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. One 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.

Thursday, 21 May 2026

Castle Mound Fencing

 Today I cut and attached 2 sections of spear fencing to the rear of the castle mound car park, easier to do it this way than trying to drill 1mm holes close to the edge for the 2mm long pegs at the base of each post.

As seen from the front view

The rear view showing that I left the lower sprue attached to give a larger surface area to glue to

Keith

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Saturday, 16 May 2026

Castle Mound Parking Spaces

 Planning out where the car park spaces on the castle mound will be, using card marked with the spacing to create 2 templates.

As much as I could do today without stressing my back too much, all in good time there is no rush.

I will cut nicks at each end of each dividing line, place each template as in the 1st photo and mark onto the road surface where the nicks are, remove the templates, then join the marks up ready for painting. 🖌️ 

Both templates marked up, the larger space adjacent to the toilet block is for the ice cream van.

Vehicles added, with 4 picnic table/benches temporarily sited near Bob's Hot Dogs trailer

Keith

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Friday, 15 May 2026

Toilet Block

 Yesterday this toilet block arrived in the post. I juggled with a few different locations for it near the castle ruins, but I finally decided on this location. Glued in place.

Keith

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Wednesday, 13 May 2026

The Railway Inn

 Today I started some preparatory work on the hotel which I will call 'The Railway Inn', which arrived at the beginning of the month, I have been laid up with at least 2 prolapsed discs in my spine, with a lot of bed rest so have unable to make a start on it until now.

I have altered the plan to remove the coachway the same as I did on the previous layout.

Keith

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Friday, 1 May 2026

Pavements Part 6

 At one hour intervals this morning, to allow the glue to set, I have been adding pairs of cut card to previous pieces to create the base for the pavements in front of the half-relief buildings.

2nd pair of pieces of card adjoined to yesterdays pair

3rd pair added

4th pair added

4th pair added and weighted

5th pair added

6th and final pair added

A new Wills kit of the Country Inn arrived today. I had discovered the kit I bought second-hand was very old and the plastic had gone brittle and fractured when attempting to cut it with a scalpel, but I will use windows and doorways etc. from the original kit to add to the new one. 😊


in the afternoon I glued the paper pavements to the card I made this morning.


I have had to use additional weights until the glue sets. 😊

Keith

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