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 23 November 2021

Oh Dear!

 Not the sort of discovery you want to make!

 It has lasted since 12th June 2019, when I poured the resin in the canal in the morning, and discovered the original 3 cracks the same day. 

Not sure why this has happened now. 

We have had colder nights than last night. 

I will leave it for now and see if it moves before attempting to repair. 

I know I still have some resin leftover, not sure about the catalyst and the murky water tint though. 

Keith

Saturday 20 November 2021

Oliver & Becky

 0-6-0's 'Oliver' and 'Becky' double-heading a ballast train below the long retaining wall, in preparation for the winter program of track maintenance. 

Keith

Tuesday 16 November 2021

PW Gang

 PW gang out checking the track adjacent to Hadarford wharf.

Keith

Sunday 7 November 2021

Shunters Truck

 I have had this wagon long before 'Hadarford' existed. 

Today I liberated it from the box it was hidden in. I just have to decide which loco to assign it to as a shunters truck?

Life can be really hard at times!


Keith