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 January 2020

1st train through Hadarford.

9 days short of 2 years since I started building Hadarford, this is the 1st train to run.

Keith.

Sunday 26 January 2020

Repainted Parking Spaces

For some time now I haven't been happy with the 4 parking spaces in front of the village hall, the spaces were too wide. 
Today I painted out the old white lines then painted new ones so there are now 5 spaces at the village hall..


I did the same at the station changing the 3 parking spaces into 4.

Keith.

Saturday 25 January 2020

Recycling Plastic Boxes

I have been storing my supplies of static grass in takeaway boxes, but they have been wasteful on space.
Today I sorted out old Peco wagon and coach boxes and put my static grass in them. 
Each of the longer boxes takes a whole 30g bag of grass, whilst the smaller ones take 15g, so two boxes for each type of grass. 
They take up a lot less room than the takeaway boxes.

Keith.

Friday 24 January 2020

Controllers Rewired

Bit of rewiring of the controllers today. I now have the choice of the fixed unit or the walkabout unit, giving me the best of both worlds.
The walkabout unit now has a hook to hang from alongside the fixed unit.


The rear of the fixed unit showing the 6pin Din plug that connects the walkabout unit to the fixed unit.


I also wired in a new plug and socket to separate the fiddleyard and layout, to make fault finding easier, especially as I discovered a short circuit yesterday. With the new plug and socket unplugged I narrowed down the short to be on the layout, and then found it was one of my locos, which I will have to strip down to find out why it is shorting at some time in the future.
Keith.

Tuesday 21 January 2020

Switch Caps

Today I attached these switch caps, in different colours, to match those on the diagram, to make it easier to find the right switch. 



I have done the same on the fiddleyard, with matching markers by the appropriate points. 
The 2 black caps on the fiddleyard switch box are spare.


Keith.

Rabbits part 2

Some of the rabbits have joined the 4 already by the lock. 


3 more by the canal bridge.

Keith.

Monday 20 January 2020

Rabbits

Today I painted these 20 rabbits.
As can be seen by the size of my finger they are very small. 
This was before I started painting them.


Primered, 1st coat of brown and white scuts (tails).


2nd and final coat of a lighter brown dry brushed. 
Dry brushing is a technique where, after dipping the brush in the paint, the majority is wiped off with a tissue, and very lightly brushed over the object.

Keith.

Sunday 19 January 2020

Protective Plastic Screening Part 3

Final 3 joints for the plastic made, bolts shortened to 10mm and all fixed in place. 

I was recommended to get 3mm thick plastic, which to me seemed a bit thin, but now it is all joined together it is quite strong. 
I just have to wait for the static electricity, which was created when removing the protective film, to wear off then the dust should come off more easily. 



Keith.

Saturday 18 January 2020

Protective Plastic Screening Part 2

Fixed the final plastic sheet in place. 



Made and fixed a wooden joining spacer to join it to the next sheet. 


Made all other metal joints, but only fitted 2 so far, the angled ones, the other 3 straight ones are a job for tomorrow.

Keith.

Friday 17 January 2020

Protective Plastic Screening

This morning the plastic sheeting I ordered arrived, I then made a visit to our local hardware shop for some brass screws and cups. 
This afternoon I fixed in place 6 of the pieces, the last 2 I will fit tomorrow.


Keith.

Thursday 16 January 2020

Tanker Conversion Part 2

The replacement bogies for the tanker wagon arrived this morning, so I fitted them, then I fitted some new ladders, and painted the platform and ladders.



Keith.

Wednesday 15 January 2020

Tanker Conversion

Having been impressed by a fellow modellers conversion of Triang TT gauge tankers to 009, I thought I would have a bash myself. 

I found one on eBay which had the upper platform and ladders missing, and this afternoon I added a new platform, and filler cap (which is what was a broken Bachmann satellite dish!). 

I have also removed the bogies and I am awaiting replacement 009 ones. 

I will paint the platform after I have fitted the new bogies and then fitted the new ladders. 




Keith.

Westland Sea King Helicopter Part 8

For quite a few weeks I have been painting the windshield frames for the Westland Sea King.
This morning I fixed them to the helicopter.




With the windshields finally in place this afternoon I added the forward door.


And also added the box above the windshield and in front of the engine intakes.


Keith.

Tuesday 14 January 2020

2 New Locos

Some time ago last year I bought two 3D printed locos and two matching N gauge chassis's to fit them on. 
Today I started to change the N gauge couplings to 009 gauge couplings. 
I wasn't looking forward to fitting couplings to these two locos, but in the end it was quite easy, which was a nice surprise.
A new 009 coupling fitted to one end of this chassis and the old N gauge one still at the other end.


 Both 009 couplings fitted to this chassis.


Two couplings fitted to the other chassis.


The two front couplings.


The two rear couplings

Keith.

Monday 13 January 2020

OpenReach Van

I was going to try to create an OpenReach van, but found this one for sale, now the engineer has a van.


Keith.

Saturday 11 January 2020

Works Train Part 2

Today I Stripped down an old 4 wheeler, removed the roof, then the central seats and poorly fitted glazing, repainted it, fitted new glazing, refitted the roof, and repainted the roof. It is now at the end of the works train, and I have moved the tool van to the front, next to the engine.




 I made some sleepers and added them to the wagon.


I added some rails to the bogie bolster wagon.

Keith.

Friday 10 January 2020

Works Train

Today I have been painting the wagons and crane that will make up my works train.


Keith.

Thursday 9 January 2020

Replacement Metal Wheels

Just a few (50 in all) axles with metal wheels, to replace the plastic ones that came supplied on all my Peco wagons and carriages, kept me busy this afternoon.

Keith.