Recently discovered in an old drawer; a couple of old Perutzcolor slides of Catcott Burtle - this view likely being from the cab of a lorry.

Recently discovered in an old drawer; a couple of old Perutzcolor slides of Catcott Burtle - here we see Highbridge's Johnson 1P 0-4-4 No. 58086 at the head of a goods train in the late 1950's

43017 powers through Catcott as Mavis expects to get on this train that will not stop!

Midsummer 1959 at Catcott Burtle

Below, here it is right up against the backscene at the rear of the layout. To the naked eye you'll never get this close. The signpost will get a wash of thinned beige when I get a chance to help it recede a little more than it does.

A quiet moment at Catcott Burtle.

A quiet moment at Catcott Burtle.

A quiet moment at Catcott Burtle.

Last week I finally got around to making up a Dart Castings 'Somerset' style road sign. I wanted the signs on the post to be moveable so drilled out the white metal to take a little 0.75mm brass rod. Lettering was done in MS Word - Arial font size 4 which was printed out and stuck on.... OK the '1/2' should have the '1' right above of the '2', but it really is very small. The 'SCC' letters (Somerset County Council) are font size 2 and as before printed on paper and stuck on. This post is only just over an inch high.

009 guru John Thorne who'll be familiar to many narrow gaugers with his triology of Ditton layouts and more recently Purbeck, last year produced a short run of resin wagon kits depicting actual Purbeck prototypes.At Expong '08 I bought his three remaining kits, two depicting a ramshackle single plank and another depicting a similar version but with 3 planks. Above, the rake of 3 Furzebrook tramway ball clay wagons after an initial splattering of paint (this is just an undercoat in preparation for more a more accurate rendition of old sun bleached timber and picking out of detail). Here they are captured on the narrow gauge line at Catcott Burtle where their use will change from clay to carrying peat (they are very similar to the peat carrying ones at Ashcott & Mere). They will also be seen on Arne Wharf carrying what they're designed for too (probably with removeable loads).

009 guru John Thorne who'll be familiar to many narrow gaugers with his triology of Ditton layouts and more recently Purbeck, last year produced a short run of resin wagon kits depicting actual Purbeck prototypes.At Expong '08 I bought his three remaining kits, two depicting a ramshackle single plank and another depicting a similar version but with 3 planks. Above, the rake of 3 Furzebrook tramway ball clay wagons after an initial splattering of paint (this is just an undercoat in preparation for more a more accurate rendition of old sun bleached timber and picking out of detail). Here they are captured on the narrow gauge line at Catcott Burtle where their use will change from clay to carrying peat (they are very similar to the peat carrying ones at Ashcott & Mere). They will also be seen on Arne Wharf carrying what they're designed for too (probably with removeable loads).

Catcott Burtle; a 3/4 finished Model Signal Engineering representation of a LSWR upper quadrant latice post. Minor detail and coloured optics still to add.

A spotter's dream as 37422 'Cardiff Canton' rumbles past the fledgling heritage centre at Catcott Burtle with the thrice weekly Bicester to Burrowbridge MOD working.

It's a little known fact that 1451 and its GWR autocoach made a trip along the old S&D between Highbridge and Evercreech one Tuesday in 1964. Here the little ensemble is captured by Hungarian photographer Draven Rehpotsirhc after a chase from Evercreech Junction. Some say it was run to shoot footage for the failed cinema release 'Return of The Titfield Thunderbolt'.

It's a little known fact that 1451 and its GWR autocoach made a trip along the old S&D between Highbridge and Evercreech one Tuesday in 1964. Here the little ensemble is captured by Hungarian photographer Draven Rehpotsirhc after a chase from Evercreech Junction. Some say it was run to shoot footage for the failed cinema release 'Return of The Titfield Thunderbolt'.

Trundling along the Nydon, a Morris Minor Traveller and the crossing at Catcott made a good subject for the photographer to test out his new 200mm Pentax Takumar telephoto lens on.

A quiet moment between trains at Catcott Crossing.

A quiet moment between trains at Catcott Crossing.

Radstock's 47276 is photographed from the brakevan after dropping off some vans at Catcott Burtle siding. 21 August 1962.

Shoot for Hornby Mag: Messing about with RAW conversion on the laptop. I do have a proper desktop machine upstairs but it's far more pleasant to use the dining room table!

Shoot for Hornby Mag: The layout's lighting rig has been removed, it would only get in the way and block the proper studio lighting. The little piece of paper over the fiddle yard exit helps with the Photoshopping later.

Shoot for Hornby Mag: Nothing like a good amount of light! I use daylight balanced lighting because external daylight is frequently a problem this time of year. This way I don't get odd colours because tungsten and daylight don't mix.

OK, here we go, most mornings after breakfast during the week I fibreglass pen'd off more lining and numbers etc (should have bought a plain black LMS liveried one - duh!). Renumbered as Bath Shed's 43017 (was there from 1950-53) and drybrushed on grime with enamels and washed on black and beige matt emulsion. All was sealed in Krylon Matte (which still gives a light sheen - like grease?). Just screw couplings, crew and pipes to add. These were shot under Catcott's new flu/energy saver mix lighting (the same as Cement Quay) which I'm quite pleased with (flu's were too cold, energy savers too warm - this strikes a balance). I may add the Brassmaster's pony truck and Gibson pony wheel set, though having looked at the fret on their website I might build another layout in the time it would take for me to fathom it out. I can see why George Dent in Model Rail did his hybrid conversion - and unlike me he knows what he's doing!

Bath Green Park's 45440 propels a short rake of Dogfish ballast hoppers into the siding at Catcott in preparation for engineering work at the weekend.

Bath Green Park's 45440 propels a short rake of Dogfish ballast hoppers into the siding at Catcott in preparation for engineering work at the weekend.

Unusually Bath Green Park shed's 'Black Five' No. 45440 is captured as it rumbles past the lightweight platform at Catcott Burtle with a Bath to Highbridge engineering train. The eagle eyed will note the ex Midland Railway suburban carraige which is now used for carrying staff.

With the Glastonbury Canal glistening in the summer sun, Highbridge's sole surviving Johnson 1P 0-4-4 No. 58086 trundles through Catcott Burtle with a Sunday engineer's working from Evercreech Junction to Highbridge in July 1958. Note the old Midland Suburban brake end which is now in 'engineers' red' bringing up the rear of this short train which consists of 'Dogfish' ballast hoppers.

With the Glastonbury Canal glistening in the summer sun, Highbridge's sole surviving Johnson 1P 0-4-4 No. 58086 trundles through Catcott Burtle with a Sunday engineer's working from Evercreech Junction to Highbridge in July 1958. Note the old Midland Suburban brake end which is now in 'engineers' red' bringing up the rear of this short train which consists of 'Dogfish' ballast hoppers.

To achieve the effect here, first the canal bed was painted a greyish brown colour (any old paint will do). Next, 2 layers of PVA white glue, then when set the lilys were painted on with acrylic using 3 different shades. To finish off, the whole lot was given a thin layer of clear gloss varnish.

Highbridge's 58086 trundles through Catcott with an engineering train.

Additional work to the rhyne on Catcott Burtle in the form of water lilys and other weed.

Additional work to the rhyne on Catcott Burtle in the form of water lilys and other weed.

With Driver P Harvey in charge, La Farge's resident Hope Cement Works based Class 20, No 168 on the 21st of August 2112 is captured here during a rare run out onto the mainline with a Moorswater to Hope working as it passes through the 'heritage' Catcott Crossing. This little known halt was converted back to its 1958 condition as a result of a recent RM Web member's lottery win.

Catcott Burtle, the mid 1960's and the preservationists have just moved in with an ex 2ft 6in gauge Cyprus Government Railway locomotive. Much effort has been spent beefing the line up to avoid this locomotive sinking into the bog!

Catcott Burtle, the mid 1960's and the preservationists have just moved in with an ex 2ft 6in gauge Cyprus Government Railway locomotive. Much effort has been spent beefing the line up to avoid this locomotive sinking into the bog!

Another view taken at Catcott Burtle, this time from the tender of 3206 on the local pick up freight; it's the mid 1960's and the preservationists have just moved in with an ex 2ft 6in gauge Cyprus Government Railway locomotive. Much effort has been spent beefing the line up to avoid this locomotive sinking into the bog!