As has become something of a tradition, the quiet week between Christmas and New Year feels like the right moment to pause, put the kettle on, and look back at what’s been happening here on 009 Adventure over the last twelve months. And what a year it’s been – full of baseboard dust, kit-bashing optimism, exhibition miles, and an ever-expanding interest in things slightly larger than 009…

Permanent Way, Small Layouts, and Early Momentum

The year kicked off in very practical fashion, with track and baseboards firmly in the spotlight. January saw steady progress on the fundamentals, from trackwork developments in Permanent Way Progress to the reassuring reminder that Sidings Are Simple – at least in theory.

A strong theme of the early months was getting out and about. Visits to the Trent Valley Narrow Gauge Day modelling day (here) set the tone, alongside a thoroughly enjoyable trip to the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway (read more).

From Toys to Traction: Locomotives Take Centre Stage

February brought one of the more satisfying modelling journeys of the year: the transformation of a humble die-cast toy into a working narrow gauge locomotive. The process unfolded over several posts, starting with Die Cast Toy to Loco Conversion and continuing through Painting the Die-Cast Critter Loco.

Meanwhile, the sawdust was flying during Baseboard Butchery, before reward came in the form of a Test Run of the Hot-Wired Layout – always a heart-in-mouth moment.

Exhibitions, Inspiration, and Kit-Bashing Season

Spring and early summer were rich in inspiration. Narrow Gauge North 2025 (link) set the benchmark, followed by visits to Beccles (You Can’t Beat Beccles) and the Riverside Miniature Railway (here).

On the workbench, 2025 will be remembered as the year of the Kerr Stuart. What began as a kit-bash experiment in Kerr Stuart Loco Kit Bash steadily evolved, culminating in Completed Kerr Stuart Kit-Bash – a deeply satisfying milestone.

Alongside this, ideas for the Springwell layout took shape, from initial concepts (Layout Idea: Springwell) through some literal skip-diving (Springwell Skip Dive Baseboard) to paint and scenery groundwork (Fill, Sand, Primer, Repeat and Springwell Painted Baseboard).

SM32: A Not-So-Quiet Expansion

Mid-2025 marked a turning point with a not-entirely-accidental drift into SM32. It began innocently enough with SM32? Seriously? but quickly gathered momentum through wagons (Cute SM32 Flat Wagon, Bulkhead Wagon, and later Brake Wagon) and, inevitably, locomotives.

The SM32 estate loco became a major narrative thread, from sub-assemblies (here) to the satisfying moment when It Runs, and finally the reveal of The Completed SM32 Estate Loco. Apparently one was not enough, as December confirmed with A Second SM32 Estate Loco.

Travels Near and Far

2025 also featured some excellent railway travel, both model and full size. Highlights included Val Gardena in Italy (link) and the superb Kaeserberg Model Railway in Switzerland (here).

Closer to home, the exhibition calendar was busy: East Herts Miniature Railway Gala, Cambridge Exhibition, Barrow Hill, Amberley, Narrow Gauge Now, and Heart of England Narrow Gauge all made appearances (July through November). Each visit brought ideas, conversations, and that familiar urge to start just one more project.

Wrapping Up

The year closed with some quieter but no less enjoyable posts: a compact SM32 Photo Plank, a new figure finding his place in the cab, and that second estate loco confirming that SM32 is very much here to stay.

Looking back, 2025 feels like a year of broadening horizons – still rooted in narrow gauge, but increasingly influenced by larger scales, industrial inspiration, and the simple pleasure of making things work. Thank you to everyone who’s read, liked, commented, chatted at shows, or shared ideas along the way.

Here’s to seeing where the rails lead in 2026 🙂