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.

Monday, 21 September 2026

Lawn Repairs, Belisha Beacons, etc.

2 of the lawns I laid yesterday did not go well, yet the 3rd was fine, really weird. Lawns re-laid, more hedging fitted and a crossing staff hut by the level crossing, then I had to go to the hospital for a CT scan, but on returning did a bit more work wiring up the 2 bellisa beacons to a battery pack, including a video of them working.

This lawn did not go well, for some reason it did not stick to the glue

The same with this lawn

Yet this one was OK, same paint on the baseboard, same glue same flock, a mystery

I added this building at the level crossing for the crossing staff

Further section of hedge alongside the track

A further application of a different glue and more flock

The same for this garden

Pathway from the front to the back garden created for one of the large thatched houses

Final section of hedge

Belisha beacons wired up to a battery pack



After returning from the hospital, 2nd attempt at the lawn went well after vacuuming up the loose flock

The same for this cottage

Loose gravel on the pathway vacuumed up

Keith
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