27Nov 2025 by Digital Minion

Coming Soon…

News
Greetings one and all, Digital Minion here with a quick update. It’s got cold. So cold that snow has been seen. And anyone in the Southern Region knows, snow is a problem… but its alright, we’ve got a VEP without any pesky computers to say it’s too cold – those big old shoes will just charge through anything – ice, snow… ah, simpler times… (Wavy lines of reminiscing of being a young(er) Driver) Anyhew, talking of pesky computers, back in the Summer we put together a proposal to help keep us in the 21st Century. Which is not normally a problem – Potter types with one finger and Bucky just smashes his mug of tea into the keyboard – but the shed dates from the end of the 19th century,…
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05Oct 2025 by Digital Minion

A quick update from the Digital Minion…

News
Firstly, no jokes about locking Potter in cupboards or even making him sing ABBA songs… Poor bloke has been rather poorly, but thankfully he’s on the mend. As soon as he’s better, then the endless ribbing will begin again. The Chairman* needs reminding that the railway is essentially a comedy night with lots of heckling… Right, so what’s happened since the last update? Um.. quite a lot actually… We went to Derby. There was this little gig called the ‘Greatest Gathering’. You might have heard about it? 3417 was dragged to the frozen North (alright, it was August and the weather was decent) to stand proud representing the Southern Region. We were happy to be attached to the LUL’s 4TC unit and there was a lot of interest, even if…
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21Jun 2025 by Digital Minion

Bit of a different work day…

News
It's not often you get 40 willing volunteers to help out at Strawberry Hill, but last Thursday, the shed welcomed the great and good from GTR's Infrastructure Directorate. The team was put straight to work by Buckie, who welcomed everyone, gave a site briefing and then informed the volunteers that they would not be allowed to leave until everything on the list was completed to his standard. On the hottest day of the year so far.. the team got to work... From a very thorough clean of the interior of the unit, a clean and polish of the exterior, some line painting on the Shed floor and a rather spirited stripping of seats in the Trim Shop, the minions of the SETG marvelled at how much was being done in…
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02Apr 2025 by Digital Minion

Gordon Pettitt OBE

News
We're sad to report that former BR Southern Region General Manager Gordon Pettitt OBE has passed away. Gordon started at Knebworth Control on the East Coast Mainline, completed the BR Graduate Programme on the Eastern Region and held a number of senior positions before moving to the Southern Region in 1983. He retired after 42 years on the railway as Director of Regional Railways. When he collected his OBE from the Queen she said to him, “By the way Gordon, my train was late today again”. RIP Gordon, a true railwayman.
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23Jan 2025 by Potter
Saying “Yes” and Saying “No”

Saying “Yes” and Saying “No”

News
What-ho, friends of Gordon! Greetings from Strawberry Hill. I hope that the New Year is treating you all well. As I type this, Minions Lynn and Lou are busy in the shed stripping seat backs; these are to be re-covered with fresh moquette to allow us to swap out some of the more tired trim onboard. It's all about continuous improvement and making the unit look better and better for anyone who chooses to board it. And while they're busy in the shed doing, I'm sat here typing on a keyboard to tell you about it.Since we're here, I'll tell you that we've already had a delivery of new lino flooring material this morning as well as having eaten a rather good breakfast washed down with a mug of tea.…
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30Dec 2024 by Digital Minion

Sponsor a Brake Block!

News
Sponsoring a part of 3417 has now become easier – you can sponsor a brake block! Each block will be laser engraved with the SETG logo, your name and a unique serial number – fitted to the unit and once it reaches the end of it’s life, you’ll receive your brake block! When you sponsor a brake block, you’ll receive a certificate, detailing the vehicle and location plus a photo of your block – and you can be proud that your brake block is helping us to work the unit. Blocks can be sponsored by individuals or organisations and we’re offering a choice of R4 (trailer coach) or R6 (motor coach) blocks. Sign up here!
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20Sep 2024 by Potter

And Now, Breathe….

News
It's Thursday. A quiet, sunny Thursday. The gusty wind that's blowing hints at the approaching autumn and as I look out of the office window the trees that line the Fulwell Curve are just starting to loose their vibrant greens. Lynn is in Holland doing clever IT things with her other job (she doesn't just do Trim Shop Minioning, folks) and Buckie is ploughing through post-Bluebell paperwork whilst muttering to himself (as usual). Everything is calm (for a given value of calm), and after the last few weeks I can say with definite authority that calm is something that is underrated in railway preservation. 3417 is sitting demurely in the shed, doors open while she dries out after 3 days of being intermittently rained on, as if to say "What…
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06Sep 2024 by Potter

The Adventure Begins….

News
I am sitting in the SETG office at Strawberry Hill. The date is Wednesday 4th September 2024. It’s a sunny Wednesday morning. 3417 is sitting quietly in the shed. Buckie is sat next to me at his desk, going through timetables and muttering to himself. I say he’s going senile while he maintains that talking to himself is the only way he can be sure of intelligent conversation. He probably has a point. Our friend Nick is on his way in with goodies to deliver a surprise for our transfer move to the Bluebell Railway tomorrow afternoon. Lynn is on her way in to do some work in the Trim Shop and I am writing this. By the time you read this, 3417 will be standing at Sheffield Park Station…
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