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.

This is a full record of the building of the original layout, and having moved into a flat in Warwick and sold our narrowboat, this will now cover the building of the New Hadarford in our flat.

Please feel free to leave comments, I am always interested in suggestions or questions.

Saturday, 14 March 2026

Castle Mound Part 6

 This morning I removed the left-hand baseboard so I can construct the castle mound more easily rather than having to stretch across it especially as I wanted to ensure the rear of the mound lined up with the baseboard.

I then had to correct a mistake I had made with the road over the rail line, the supporting wall closest to the track was too close to the track so I had to disassemble the whole thing, not easy as it was glued as well as screwed. Some damage was done, but I managed to keep it to a minimum and replaced the broken piece with a sturdy reinforced piece on the right-hand side of the 1st photo.


Drone view of altered tunnel wall

 I then created 2 internal walls with suitable brick paper glued to card. Once all the glue has dried I will attach further brick paper to the support wall behind the shorter length of card wall.


Tunnel portal and internal walls glued in place, handy weights to ensure all is in place

Longer internal wall as viewed from the front of the layout

Shorter internal wall as viewed from the front of the layout

Longer internal wall as viewed from the rear of the layout

Shorter internal wall as viewed from the rear of the layout
2nd internal tunnel wall completed behind the short piece

Completed tunnel portal

Gluing an additional upright underneath the castle mound

2 sections of castle mound glued together and an additional leg across both

last aditional leg glued to the 4th section of the castle mound

Brick paper glued to the rear of the upright on the castle mound behind the tunnel portal

Worm's eye view of the tunnel

Start of ballasting the track behind and in the tunnel portal

Viewed from the front

Keith
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