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.

Friday 22 May 2020

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

3 comments:

  1. Well done!!
    I predict some cloth wall hangings soon, designed as rock faces or tall hedges, so the 13A sockets and door stops don't figure quite so clearly :-)
    Are the level crossing gates triggered by the approaching train, or independent control via a manual switch?
    Again, congratulations, David.

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    1. Firstly that area is technically not part of the layout but part of the fiddle-yard, hence the lack of any scenics. Secondly the level crossing is triggered by a switch. It is retailed as being operated by Infra-Red Sensor, but because of the layout of the track and this was not possible. This is because one side of the crossing is dual track but the other side it is single track, so not possible to do. For further information regarding this go to http://www.blocksignalling.co.uk/index.php/level-crossing-controller-for-gates-barriers-lcs5

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