News – Page 2

15Dec 2021 by Potter

Work Reports: November/December 2021

News

"Remember remember the Fifth of November, When Potter dropped the Tea Pot.I know of no reason why the Dropped Teapot Treason Should ever be Forgot." Dear readers, that's how long ago I started to write this news update. But, as is always the way, I found myself distracted (possibly by loud noises or shiny things - I'm only a motorman and am easily amused) and now here I am in early December with lots to tell you. And best of all, not all of the news is about bloody seats. So there's a bonus. I should however apologise in advance since I'm currently typing this with what I believe is a very bad cold (not COVID, although I'm waiting for test results) so please excuse any breaks in the narrative.…

09Oct 2021 by Digital Minion

The Digital Minion writes…

News

Greetings. Digital Minion here. I’ve wrestled control of the website away from Potter to write a brief update. Essentially, we lured him into a supply cupboard with a bacon sandwich, and told him that if he searches really well, just behind the stack of seat bases, there’s a door to Narnia… Now, first off, thank you to everyone for being patient when you’ve ordered goodies from the website. (Ahem, linkage here… shop.setg.org.uk ) – this preservation lark seems like a full time job, and sometimes it does take up enough time to be a full time job… but we’re all volunteers. With proper, full time (No sniggering at the back, Mr Buckland) jobs on the big railway. This means that sometimes we’re not able to be Amazon and turn your…

07Aug 2021 by Potter

April/May/June/July Update 2021

News

Dear Everyone,I am a very embarrassed Minion. I haven't updated this website in quite some time. I know that a lot of you follow the SETG on Facebook and Twitter, but lets face it, it's better to read some in-depth reports. In my defence there have been a few things going on in Real Life that have served to make me less able or inclined to write for any length of time. But you lot don't need to trouble yourselves with such nonsense; you want to know what's been happening with 3417.Please find below a pocket digest of the latest developments at Strawberry Hill.Driver H. Potter, Minion The last few months at Strawberry Hill have seen some critical progress in the ongoing restoration. Firstly, as many of you will now…

01Jul 2021 by Potter

Armstrong Powerhouse Second Major Sponsor for Restoration of Unique 4VEP EMU

News, Press Release

PRESS RELEASE: Embargoed until 1st July 2021Released via SETG/AP/BBR - Web, Facebook & Twitter as required.SETG Contact Details: Steve Upton - steve.upton@setg.org.uk Armstrong Powerhouse Second Major Sponsor forRestoration of Unique 4VEP EMU LONDON, 1st July 2021 – The Southern Electric Traction Group announced today that it has reached an agreement with Armstrong Powerhouse to sponsor the continuing restoration of the Bluebell Railway’s unique 4VEP Electric Multiple Unit No. 423 417. This comes weeks after a similar show of support from Tom Cairns, founder of RealTime Trains.3417 has been under long-term restoration at Strawberry Hill depot since 2015. The support of Armstrong Powerhouse will go towards overhauling the brake system of the unit and, alongside the support from RealTime Trains, will mean that unit is almost fit to be hauled on…

28Apr 2021 by Potter

RealTime Trains Latest Supporter of 4VEP Restoration – Press Release.

News, Press Release

LONDON, Wednesday 28th April, 2021 The Southern Electric Traction Group announced today that it has reached an agreement with Realtime Trains to sponsor the continuing restoration of the Bluebell Railway’s unique 4VEP Electric Multiple Unit No. 423 417.3417 has been under restoration at Strawberry Hill since 2015. Attention is currently focused on making the unit fit to be hauled on the National Network, and refurbishing the passenger accommodation to allow the unit to be used either as push-pull stock with suitably equipped locomotives or as hauled stock on preserved railways. Future developments for the unit will including the installation of GSM-R digital cab radio, On-Train Monitoring and Recording equipment as well as CET toilet equipment and Central Door Locking. Steve Upton, SETG spokesman, said “It’s astonishing and gratifying to receive…

25Feb 2021 by Potter

SETG Gains Corporate Support from Diamond Rail Services

News

The SETG are pleased to announce that Diamond Rail Services have generously provided 10 meters of essential fabric which will massively assist our Trim Shop in bringing 3417's passenger accommodation back to life. The 'Timetable' Pattern moquette was a notable feature of First Class across all trains formerly operated by South West Trains Ltd and can still be seen today on certain trains operated by their successors South Western Railway Ltd. The fabric will allow us to restore first class cushions and seatbacks damaged by water-ingress during the unit's various episodes of open storage, and we are looking forward to seeing what our resident seamstress genius Maggie can do! From this...... to this!Thanks to Diamond Rail Services. Diamond Rail Services are also supporting other heritage projects through their Heritage arm,…

25Feb 2021 by Potter

January/February 2021 Update

News

Author's Note: I've been rather remiss in updating the website for the past few weeks months and we have made some significant progress with the unit since agreeing a "Return to Work" with depot management at Strawberry Hill. As is always the case, the Minions are also threading their work on 3417 around the requirements of Real Life, in particular the rigours of shift work.So please excuse the "lumped together" nature of this update.Well, it's been a busy two months and a bit, folks and we are continuing to make progress. As Absolutely-Not-A-Bloody-Minion Doug observed when we were at the shed last week it sometimes it feels like we are making only infinitesimal progress with the project. And on most days he is right. There are a lot of small…

10Dec 2020 by Bucky

Workday 10th December 2020

News

Good evening all. We bring Nearly-Christmas tidings from Strawberry Hill, written by Buckie, our Senior Spanner Monkey, Depot Lunatic and Tea Disposal System. We would like to apologise in advance for the crimes about to be committed against the English Language. "Well here we are again at rather warm and cosy Strawberry Bill. (Yes, the B is correct. That's what fitters at Wimbo used to call Strawberry. Why? I don't know. The explanation is lost in the mists of time. The same is true at Staines. The sidings were referred to as 'Staines in the Pants' and the Waterloo and City as 'The Drain'. I digress! Today was the day we started on the heating fault, from now on to be known as "The £$%^&$ bleeding £$%$%£$ pain in the £$£%$%$ ass heating…

17Nov 2020 by Potter

Keeping Busy Despite Lockdown 2.0

News

Good afternoon, folks. Are you all enjoying lockdown? No? You're not? Neither are we. In fact we are as deeply ticked-off about it as anyone. Just when things had started to gather momentum again... Job Stopped. Bugger.But all isn't lost, dear readers, because the Minions are allowed access to things like the internet, email and mobile phones and know how to make good use of them. With this in mind, we can talk to you about a few odds and ends that have been taking place behind the scenes.As you'll all be aware, one of the jobs we had initially thought would be beyond us was the repair of the seriously damaged seat bases and backs that were removed rom the unit after it's return from Ilford. To briefly recap,…

23Oct 2020 by Potter

Work Day 20th October & Group Outing 21st October 2020

News

Good morning everyone. The Minions have been busy this week, working at Strawberry Hill on Tuesday and getting out on the road into deepest darkest Kent on Wednesday. Before we go into Tuesday's work, here is a little background on why the work was carried out. A few weeks ago we discovered that persons unknown had attempted to gain access to the shed. Thankfully Network Rail contractors who were working in the area at the time had noticed these little herberts and challenged them. The herberts promptly ran rapidly in the Direction of Away, and the contractors notified SWR depot management. SWR depot management contacted us within 10 minutes of that initial conversation. Fortunately myself, Darren and Lynn were available and on-site within an hour of the phone call with…