11Apr 2023 by Digital Minion
The Digital Minion Writes…

The Digital Minion Writes…

News
Hello – Digital Minion here. Once again we’ve distracted Potter and told him that there are Eurovision Audience Tickets hidden in the locker room.  He was so excited, he ran as fast as his tiny little legs to carry him - without checking that the door does indeed lock from the outside.So far he hasn’t twigged, and we can hear him rummaging through Buckie’s dirty socks, all the while singing his heart out. ABBA’s 1974 winning hit ‘Waterloo’ is a firm favourite. I really must find those ear defenders… I’ve wrestled control of the blogging keyboard, as it turns out Potter (while doing a passable impression of the blonde one from ABBA – I’ll leave it to the reader to work out which one) is rather busy with ‘the big…
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16Nov 2022 by Digital Minion

Web-based Nonsense

News
[COUNTER_NUMBER id=1904]Hello, Digital Minion here.Potter has been constantly messaging me politely asking if we can have a live Tea and Bacon counter on the website. I'm not sure why everyone needs to know the number of rashers of bacon Potter and Buckie can consume in one sitting (hint - it's a lot) or the number of mugs of tea drunk during the hours of hard graft put in to restoring 3417, but I'm just the Digital Minion/Driver, so I do as I'm told. As long as there's 12 hours overtime in it and a day off in lieu. So, marvel at the wonder that is the Official SETG Tea & Bacon Counter. Then marvel at how we fit into various uniforms or overalls...
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11Nov 2022 by Potter
Work Report Early to Late 2022

Work Report Early to Late 2022

News
Good 'morrow, dear reader! We at the SETG, awash with tea and replete with bacon sandwiches, bid you welcome to this latest update on our trials and tribulations at Strawberry Hill. First of all, allow us to begin with a soothing soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/embed/dUH633TF-ho Ah. Sweet, sweet music! The SETG would like to apologise to those of you who rely on this website to keep you updated on our progress at Strawberry Hill; as you will all be aware, the group has been through some considerable trauma over the last few months and things are barely back to any semblance of normality. As seems to have become the norm, the VEP has become as much a form of practical therapy as much as a form of transport and the depot a…
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26Jul 2022 by Potter

Margaret “Maggie” Abrahams 1st February 1950 – 26th June 2022

News
From Potter. Surbiton, 26th July 2022."Three weeks ago we lost our friend Maggie. It was sudden, brutally so, and the Abrahams family are still reeling from her death. Her passing has left Lynn and Doug aching desperately for their adored mother, and David lost without his wife of 52 years. We have been to Strawberry Hill twice since her death, and the Trim Shop is a lonely space without her. I sat there a few days after she died, sat in her chair at her sewing table and wept. I miss my friend. Long before the SETG came into being, while I was still just another motorman on the South Western division, I first met Maggie. We were working an early morning Alton train, and Maggie was my guard. I…
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09Mar 2022 by Potter
Work Report January/ February 2022

Work Report January/ February 2022

News
Don't you love it when hard work starts to pay off, dear readers? Months and months of steady slog and what appears to be fiddling about - even to those who are doing the work - and then Kerpow! Suddenly everything comes together in a few hours and everyone walks about smiling for days afterwards. After a very busy last few weeks, I'm still smiling. It feels like we are making real headway, and we are able to show you some of the results of our efforts. (Of course we've had some really cracking cooked breakfasts and a lot of tea, too.) So where do we start? The brake chests and controllers are back from Railway Brake Services, along with some additional sundries that it was decided should be overhauled…
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28Jan 2022 by Bucky

Work Report: 27/01/22 (aka ‘THE BACKROOM STUFF’)

News
(Our scene opens in a stuffy office filled with Stuff. Minions are at their desks, yawning, rummaging in their pockets for half-eaten bacon sandwiches and practising their bored faces. Chief Mechanical & Electrical Engineer Chris Buckland is delivering a lecture to the dozing masses. One Minion is attempting to record Buckie's thoughts (both of them) for the edification of the Internet browsing masses. Now, read on....) "Another fine day at Strawberry draws to a close and this maybe the most boring work report to date. But stay with me; it will stay boring to the end. Today was filled with paperwork, paperwork, a bit of train and more paperwork. As readers of this fine site already know, we are all about Doing Things Right and over the past few weeks we…
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15Dec 2021 by Potter
Work Reports: November/December 2021

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.…
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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…
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07Aug 2021 by Potter
April/May/June/July Update 2021

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…
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