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.

Saturday, 10 October 2026

0-4-2 'Talyllyn' and Test Trains

 0-4-2 'Talyllyn' emerging from Hadarford Castle mound tunnel with a passenger service, whilst 0-4-4-0 'Earll Meirionydd' and 4-6-0 'Alfred James' take on coal and water at the busy maintenance yard. 😊

Loco testing day today. I found that the stone wall alongside the Railway Inn was catching on some of the steam locos. I had known there was a problem there a few days ago, but left it to give me time to think about it. I have replaced it with spearpoint fencing. Out of 28 steam locos and 14 diesels, only 2 steam locos and 2 diesels failed,  I will have to look at them another time, but I am not too worried as they are not important locos in the scheme of things. 🚂 🛲 

I just have to check that all the carriages and wagons run round OK, but that is enough for today. 😁

Keith

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)