Keep Radstock Connected

Radstock is at grave risk of losing its hibernating rail link to the National Rail network due to possible redevelopment of the Radstock site.

Please sign the Restoration of the Radstock Rail Link Government petition without delay!


http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/restoration-of-frome-radstock-rail-link.html

Fingers crossed, the economic climate may for once actually be in the railway's favour, with developers being unable to raise the required loans to purchase land and build properties that may drop in price!

• To find out more about the Restoration of the Radstock Rail Link, visit the North Somerset Railway Company website.

The picture above taken by Malcolm Snelgrove, is of the former SDJR station which was demolished in the late 1970's. For more pictures of this and other SDJR stations, please follow this link.

A Hint of the Titfield Thunderbolt

A motley departmental train trundles through Catcott Burtle hauled by Radstock's 'Jinty' No. 47276. Something tells me this train is not quite legal with unfitted stock between the carriage and engine!

Engineer's Carriage

The Midland Railway suburban carriage (from a Ratio kit) now all painted up and weathered with some dry brushing of pale grey (Humbrol matt enamel) and washes of muddy earthy colours (household emulsion). All this was sealed into place with 'Krylon Matte Finish' from an aerosol (Google for a supplier). It still needs screw couplings, vacuum pipes and glazing. The glazing will be a bit of a chore, because I'll have to cut out each window seperately due to the rather thick sides.

1981 Workbench

was looking through some stock boxes in the garage (building new stock boxes so I can junk the old ones) the other day and came across this. As teanager I recall building the body from scratch using card in about 1981 from some plans in one of the mags. I presume it's a Midland Railway van. I'm tempted to give it a refurb and to put it into departmental use. The rust on the wheels is real BTW!

Beaconsfield MRS Show, 4 Oct 2008

Catcott Burtle performed remarkably well, with only one actual prod needed with about 20 mins to go. The little Johnson 1P 0-4-4 rebuilt by guru Philip Hall was at total dream to run - it not missing a beat all day, and so smoothly too! In the evening the layout took a round trip via north Bucks to the outlaws, with the result that we have only just returned home.

Much to my surprise the layout is all in one piece behind me all lit up and dandy, this will mean I can get on taking it to the next level (further detailing and tweeks etc) rather than having to fix things that broke. One thing I will need to do is to put some locating pins or velcrow between the base of the layout and the trestles to stop it drifting about in top of them which it did a couple of times! This was on my list to do prior to the show but alas I ran out of time.

I hope to be able to use the same trestles and drape for Cement Quay which is next out on Sat 19 Jan 09 at the Astolat Guildford show (one day show). This will raise Cement Quay's height from its present 3'6" to 4'2" which should imrove the viewing of the diorama type of approach to this layout.

11th Hour at Catcott Burtle

With Catcott Burtle about to hit the road for the very first time this coming weekend (Sat 4 October) at the Beaconsfield show, a little time was spent sorting out the allotment opposite the crossing keeper's cottage.

Here goes: Sweet peas/beans supports were bits of wire soldered up and painted. Onions (or leeks) are dyed hemp stuck into holes (as used for the reeds on the nearby drain). Strawberries (or such) simply Heiki foliage. Woodland Scenics would be just as good. Dab of paint here and there. Same used for the beans/peas. Slug eaten cabbages are little squares of printer paper (1x1cm) soaked in greeny brown acrylic (cheap set from Tesco) squeezed and rolled into balls whilst wet. Mucky job. Loose earth is Treemendous 'real earth' courtesy of some geezer called Marriott.