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.

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.