HADARFORD

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 11 October 2024

BBC NEWS

This evening Hadarford appeared on BBC News, Midlands Today.

Click on the photo to see the report

Saturday 1 June 2024

Searchlight Wagon part 2

Today I fitted the custom transfers from Endon Valley Custom Decals to the searchlight wagon I built, this now completes my Statfold Barn freight train.

Many thanks to Thomas for producing them 😊

Keith

Tuesday 16 April 2024

Lift-out Bridge Repairs part 6

Good progress today with the large lift-out bridge repairs, all rails now fitted and soldered in place. I cannot find the original chain and turnbuckle which I use to reduce the gaps, so I have ordered some replacements. When they arrive I can then adjust the length of the rails to suit. 😊

Rails soldered to the screws at the Fiddleyard end

Only the outside of the rails is soldered to the screws

Similar treatment at the layout end with short temporary rails on the bridge to align the rails

Similar treatment at the layout end

New screws on the bridge at the layout end

Full length rails fitted to the bridge and soldered to the screws.

The final solder joints across the fishplates part way along the bridge

Keith

Monday 15 April 2024

Lift-out Bridge Repairs part 5

Today I got a bit further with the repairs to my large lift-out bridge.

With both ends at the fiddleyard and layout completed, it was time to work on refitting the track.

Where I got to before today, one end of the bridge cut off and fixed to the layout baseboard

The other end of the bridge cut off and fixed to the fiddleyard baseboard

Adding 2 of the additional brass screws to which the rails will be soldered to keep them in place

The 2 sections of rail have been cut to length and fitted to the sleepers to ensure the screws are at the correct height to line up with the rails on the bridge

The other end of the bridge gets the same treatment

Gluing the 1st section of track in place using Evostik.

Gluing the 2nd section of track in place at the other end using Evostik.

Keith

Wednesday 3 April 2024

Hay Wagon part 2

The new hay trailer is now on Hadarford farm. 😊

Keith

Tuesday 2 April 2024

Hay Wagon

Yesterday I assembled this model of a hay wagon, and primered it 😊.

Today I painted it, I just have to decide which of the 3 types of load to have on it? 🤔

The finished model

Sprayed with primer

Painting finished

Loaded with oblong hay bales

Loaded with round bales

Loaded with both types

Keith

Thursday 28 March 2024

Searchlight Wagon

Last September whilst at the 009 Society 40th anniversary at Statfold Barn I saw their searchlight wagon and wondered if I could build one. 2 days ago I made the wagon, and yesterday the searchlight arrived in the post, which I modified and glued to the wagon, along with a chair and then sprayed it with primer. Today I painted it. It is almost finished, it just needs transfers, but I am struggling to find suitable ones. I have found some W↑D ones to go on the back of the light, I just have to decide which size to get, but I think the writing on the sides of the wagon is a step too far. I know it is not an exact replica, but it is pretty close 😊

The actual searchlight wagon at Statfold Barn

Peco N gauge wagon chassis with 009 couplings fitted

Base planking added

Sides added

Purchased searchlight

Base of searchlight removed using a razor saw

Searchlight and seat glued in place on the wagon

Sprayed with primer

Sprayed with primer, lens covered with Blacktac

Painted in olive drab

Taking its place in my Statfold Barn freight train

Keith

Sunday 24 March 2024

Lift-out Bridge Repairs part 4

Today I started work on the lift-out bridge repairs at the layout end of the bridge.

Rails unsoldered from the original brass screws which held the track ends in place, fishplates added.

Section of bridge that was cut off, fixed in place at the layout end, track temporarily in place.

New base supports for the bridge added

Underside view of the bridge supports

Side pieces added to align the bridge to the layout

Bridge fitted in place on its new mount

Keith

Sunday 17 March 2024

4th and Final Coreless Motor Upgrade

Another successful and final coreless motor upgrade from Tramfabriek fitted to this Graham Farish chassis for "Alice".

Keith

Replacement Water Can

Some time ago I lost the water can which was sitting on the roof of the butty 'Moon', probably up the vacuum cleaner! Recently I purchased a replacement, painted it and today I fitted it to the roof of 'Moon' 😊

Finished water can, with finger to show the size of it

Butty 'Moon' is behind motor 'Sun' showing where the missing water can should have been

New water can fitted

Close up

Keith