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.

Friday, 19 December 2025

Track Laying Part 2

 I was intending to start fitting the rails that cross the baseboard joints this morning, when I had a rethink of one of the screws.

This was the screw in question, I felt it was too far away from the joint because of the original baseboard screw hole to be any use

Repositioned screw


I fixed this 6-way extension lead to one of the layout legs to give me more power options

With the intention to cut the rails required I moved my little vice from the right side of my workbench to the left, where it is easier for me to use being left-handed.

I cut two 40mm lengths of rail then fitted them between two pieces of track to gauge them correctly and used some handy weights to hold them temporarily in place

All ready for soldering the rails to the brass screws

Soldering completed on one side

Soldering completed on the other side

Once the screws and rails had cooled down, I slid some spare sleepers and chairs onto the rails.

Using a razor saw to cut through the 2 rails

The cut rails at the baseboard joint

Keith
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