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. One 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.

Monday, 14 September 2026

White Cottage and Other Bits

Today I have been doing work on the last building to go on the centre baseboard and a few small tasks whilst I wait for the ballast glue I applied yesterday to dry.

I have had to put my anglepoise lamp above my workbench as now we are moving through Autumn then into Winter the natural light is not always ideal

Crazy paving pathway and foundation along pavement side cut and glued in place for the last building to go on this centre baseboard

Cottage temporarily sited for fit

The other side

A splash of brown paint on the pavement from when I painted the baseboard

Now it's gone!

Crazy paving weathered and cottage glued in place

Section of stone wall between newspaper kiosk and the cottage

gate and stone wall alongside the pavement on the other side of the cottage, and dividing stone wall between gardens

Brickwork surround dividing flower beds and lawn this side of the cottage

Brickwork surround dividing flower bed and lawn on the other side of the cottage

lawn areas coated with glue then green flock sprinkled on

A pair of buffer beams arrived in the post this morning, 1 of them fixed to the end of the siding on the right-hand baseboard so I don't lose it!

With looking for small tasks to do whilst the ballast glue dries I needed to finish the edge of the left-hand baseboard adjacent the Railway Inn

Piece of paving cut and glued in place

The other side of the Railway Inn chimney breast needed sorting

This flower bed sits in the space nicely, but I have not glued it in place, it will just sit here and can be removed if and when I need to split the baseboards apart

HADARFORD name board glued in place in front of the bicycle rack

The other name board glued against this station building and a seat with 2 passengers sitting on it glued in place

Keith

Sunday, 13 September 2026

Ballast Laying Part 9

This morning I managed to complete laying the ballast on the centre baseboard, then after lunch I wetted it with water with a few drops of washing up liquid added (this stops the ballast from "pooling" when applying the glue) then very carefully (well actually not that carefully) dripped glue onto it all (and everywhere else!!). I have to leave it now for 24 hours to fully dry.

Final ballast applied

Central section

And finally lefthand end

Glue applied

This now has to be left for 24 hours to dry thoroughly

Keith

Saturday, 12 September 2026

Ballast Laying Part 8

Almost there, ballasting of the front track is almost complete with just the front edge to finish, but with the days getting shorter I am having to resort to artificial light, which is not as good to work by, I prefer natural light which is cheaper too! 😊

Ballasting in process using the lamp

Right-hand end

Centre

Left-hand end

The whole length

Keith

Friday, 11 September 2026

Ballast Laying Part 7

More progress with ballasting the track on the central baseboard today, despite an accident where I spilt a load of ballast on the track that I had already done! 🤬 I wasn't best pleased as I had to vacuum it all up along with what I had laid, so I have had to redo about a 6" length. The far side track is complete, as is around the 2 points. 😊

Keith

Thursday, 10 September 2026

Ballast Laying Part 6

More progress today with laying ballast on the centre baseboard between the platform and the track, and down the centre of the track, around the signal box and the point rodding, and one of the two points which is never easy to ensure the ballast won't interfere with the operation of the point blades.

Keith

Wednesday, 9 September 2026

Spearpoint Fencing, Repositioning the Signal Box and Belisha Beacons

Yesterday evening I fitted spearpoint fencing between the station buildings, by the time I had finished the natural light wasn't good enough to take photos, so I took them this morning.

Section of fence between the paper kiosk and the bus stop

Section of fence between the bus stop and the waiting room

Section of fence between the waiting room and the 1st station building

Section of fence between the 2 station buildings with the fence corner to the left

Previous photo as seen from the other side showing the corner in the fence

Oops! I noticed this morning that this signal box had a lean to it!!

Signal box leaning towards the track

Ground slope chiselled out and painted

No longer leaning

Belisha beacons fitted by the zebra crossing

Signal box walkway painted wood colour

Resited signal box 2mm further back to allow room for the walkway

Keith

Tuesday, 8 September 2026

Ballast Laying Part 5

First day of laying ballast on the central baseboard, as I got near the signal box I realised the edge of the platform looked a bit rough so I made a wooden step, painted it, glued it in placed, and weathered it. Failing natural light has stopped play!

Start of laying ballast

A bit more done

And some more

Even more

As far as I have got to today

The wooden step at the end of the platform

Keith