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.

Monday 12 December 2022

Gardner 8L3

 This afternoon I primered this model of a Gardner 8L3 diesel engine, I will probably use it as a wagon load. 😊


Keith

Sunday 20 November 2022

Primer Spraying

I just got this lot ready for spraying with primer when it started to rain, so I had to wait for it to stop, which wasn't very long. 😊



Then I remembered I had this power transformer to do, So I sprayed that as well 😁

Keith

Saturday 19 November 2022

Time for a Chat!

 6wDM 'Oscar' running light through Hadarford station, briefly halting for the driver to have a quick chat with the driver of 4wDM 'Hadar' about to depart the station with the down passenger service. 😊

Keith

Sunday 13 November 2022

Sunday 6 November 2022

Success!

 Success! 😁 Trains that go round without derailing at the large lift-out bridge. My 1st opportunity to run the Bachmann double Fairlie and rather impressed with it's pulling power hauling 5 Peco L&B coaches up the 1 in 60 gradient through the station and past the canal lock (express speed through the fiddleyard with the down gradient). I still initially had one of the coaches derailing at the bridge joint to the fiddleyard, but I swapped a few bogies around and oiled the axle bearings. At long last I can sit in my armchair in the middle and watch trains go round and round all day long 😊


Keith

Saturday 5 November 2022

It Has Been a Long Time

 Back in June 2020 I was working on the large lift-out bridge trying to solve the derailment problem. I had nearly finished it when my back went, and since then I have been waiting patiently for it to settle down to be able to finish it off. Today with help from my wife Jo I finally achieved it. I will leave track cleaning and test train running until tomorrow. 😊


Keith

Friday 4 November 2022

Insulfish Train

 4wDM 'Chas' passing Hadarford wood with an Insulfish train. 😊

Keith

Wednesday 2 November 2022

Bug Box Train

 Boxcab 'Haedi' passing Hadarford wharf hauling the bug box train 😊

Keith

Monday 31 October 2022

The Pumpkin Train

  It's that time of year, the Pumpkin Train on it's way, 🚂🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

#Halloween #halloween2022 #pumpkins



Tuesday 25 October 2022

4wDM 'Orion'

 4wDM 'Orion' leaving Hadarford station with observation/brake coach No.22 😊

Keith

Friday 21 October 2022

Open Wagons

 0-6-0 diesel 'Oscar' hauling a train of open wagons past Hadarford lock. 😊

Keith

Wednesday 12 October 2022

Engine Shed Tools

 This afternoon I glued some tools to the engine shed doors. 😊


Keith

Tuesday 11 October 2022

Bits and Pieces

 This afternoon and evening I have been painting bits and pieces, tools, wheelbarrows, fireman's shovel and a tub wagon 😊

Keith

Sunday 9 October 2022

Works Train

 4wDM diesel 'Chas' on works train duty heading towards Hadarford 😊

Keith

Saturday 8 October 2022

Early Morning Freight Train

 Early morning freight train of various box vans hauled by Bo-Bo DB V251 'Stephanie' winding it's way through Hadarford station. 😊

Keith

Thursday 6 October 2022

Boxcab 'Haedi'

 4wDM boxcab 'Haedi' passing Hadarford lock with a short bugbox train. 😊

Keith

Wednesday 5 October 2022

'Express Dairy English Eggs'

 4wDM diesel 'Hadar' hauling new arrival 'Express Dairy English Eggs' bogie van in a mixed freight train passing Hadarford wood. 😊

Keith

Saturday 1 October 2022

Steam Gala Day

Steam Gala day at Hadarford station to celebrate the last day of the summer steaming season on the line.

Mr Beeton also has some of his steam vehicles on static display, he is out on his ploughing engine with his large living van. 😊


Keith

Friday 30 September 2022

Ballast Train

 0-6-0 diesel 'Oliver' with a train of tippers loaded with ballast passing through the PW depot. 😊

Keith

Thursday 29 September 2022

Empties

 This morning Bo-Bo DB V251 'Victoria' hauling empty tankers past Hadarford lock on it's way to the docks at South Crossing. 😊 



Bo-Bo DB V251 'Stephanie' assisting Bo-Bo DB V251 'Victoria' returning in the afternoon with the now loaded tanker wagons passing Hadarford wharf. 😊



Keith

Wednesday 28 September 2022

Summer Steaming Season Drawing to a Close

 With the summer steaming season drawing to a close, 4wDM diesel 'Hadar' leaves Hadarford station with an up passenger service. 😊

Keith

Tuesday 27 September 2022

Size Comparison

 Newly finished 3D printed 0-4-0 diesel 'Chas' with rtr (ready to run) Roco 0-6-0 diesel 'Becky' as a size comparison. 😊

Keith

Sunday 18 September 2022

New Diesel Shunter Project Part 4

 This morning I finished the new diesel now named 'Chas' by adding glazing, a driver and then fitting the chassis, already in service passing Hadarford lock with a small freight train. 😊


Keith

Saturday 17 September 2022

New Diesel Shunter Project Part 3

 Name plates fitted, buffer beams painted red, and radiator grill and lower section of footplate painted matt black. 😊



Keith

New Diesel Shunter Project Part 2

 This morning I made a start on the new diesel shunter by gluing the 2 couplings into the body and then gluing paint sticks to the body and roof.





Once the glue had set I then primered both parts. 😊




Although it doesn't show, this afternoon I sprayed the new diesel with matt varnish 😊




Keith

Thursday 15 September 2022

New Diesel Shunter Project

 Today the Kato chassis arrived, so I can now make a start on my next project. 😊



Keith

Summertime 'Toast Rack' Special

 0-4-0 'Leo' ahead of the last summertime 'toast rack' specials for this year passing Hadarford wood. 😊

Keith

Monday 12 September 2022

0-4-4-0 Double Fairlie 'Merddin Emrys'

 0-4-4-0 Double Fairlie 'Merddin Emrys' awaiting the signal to pass through Hadarford station with an open wagon train, whilst 0-6-0 saddle tank 'Beryl' waits with a mixed freight train in the wharf siding. 😊

Keith

Tuesday 30 August 2022

2 Open Wagon Kits Part 4

 Today I completed the 2 open wagons by adding transfers and some light weathering.


In service being hauled by 0-6-0 saddle tank 'Valerie' past Hadarford lock. 😊

Keith

Monday 29 August 2022

2 Open Wagon Kits Part 3

 This afternoon I painted the 2 open wagons. 😊 


Keith

Sunday 28 August 2022

2 Open Wagon Kits Part 2

 This afternoon I spray primered the 2 open wagons. 😊


Keith