00 Gauge (1:76.2 Scale, 16.5mm gauge) and 7/8th Scale (1:13.7 scale, 45 and 32mm gauge) – which can all be seen in the showroom. We now have over 7,000 products on offer – all of which can be seen on this website!

GRS is a traditional family business and strives on giving expert advice and service, which we consider essential for good customer relations. If you would like to be kept up to date with all new products and special offers, enter your email address on our website (bottom left corner) and you will receive our emails (about 15 per year).

Our website contains various resources for learning more about the hobby and we have newsletters, catalogues, details of our design & build service, custom track work information, custom painting and lining service, our own YouTube channel and even a virtual walkthrough of our showroom!

In G45 there are extensive stocks available of locomotives, rolling stock, track, both set and flexi types, buildings and accessories from all over the world covering American and European prototypes. All the major manufacturers are represented in our stock inventories. However GRS have not stopped there and have taken note of customer feedback. British Outline has been asked for many times and because of this interest over the years GRS has developed extensive ranges of its own products for the scale in British Outline. These have proved to be extremely popular. Because of our extensive range of kits, GRS has for many years manufactured its own range of waterslide transfers, covering all the major prototypes and freelance versions as well.

The Live Steam locomotive manufacturers like Roundhouse, Accucraft and Kingscale have in no small measure helped to increase awareness of British Outline and GRS has never been slow to offer the thrill of real steam to those who wish to have a ‘real hands’ on experience and get their hands dirty! When purchasing a live steam model, we offer a free 1 hour consultation to ensure that you can get up and running as soon as possible.

As part of our after-sales service we offer repairs, upgrades and conversion to radio control for battery, electric or live steam models.

In the Buildings department, we offer a large range of weatherproof resin building kits including several sizes and types of station, goods shed, signal boxes, loco sheds, water tower and water columns, permanent way huts, diesel depot, terraced cottages, church, pub and shops.

Garden railway infrastructure is manufactured in concrete and metal to produce girder bridges, tunnel mouths, viaducts, platforms and retaining walls. For obvious reasons, concrete products have to be collected from our shop in Princes Risborough, or from one of the many exhibitions that we attend (by prior arrangement and pre-paid).

For those who like ‘to do their own thing’ GRS have a myriad of castings and assemblies from our own kits, which are available separately. If you can’t see what you want on our website just email us or give us a call.

For many years garden railways have been operated by radio links. Today is no different, but the systems are considerably more sophisticated, covering both digital and analogue types. GRS offers help and guidance on the purchasing of these products from manufacturers, such as Massoth, Piko, ESU and Marklin. We also regularly run training courses in control systems – see our training page for details of the next course available. For those requiring battery traction, we can offer products and advice on the Revolution system.

For the beginner we suggest you purchase a copy of ‘Railways in Your Garden from the Ground Up’ which tells you all you need to know to get started. This book is a beginners manual showing you how to go about building a garden railway. To go with this book, we have several DVD’s, professionally made hour long programmes, which set out to show you the many different types of garden railways, and are great for ideas and getting the imagination working. We offer a complete starters pack which is available on this website!

We also offer an extensive range of secondhand goods – continuously topped up by buying complete collections, from small to large, trade-ins and we also offer to sell on a commission basis for 20% plus VAT.

Pay us a visit and you will be amazed at the amount of stock we hold – you may even be offered a cuppa!

General Showroom View Today

Showroom in 2006

Below you will see a series of historic photographs of models we have either produced over the years or Michael Adamson has built for his own railway

LGB Garratt Rhodesian 14A - completed Feb 1983

Freelance 0-4-0 0-4-0 Beyer Garratt - April 1983

French Railcar May 1983

Rhodesian 14A Beyer Garratt 2-6-2 2-6-2 Sept 1983

Portugese Railways 0-4-4-0 Mallet Sept 83

SNCF Vivrais Mallet March 1984

South Afrikan Railway 12A Class 4-8-2 (LGB Chassis) March 1984

SAR Train Completed Spring 1984

SAR GCA Class Beyer Garratt 2-6-2 2-6-2 July 1984

SAR 12A 4-8-2 Chassis rebuilt, new cylinders and valve gear Nov 1984

SAR MJ Mallet 2-6-6-0 Dec 1984

RR Class 7 4-8-0 June 1985

Barclay SA Industrial 2-4-0T Oct 1985

RR DE6 Co-Co Diesel (General Electric U2OC) Jan 1986

SAR J Class Tank 4-6-4 Feb 1986

John Heywood's SAR NG Diesel Feb 1984

CP Portugese Mallet Tank 2-4-6-0 May 1985

John Heywood's Loco Sept 1984

American Logging Locomotive Nov 1984

Zell-am-see Austrian Tender-tank 0-8-8 Sept 1984

Barclay SA Industrial (ex Jersey Railway) 2-4-0T Oct 1985

D&RGW C18 2-8-0 May 1986

CP Mallet Tank 2-4-6-0 Oct 1986

D&RGW Mogul acquired and modified July 1987

Buthidaug-Maungdaw Tramway Beyer Garatt 0-6-0 0-6-0 Juy 1985

Mexican (Freelance) Double Fairlie 0-4-4-0 Dec 1985

Double Fairlie Nov 1986

Bogie Tram - Playmobil chassis Oct 1986

Bogie Tram April 1987

Bogie Tram built Feb 1986

May 1986 unfinished SAR 15F 4-8-2

DRG&W 2-8-0 (converted LGB Mogul) built Oct 1986

East German 0-6-0 tank March 1987

Yugoslav Tender/Tank 0-6-2 Dec 1986

La Robla (Spanish) Beyer-Garratt (Hanomag) 2-6-2 2-6-2 March 1987

Sri Lanka Beyer-Garratt 2-4-0 0-4-2 Feb 1987

Beyer-Garratt - Freelance 2-6-2 2-6-2 April 1987

Baldwin Logging Loco 0-4-2T Built July 1987

4-6-0 Kalamazoo conversion LGB chassis June 1988

SAR GC Beyer-Garratt (modified) Oct 1987

SAR MJ 2-6-6-0 Mallet Dec 1987

Beyer-Garratt (freelance) 2-4-0 0-4-2 Jan 1988

C&S Mogul Summer 1988

DRGW C-18 2-8-0 Summer 1988

C&S Mogul (early version) Summer 1988

DRGW Mogul - straight stack version Summer 1988

Cripple Creek 2-6-2 - Conversion of LGB 20195 Mogul - July 1989

FCTC Tranandine 0-6-0 Rack Tank Dec 1989

FCTA Tranandine 0-6-0 Rack Tank Dec 1989

Diesel Crane April 1989

Forney - Lionel conversion Jan 1989

Welshpool Hunslet 2-4-2T built July 1989

L&B 'Lyn' 2-4-2 Baldwin Tank Jan 1990

'Glaskasten' brass model with sound Jan 1990

SP 4-6-0 (Bachmann conversion) May 1990

RhB 2-8-0 built June 1990

SAR 8Z Class 2-8-0 Sept 1990

Leopordina 2-4-2 2-4-2 Beyer-Garratt Jan 1991

Cambeltown & Machriansh Barclay 0-6-2T Nov 1990

'Freelance' LNER 4-6-0 Nov 1990

Tram Luggage Car Aug 1991

'Freelance' Fairlie 0-6-6-0T Sept 1991

Electric Frank S - LGB/Aster conversion Dec 1991

South West Africa steam railmotor Dec 1991

Steam railmotor - Freelance LGB chassis March 1992

Steam railmotor - LGB rack chassis and parts

Diesel Shunter Jan 1992

WPY 2-8-2 Baldwin Loco - LGB chassis parts conversion Aug 1991

Prototype brass saddle tank - Bagnall type May 1992

Saddle Tank - Lehmann Porter conversion - Nov 1992

Special version of Bagnall 2-6-2 Loco Dec 1992

Freelance 0-6-0 Tank Loco converted to Tender Loco - Ex Corpet Louvet July 1993

EBT 2-8-2 Tender Loco 1993

Hudswell-Clark 0-6-0T Corpet Louvre conversion July 1994

SAR NG12 2-6-2 2-6-2 Beyer-Garratt, live steam, gas fired April 1994

2-4-2 Forney Jan 1994

Bo-Bo Diesel Aug 1996

US outline railcar Jan 1994

Live steam SAR NG-16 Beyer-Garratt Dec 1994

Articuated Railcar April 1995

Hunslet 0-4-0 Tender Loco - brass built June 1996

Roundhouse - Englarged William - Summer 1997

Peter James built loco

Peter James built loco

Peter James built loco

Peter James built loco

GRS freelance electric loco kit - USA chassis

GRS freelance electric loco kit - USA chassis

GRS electric loco kit

Shay

0-4-4-0 Mallet

Steam Railcar 1997

Peter Janes built electric railcar

Bogie Streetcar - Combined LGB Streetcar and Trailer

SAR Class 24 2-8-4 bult March 1987

Steam Tram and Trailer Aug 1987

DRGW 2-8-0 C18 June 1988

Diesel Crane - Sept 1988

RR Crew Service Car April 1989

Re-acquired June 1989

RR 16A Beyer-Garratt 2-8-2 2-8-2 built Feb 1988

SAR Class 6J 4-6-0 built March 1988

CGA 6Z Class 2-6-2 built March 1989

DRGW C21 2-8-0 (modified LGB Mogul) April 1989

Electric Works Car built May 1990

CFB 4-8-0 Tender Loco built April 1990

FCTC Transandian 0-8-6-0 Kitson Meyer rack locomotive May 1991

GRS/Roundhouse live steam 'Elsa'

Live Steam 2-6-2 Indian Loco 1994

C & M 0-6-2T Prototype - GRS/Roundhouse live steam May 1992

Rebuilt PAR no.3 built 1994 with Vanderbilt tender

Autumn 1995 - Lower Damson under construction

Summer 1996 - Damson station (unfinished)

Manning Wardle, Atlantic repainted, Elsa II 1996-1997

Pond/Waterfall feature Spring 1997

Elsa II Spring 1997

PAR Diesel

GRS Kit

GRS Kit - Bagnall 0-4-2

GRS Kit - Hunslet 0-4-0ST

Nicki Frank S Garratt

GRS/Pearse Leek & Manfold 2-6-4 Tank Loco

Playmobil Radio Controlled Diesel Locos

GRS Kit - Double Fairlie Loco

GRS Kit - Prince 0-4-0ST

GRS Modules and LGB Chassis

GRS Kit - Single Fairlie Loco

GRS Kit - Peckett type Saddle Tank Loco

GRS Modules and LGB Chassis

GRS Kit - Peckett Type Saddle Tank

GRS Kit - Centre Cab Diesel

LGB conversion

Big Hustler - MBC Kit

GRS Kit - Quarry Hunslet Saddle Tank

GRS Kit - 0-4-0 Diesel Body Kit

GRS Kits - W&L Sheep Wagon and Cattle Wagon

GRS Kits - W&L Open Wagon and Box Van

GRS Kit - W&L Brake Van

Toytrain conversions with GRS parts

Toytrain conversion with GRS parts

Toytrain conversion with GRS parts

Toytrain conversion with GRS parts

Toytrain conversion with GRS parts

2 x LGB Coaches with GRS underframe parts

GRS Kit - L&B Style Freelance Coach

GRS Kit - L&B Coach

GRS Kit - Campbeltown & Machrihanish Coach

GRS Kit - W&L Coaches

GRS Kit - L&B 4-plank Open Wagon

GRS Kit - L&B Steel Braced Van

GRS Kit - L&B X Braced Van

GRS Kit - L&B Closed Bogie Brake Van

GRS Kit - L&B Open Type Bogie Brake Van

GRS Kit - L&M Balcony Bogie Coach Kit

GRS Kit - L&M Balcony Bogie Brake Coach Kit

GRS Kit - L&M Bogie Milk Van

GRS Kit - Darjeeling & Himalaya Beyer Garratt

GRS Kit - Freelance NE Type 0-6-0 Loco Body Kit

GRS Kit - L&M Bogie Flat Truck

Freelance Toytrain conversions with GRS parts

GRS Kit - Freelance Van Body Kit

GRS/Accucraft Live Steam GVT

GRS/Accucraft Live Steam GVT

GRS/Accucraft Live Steam K1

L&B Loco, Banana Railcar and Prairie Loco on Michael's railway

Gauge 3 Banana Railcar set

GRS Kits - L&M coach and L&M transporter wagon

Gauge 3 Pannier and goods train on Michael's railway

Michael's railway showing both Gauge 3 and 45mm Narrow Gauge Stock

GRS Gauge 3 RTR Class 45xx 2-6-2 Prairie Tank Loco

GRS Gauge 3 Kit - Class 1361 0-6-0ST

GRS Gauge 3 Kit - GWR Diesel Passenger Railcar Nos. 5-16

G3 2021 Pannier Kit

G3 8750 Pannier Kit

G3 GWR Dean Goods Kit

G3 GWR Manor Kit

GR SR Terrier Kit

G3 SR Adams 02 Kit

G3 SR N Class Kit

G3 LMS 3F Kit

G3 LMS 4F Kit

GRS Gauge 3 Kits

GRS Gauge 3 LMS Van Kit

GRS Gauge 3 LMS open wagon kit

Early GRS Gauge 3 Mineral Wagon Kit

GRS Gauge 3 GW Open Wagon Kit

GRS Gauge 3 LNER 13T Steel Open Kit

GRS G3 Kit - 7 Plank Open Wagon

GRS G3 Kit - LNER Tube Wagon

GRS G3 Kit - GW Toad Brake Van

GRS G3 BR Brake Van Kit

GRS G3 GW Loco Coal Wagon Kit

GRS G3 GW Macaw H Kit

GRS G3 GWR Conflat Kit

GRS G3 LMS 3 Plank Wagon Kit

GRS G3 LMS 20T Brake Van Kit

GRS G3 LMS Cattle Van Kit

GRS G3 LMS Milk Tanker Kit

GRS G3 LMS Stove Kit

GRS G3 LNER One Plank Wagon Kit

Loriot M

GRS G3 GW Loriot M Kit

GRS G3 Oil Tank Wagon Kit

GRS G3 SR PLV-GUV Kit

GRS G3 SR Brake Van Kit

GRS G3 SR Brake Wagon Kit

GRS G3 GW Gas Tank Wagon Kit

GRS G3 New Mineral Wagon Kit

GRS G3 LNER 3rd Class Coach Kit

GRS G3 LNER Brake 3rd Coach Kit

GRS G3 LSWR Brake Coach Kit

GRS G3 LSWR Composite Coach Kit

GRS RTR Collett Brake Composite Coach

GRS G3 RTR Collett Corridor Composite Coach

GRS G3 RTR Collett 3rd Corridor Coach

GRS RTR Talyllyn Stuart Coach

GRS RTR Darjeeling Stuart Coach

GRS RTR L&M Stuart Coach

GRS Live Steam Cabbed Hunslet Loco

GRS Live Steam Cabless Hunslet Loco

GRS Live Steam Peckett Loco