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.

Monday 31 May 2021

Double Fairlie "Paddy"

 Double Fairlie "Paddy" heading an up special passenger service passing Hadarford lock. 

Keith

Sunday 30 May 2021

 The Sunday steam railcar service plus additional coach.

Keith

Thursday 27 May 2021

New Backscene

 I have never been happy with the cloudy sky backscene behind the farm.

Especially where it meets the top of the brick wall and goes down to ground level at the pair of gates.


Today I have fitted a new backscene.


I have ordered some new tall trees to hide the corner and the joint to the cloudy sky behind Beeton Wood.

Keith

Wednesday 26 May 2021

Road Roller Part 3

 The new road roller added to the busy roadworks scene.


Keith

Tuesday 25 May 2021

Alice and Emma

 Alice and Emma, named after my two grandmothers, double heading an up mixed traffic passing Hadarford lock. 😊 

A hare is  racing them! 😲

Keith

Monday 24 May 2021

Doris and Douglas

 Doris and Douglas double-heading a down passenger service below the long retaining wall.

Keith

Sunday 23 May 2021

Grand Gala Weekend Day 2

 Day 2 of the Grand Gala Weekend, and it steam loco naming day. Mr Beeton has some of his steam road vehicles on display, and he is out playing with his ploughing engine and living wagon in tow. 

Even the MG and Lotus section of the Hadarford Car Club have turned out and parked up in the Station Hotel car park. 😊

Keith

Saturday 22 May 2021

Grand Gala Weekend

 1st day of the "Grand Gala Weekend", celebrate the naming of the railway's fleet of diesel engines today.

Keith

Thursday 20 May 2021

Named Locos

 Today 28 of my locos now have nameplates, names are from family and pets, plus 3 others. 




























Keith

Tuesday 18 May 2021

Road Roller Part 2

 I have just finished painting and weathering the road roller. 😊

Keith

Monday 17 May 2021

Resprayed Shunters

 With the nameplates arriving this morning, it spurred me on to spray my other 2 Roco diesel shunters to match the one I did previously.

 Initially sprayed with grey primer then matt varnish.


The 2 diesel shunters completed this afternoon, with the original experimental livery on the right, each loco has a difference in livery.

Keith

Name Plates

 This morning 25 pairs of nameplates arrived in the post.

I just have to decide which plates go on which loco 🤔

Keith

3 More Loco Crews Fitted

 This morning I added the figures I painted yesterday to 3 more locos as crews, and found a 2nd crew that fitted in the other side of the Fairlie. 😊







Keith