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.

Sunday, 4 October 2026

Sheep and Other Stuff

 Lots done today on the railway layout, I found a box containing animals which I have been looking for, gave some sheep their woolly coats using my static grass plate

Communications manhole cover covering up a glue mark

Drain cover

Another drain cover behind the Railway Inn

Cellar doors at the Railway Inn

Noticeboard glued together

Noticeboard glued to the castle ruins

2 cattle

Some deer in the woods, obviously not scared of the children camping, probably because they know they will get fed

A small girl and an extra dog added to this garden scene

A cat sitting on top of a beehive

Another cat at this cottage

Yet another cat on top of the news stand

This couple now have a dog in tow

Another cat added to the one I put here previously

A badger out foraging

A pair of dogs playing

Closeup of the pheasant, probably my best ever paint job, which is why I kept it

Sheep, shepherd and sheepdog

2 horses in a field

Pair of speedy cyclists, I haven't glued them in place yet, I may move them

Keith

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