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 have now built the layout. This is now a full record of the building of this layout and any new additions along the way.

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

Sunday 10 December 2017

Latest Update

Apologies for a lack of updates on the building of Hadarford recently. However we have now discussed with a neighbour the building of the railway room under the sheeting. They are keen to do the job for us, with our help. As they do have other work as a tree surgeon, they will be doing the work when they have time in the new year. As we told them we are not in any hurry, but it does suit them this time of year as their tree surgery works does drop during the winter time.

Both my wife Jo and I are now looking forward to the start of the build, which will be another step forward.

As we will also be away for Christmas this will probably be the last update until the new year, so may I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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P.S. I wonder what Santa Claus will bring me?

Keith.

Sunday 26 November 2017

Ballast Goes under the Shutts.

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Since returning from our Autumn cruise, we had intended to put the bricks in the hold which we had picked up on our way into Birmingham, under the shutts for ballast. But unfortunately my prolapsed disc decided to come out again when we got back to our mooring and it has taken until today for my back to recover enough to consider putting the bricks under the shutts this morning, probably about 2½ tonnes filled up the space, the remaining ⅙ tonne, 167 kg will go around the water tank once we can get near it. The important thing today was to get the boxes of stuff we had temporarily stored on the pontoon whilst we were out back inside the boat especially now we are getting frost overnight.

Keith.

Thursday 9 November 2017

New Addition to Hadarfords Motive Power Fleet

Newest addition to my motive power fleet for Hadarford.

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I was impressed with the maroon coloured Bemo loco that I inherited from my father and I have been watching out for a new one, which arrived today, in the blue livery. It has been well worth the wait.

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Keith

Wednesday 11 October 2017

Ballast

We are out travelling for a few weeks before the winter sets in. Whilst out we have loaded 3 tonnes of bricks for ballast into the hold.
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We had hoped to load them straight under the shutts, but as they were wet we have had to stack them in the hold until they dry out, which will hopefully be by the time we return to our mooring.
Keith.

Friday 15 September 2017

Lagging and Oiling

Today I lagged the water-pipe running through the hold.


Then Jo set about painting the base-plate with used engine oil to protect it.



More lagging.


Final section of base-plate oiled.


All shutts refitted.

Keith.

Wednesday 13 September 2017

Work in the Hold to Build the Model Railway Room

Today we started preparatory work for building my model railway room in the hold. First we had to sort out the rubbish we had accumulated, which went to the bins, then moved everything else as far forward as possible, which allowed us access to and removal of the first two shutts (floorboards) from the bulkhead at the saloon end of the hold.

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It is in better condition than we thought it might be. Jo set about scraping and removing the loose bits, then painted the base of the walls. It is already for oiling tomorrow morning, then we can do under the next 2 shutts. We thought that whilst we had the shutts up it was lagging the main water pipe from the water tank in the bow with some pipe insulation, to stop the condensation which appears to be happening, so I popped to Screwfix to get some and have fitted the first lengths.

Keith.

Tuesday 8 August 2017

Coaling Stage / Fuelling Stage

Having bought a ready made coaling stage, I have decided to convert the one I built, along with the engine shed, to a fuelling stage for the diesel engines.

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I have finished painting the stonework and painted and attached a fuel storage tank to it. It will need further work on it to finish it, such as pipelines from the tank via some sort of pump and thence to the locos, but I need to think about how I am going to achieve this.

Keith..

Thursday 3 August 2017

Cattle Dock 5

Cattle dock finished today with the posts, railings and gates painted.

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Keith.

Wednesday 2 August 2017

Cottage Kit 8

Today I repainted the cottage I built recently as I was not happy with it white, it didn’t look right to me, so I have painted it cream.

The top 2 pictures on the top are the repainted cream colour and the 2 on the bottom are the original white colour.

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Keith.

Cattle Dock 4

Today I painted the stonework of the cattle dock.

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Keith.

Saturday 15 July 2017

Cattle Dock 3

Cattle dock primered and ready for painting, with the 2 cattle wagons I purchased on eBay and received in the post this morning.

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Keith.

Friday 14 July 2017

Cattle Dock 2

Construction completed today with the final fencing added and the gates.

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Keith.

Thursday 13 July 2017

Cattle Dock 1

Over the past two days I have been scratch building a cattle dock from scraps left over from the kits I have recently built.

As seen from the track side.

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The access ramp.

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The holes for the fence poles and the drain covers.

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1 of the 18 fence posts made from 1.8mm square hardwood, and the 5 holes for the fence rails (0.6mm piano wire) were drilled with a 0.6mm drill in each post.

The 4 corner posts had to be drill twice at right angles.

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First part of the fencing installed on the access ramp.

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Keith.

Friday 7 July 2017

Engine Shed 8

Engine shed completed.

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Keith.

Thursday 6 July 2017

Engine Shed 7

Back to working on the engine shed today, halfway through painting the stonework and fitted the door and windows.

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Keith.

Monday 12 June 2017

Engine Shed & Coaling Stage 6

Painting has progressed nicely this morning.

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Keith.

Sunday 11 June 2017

Engine Shed & Coaling Stage 5

A bit more painting.

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Keith.

Engine Shed & Coaling Stage 4

Base coat of light grey which is for the mortar between the brickwork and stonework and the concrete platform of the coaling stage and the water tank support.

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Keith.

Saturday 10 June 2017

Engine Shed & Coaling Stage 3

Both engine shed and coaling stage primered ready for painting tomorrow.

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Keith.

Friday 9 June 2017

Coaling Stage 2

Today I constructed and added the brick steps. The coaling stage is now ready for painting.

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Keith.