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, 9 October 2026

Trainspotters, Pets and New Road Signs

 Trainspotters, pets and the new road signs that arrived today

4 train spotters, 2 sitting and 2 standing

Another 2 train spotters

Another dog added to the original 2

Another dog added here

A cat on the shed roof

This cat now has a kitten

This cat also has a kitten

This seated passenger now has a dog

The boy on the steps also now has a dog

A great dane relieving itself on the castle ruins!

This passenger now has a dog, from the reaction of the lady passenger either the  dog or its owner has farted!

30mph speed limit and level crossing signs

Level crossing sign on the other side of the crossing

Speed limit delimiter signs after the level crossing

Delimiter signs at the castle mound slope

30mph signs at the castle mound slope

Give way sign at the castle mound car park exit

0-4-0 'Linda' crossing the level crossing with a passenger train. Having dug out my Canon camera, eventually got the settings correct for long exposure small aperture (it has been so long since I have used this camera I have forgotten how to set it up!) and to get the remote trigger to work, the plug needed cleaning, but all sorted 📷. Now the fun begins. 😁


Keith

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