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.

Friday, 2 October 2026

Lots of little jobs done this morning and afternoon, I seem to have very few pedestrians but loads of railway staff!

I forgot to put the 30mph speed limit on the road surface by the level crossing, sorted!

A stoat in one of the fields

Children have set up camp in the woods

Street name plate at one end of the street

Street name plate at the other end of the street

Shrouds now added to the bellisa beacons because they are in a residential area

1 of 12 kerbside drains and 1 of 3 sewer covers, I don't think you need to see them all!

I have added the dog and girl to this scene

An old fashioned dustbin for this cottage

Spare gas cylinder for the barbecue

Kitten playing with bees in the flowers

Proper sunbathing!

Empty pallets stacked behind Harold's Larder's shed

Residents of Hadarford like their beehives

2 more beehives

Children looking in the window of the model shop

Just some of the figures on the pavements I have added today

2 more figures

Small boy on the steps up to the castle mound

Keith

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