Having returned from our travels I am back into railway mode.
'Merddin Emrys' ready to depart 'Hadarford' station, newly arrived this morning from Great Eastern Models 😊
Keith
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
Please feel free to leave comments, I am always interested in suggestions or questions.
Having returned from our travels I am back into railway mode.
'Merddin Emrys' ready to depart 'Hadarford' station, newly arrived this morning from Great Eastern Models 😊
Keith
'Hadarford' always looks very different with rolling stock and road vehicles removed and safely stored away for travelling, and protective screening fitted in case of little fingers of visitors. 😊.
All ready for setting off tomorrow for a couple of months. 😁
Keith
Managed to complete the sentry box guards van today, before we set off on our travels Saturday.
It is attached to a bug-box train, which I have built it to go with. 😊
Keith
Over the last few days I have slowly been assembling this metal kit of a Ffestiniog sentry guards van, which will go with my bog-boxes.
Today I finished assembly and primed it. 😊
Keith
For some years now, this engineer has been sitting working at this telecoms cabinet, he must be getting very bored, so I have purchased a set of 6 cabinets, and today sprayed them green.
1 of them I will alternate with the open one that he is working on.
I have no idea what I am going to do with the other 5 cabinets!
I have repainted the original open cabinet to match.
Keith
Today I added glazing, couplings and roof to the new brake van pictured with the bug boxes it is intended to go with.
Keith
Over the last week I have slowly been making this brake van from a kit.
I primed it Friday and today gave it some top coat.
Just needs glazing, couplings, and roof adding and painted to finish. 😊
Keith
Good Friday is "double day" for the start of the Easter specials.
Double Fairlie 'Pandora' and double heading Baldwins 'Keith' and Alfred James' operating services for Good Friday. 😊
Keith
The Smith family returning from their weekend away at Aintree, sadly the girls horses did not do well this year.
Keith
Things don't always go to plan.
The works were not completed by late yesterday evening as hoped for.
An early start this morning saw them finished and both works trains set off for Alfa Central.
Everything ready for the summer season, starting next weekend with the Easter specials.
Keith
The works train has arrived at the canal wharf, ready to start work on the track over the weekend, with
0-6-0 diesels 'Oliver' and 'Oscar' at either end.
Keith
Following Bert Mills discussion with PW depot manager Nick Peterson, Nick is out with general manager Brian Walton, chief engineer Fred Martin, treasurer Lawrence Cooper, and PW foreman John Williamson to see what work has to be done prior to the increase in services for the summer starting this Easter.
Keith
Bert Mills has stopped 'Oscar' at the PW depot for a quick chat with the works manager Nick Peterson about some work to the track that needs to be done before the Easter specials.
Keith
Yesterday and this morning I painted the crew for Little England loco 'Princess'
Keith
Not a good time for station master Ralph Stevens to be chatting to Peter Smith driving 0-4-4-0 double Fairlie 'Pandora', the milk on the milk float waiting at the crossing gates will be getting warm! 😳
Keith
New loco 0-4-0 Little England 'Princess' on it's 1st turn of service on the up bug box service having just left Hadarford station and passing Hadarford lock.
This one replaces the faulty one I returned, excellent service by Hatton's, they even test ran it for me, and added extra packing.
P.S. I do have a crew for her, their primer coat of paint is drying as I type. 😁
Keith
0-4-4-0 double Fairlie 'Pandora' on the morning down passenger service crossing the level crossing as it pulls into Hadarford station.
Keith
It has been a while whilst I have been recovering from my hernia repair operation and the subsequent infection, just getting into the railway room has been difficult.
0-6-0 saddle tank 'Beryl' bringing much needed coal and diesel supplies for Hadarford's maintenance yard.
Keith
Busy scene in and around Hadarford's maintenance yard with 0-6-0 tank loco 'Alice' taking on coal, 0-6-0 diesel 'Oliver' taking on diesel, 0-4-4-0 double Fairley 'Pandora' exiting Hadarford tunnel with the up passenger service and William Beeton's crowded pound behind his garage. 😊
Keith
Spot the difference?
Another Arriva minibus to join the fleet, it is the leading one, slightly longer wheelbase.
Keith
0-4-4-0 double Fairlie 'Pandora' easing out of fiddleyard tunnel with the up passenger service heading towards Hadarford.
Keith
Over the last couple of days I gave the buffer beams 3 coats of red to the small tank engine.
This morning I weathered it with rust paint and weathering powders.
Now sited in the maintenance yard near the rustier and overgrown Baldwin.
Keith