HADARFORD

From when my Parents gave me my first train set for a Christmas present as a child, I have had an interest in model railways. I originally started in "OO" gauge, but have also built in "N" and "O" gauge. The last layout I built was my exhibition layout "Holmehurst" which was in "O" gauge, and I exhibited it around the country. Photos of it can be seen by following this link.

I inherited some "OO9" rolling stock from my late father, including a loco I built from a white metal kit for him, and ever since living on our working narrowboat Hadar I have been thinking about building a "OO9" layout.

For those who do not know, "OO9" is "OO" scale, which is 4mm to 1ft, but the track and rolling stock are narrow gauge, equivalent to 2ft gauge in real life. Modelling-wise this means that I can used standard "OO" scale buildings, people, scenery etc. of which there is a far greater range of ready built items and kits to choose from, but it has the advantage that the reduced size of the track and rolling stock means that curves can be tighter than for standard gauge, without losing a realistic look within a restricted layout size.

I had thought about building a layout in our garden alongside our mooring at the Saltisford Canal Centre, but after much thought decided that this would not be practical. However I built a small layout (now dismantled) which sat on the shelf above the display cabinet, in our saloon, which houses my "O" gauge rolling stock. Having finished it, my wife Jo suggested that when we stop selling coal I could build a layout in the hold. As we stopped selling coal at the end of 2016, I am now building the layout. This will be an ongoing record of the building of this layout.

Please feel free to leave comments, I am always interested in suggestions or questions.

Saturday, 6 June 2020

Summertime Special

4-6-0 Baldwin "Keith" on summertime special duty with the open carriages.

Keith

Friday, 5 June 2020

Rebuilt Loco

Today a Minitrix N gauge Ivatt 2-6-0 loco arrived in the post.

I have used the chassis in this tank engine to replace the chassis that has failed.

A different view of the same loco and wagons.

Keith

Thursday, 4 June 2020

Removable Open Wagon Load Part 3

Yet another removable load for an open wagon, this time a sand load.

A piece of fine sandpaper glued to some balsa wood.

The underside.

Fitted in the wagon.

Keith

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Removable Open Wagon Load Part 2

Another removable load created this evening, this time logs.

Keith

Large Lift-Out Bridge Repairs

This morning I made a start on repairing the larger lift-out bridge which I have been having problems with since it didn't fit properly a few months ago.

I have successfully unsoldered, using solder wick, which arrived in the post last week, and pulled out the 2 shorter lengths of rail.

This has now allowed me to slide the two longer rails towards the layout and I have been able to flatten the ends of the rails, line them up and re-solder them to the retaining screws, which has reduced the gaps between the rails at the bridge joint.

After lunch I resumed the repair work on the large lift-out bridge.

New replacement rails inserted to gauge the length required, then cut to length.

All joints re-soldered and the wire leads re-soldered back onto the bridge track.

Part of the problem I discovered today was the 2 vertical retaining strips of wood either side of the bridge were loose.

I must have forgotten to glue them as well as screw them. removed, glued and refitted.

Just need to allow the glue to dry overnight then I can run some test trains over the bridge.

Keith

Tuesday, 2 June 2020

Bogie Tank Wagon Repair

Repair job to one of my bogie tank wagons.

When converting them from TT gauge to 009 gauge all I had to do was remove the TT gauge bogies by drilling them out and fit some new 009 bogies.

However one of them I drilled too far with the large drill and the new bogie wouldn't clip in and kept dropping out when I picked the wagon up.

Today I added this new bearing made from a scrap piece of plastic which has cured the problem.

Pictured alongside an original bearing.

Keith

Sunday, 31 May 2020

Removable Open Wagon Load

Today I created this false floor and load to fit one of my open wagons.

This is the empty open wagon.

This is the same wagon with the false floor and load fitted.

This allows me to use the wagon either empty or loaded.

Keith

Saturday, 30 May 2020

30' Bogie Bolster Wagon

Today I built 30' bogie bolster wagon.

This is the decking of the wagon held in place on the gauge I created for scribing the planks.

Sole-bars added the the decking.

End planks.

2 pivot brackets which the bogies clip into made ready to fit.

pivot brackets fitted and 1st stage of the under-frame created.

Under-frame finished.

Completed wagon.

Pictured with the shorter bogie bolster I finished yesterday and a couple of smaller bolster wagons.

Keith

Friday, 29 May 2020

25' Bogie Bolster Wagon

I built a 25' bogie bolster wagon today.

The basic platform.

Mounted on H section and end panels.

Bogie mounts fitted.

Start of underframe.

Under-frame completed.

All ready for painting.

Painted and finished.

In a train with 2 shorter bolster wagons.

Keith

Thursday, 28 May 2020

Longer Box Van fitted with Bogies Part 7

This morning I added the roof and painted it, added the vacuum pipes and applied the transfers.

With a few of my recently built box vans.

Keith

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Longer Box Van fitted with Bogies Part 6

Painted in Bauxite and matt black under-frame.

Roof, vacuum pipes and transfers go on tomorrow.

Keith

Longer Box Van fitted with Bogies Part 5

Ready for painting, then fitting of the roof.

Keith

Longer Box Van fitted with Bogies Part 4

With a delivery of plastic strip today I have been able to finish off the 2 sides and 2 ends of the long box van.

Keith

Sunday, 24 May 2020

Hadarford at Night 2

2nd nighttime trip through Hadarford in opposite direction 🌝🌖🌗🌘🌑

Keith.

Hadarford at Night 1

Nighttime trip through Hadarford 🌝🌖🌗🌘🌑

Keith

Saturday, 23 May 2020

Passenger View Passing Through Hadarford

Passenger view whilst passing through Hadarford.

Unfortunately the camera doesn't want to focus close-up.

Keith

Friday, 22 May 2020

Longer Box Van fitted with Bogies Part 3

This evening I have constructed the under-frame for my new box van.

Inspired by my O gauge Siphon G in the last photo.

Bit of difference in size though!

Keith

Full Circuit of Hadarford

Following my 1st attempt I have managed to record a full circuit of the layout.

I was so glad the level crossing gates opened just in time!

Keith

Engine Drivers View of Hadarford

My 1st successful attempt at this type of video, it needs refining but after many weeks of attempts I was just so pleased it finally worked I just had to post it.