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.

Tuesday 28 September 2021

Mixed Traffic Train

 0-4-0 'Leo' heading along under the retaining wall with a mixed traffic train. 


Keith

Friday 24 September 2021

LOADING ONLY

With the success of the new bus stop road markings I attempted to add the "LOADING ONLY" markings, not too successful, but will have to do.

Keith

Bus Stops Part 2

 Having left the asphalt paint to dry overnight, this morning I added the bus stop boxes.

Having fixed them in place, I then weathered them to reduce the bright yellow glow and to disguise the new and old paint joints.

Keith

Thursday 23 September 2021

Bus Stops

 When I 1st painted the road markings on Hadarford I was not impressed with the result of the lettering 'BUS STOP' in the bus stop boxes, so I removed them and I have lived with only the boxes since. As I have buses parked on them the missing letters was not obvious. 

But as I don't always want to have buses there, some time ago I purchased some vinyl road markings, but because of my issues with prolapsed discs and facet joint arthritis since then, I have left fitting them until today. 

I have added the letters, but having done so, the original hand painted boxes did not match, so I have painted both boxes out and will add the vinyl boxes supplied on the sheet tomorrow when the asphalt paint has dried overnight. The whole road section will need weathering once everything has set to disguise the difference in the new and old asphalt paint.

Keith

Saturday 18 September 2021

Birthday Presents

 The 3 vehicles my wife Jo bought me for my birthday today, a Bedford CA crew bus and a Commer Q25, both in the adopted British Railways livery alongside my other BR road vehicles.


And a Fowler B6 Road Locomotive 'Titan' amongst Mr Beetons other steam road vehicles in the pound behind his garage.

Keith

Friday 17 September 2021

Planters

 Found these on eBay a few days ago, they arrived this morning.

This evening I have distributed them at various locations around Hadarford.









Keith


Wednesday 8 September 2021

New Trees

 Today some half relief trees arrived in the post, which I have now placed behind the stone wall on the other side of the track to Hadarford Hill, along with some additional bushes and shrubs to fill in the gaps.

0-6-0 saddle tank 'Beryl' on the up passenger service passing around the hill.

Keith