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, 14 December 2021

Point Rodding Part 1

 I initially bought one kit of point rodding to see how far it would go and work out how much more I needed. 

Point rodding is a mechanical way of operating points and signals from a signal box. 

From my workings out I needed a further kit and the extension set which arrived yesterday. 

Yesterday and today I have been planning out the runs for the 2 points, 2 ground signals and 2 facing point locks, at the canal wharf end. Facing point locks are necessary where train approach a facing point as rodding operating the blades of a point is insufficient to hold them in place with approaching trains, the locks lock the blades in place. 

This could take a while.

The full run.


1st point and point locking.


2nd point, point locking and 2 ground signals.

Keith

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