As in the USA and UK, the internet and electronic toys have made it difficult for traditional model railway retailers to survive. Attempts to host model railway conventions in Durban and Cape Town have aborted primarily on cost considerations. Yet exhibitions in Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg have been well supported by the public (particularly the younger generation) so the interest is there.

In order to promote the hobby and to foster communication between interested individuals, primarily but not exclusively in the Durban area, I have been writing a monthly newsletter for a number of years – the North Star Chronicles. This was being hosted by Justin Shaw (thank you Justin) who has been out of the country for some time. In order to take the load off his shoulders and widen the scope of the communication process a decision was made to create my own website. As will be noted this is still a work in progress!