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.

This is a full record of the building of the original layout, and having moved into a flat in Warwick and sold our narrowboat, this will now cover the building of the New Hadarford in our flat.

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

Tuesday, 25 November 2025

Workstation

 Whilst I await delivery of electrical terminal blocks and wire for wiring the layout, I had a change around of my workstation. The 1st photo is how it was with the back against the wall, I have turned it 90° anticlockwise so the back is now against the chimney breast. It means my chair is no longer blocking access to my side of the bed, and as the baseboard is wider on the side the chair moves in between the legs more easily and when the sun is shining it lights up the workstation rather nicely, will save on electricity by not having to have my lamp on so much. Although the seat backs onto the cupboard, the chair moves easily out of the way. 😊


Original position

New position

I have dug out the controller from a box and sited it on the workstation ready to be wired up to the layout. 😊


Keith

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