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.

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