Potter

11Nov 2022 by Potter

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…

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…

09Mar 2022 by Potter

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…

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.…

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…

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,…