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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12Aug 2024 by Potter

Too Many Drafts, Not Enough Posts

News
Good morning all! I'll keep this short and sweet, since every time I start one of these updates I seem to lose my thread half-way through and things don't get published...First of all, you'll all be aware by now that 3417 will be making its long-awaited return to traffic at the Bluebell Railway's 2024 Diesel Gala: you can book your tickets HERE. We look forward to working with our friends from the Bluebell Railway, as well as old mates from Swanage and hope that the weather behaves itself - if it doesn't we're just going to hide in Sharpthorne Tunnel until the rain stops. Among other attractions including beer, food, live music, tours of resident rolling stock and engineering projects and of course visiting diesel locomotives, our Chief Engineer will…
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05Jun 2024 by Digital Minion
A Quick Reminder

A Quick Reminder

News
Greetings followers of the Church of the Third Rail. Glory be thy Vep.Just a quick reminder from the Digital Minion, that the new SETG shop is live and has some lovely new merch available. Our Railway Tea Chart Mug has proved rather popular! We're currently working with our suppliers to bring you more 3417 themed goodies - all products are produced on demand and shipped direct to you from our suppliers, meaning lower costs and a more sustainable supply chain. So what else would you like to see... Especially with Summer approaching...
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30Apr 2024 by Potter
Crowd Funding and One-Trick Ponies….

Crowd Funding and One-Trick Ponies….

News
Railway preservation isn't cheap. In fact if you're going to do things properly it's bloody expensive. As Buckie is fond of saying "There are two prices for everything - normal and railway. For the railway price, take the normal price, double it and then add a zero." You need to get specialist contractors in to do certain jobs such as Ultra Sonic Axle testing and putting the unit back into capital stock. All the spares need to be kosher, you need calibrated tools, you need equipment in the back office to allow you to prepare and submit paperwork... It's a never ending and headache-inducing process but, when you're aiming to put a preserved train back onto the modern railway, you have to do things properly. It means approved suppliers (more…
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