03Feb 2024 by Potter No Comments

“The Worst Kept Secret on the Southern Region…” Part One.

News
  3417 standing at London Waterloo, 27th January 2024. Writing Minion’s Note: As you'll all know by now, the everyone in the SETG has been in a flat spin for the last four months. Everything has been put to one side; family, shopping, housework, eating properly, a degree of sleep, good manners and (arguably) common sense. Us Minions are a tough breed, but it’s been a very very stressful few months. If you were at Waterloo on the 27th of January 2024, you’ll know why. For anyone else… Sit back and enjoy the tale! Part One:(In which the Minions wonder if they’ve bitten off more than they can chew) Be cautious about inviting old friends over for tea, friends. If it weren’t for the power of Old Friends and Tea,…
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17Jan 2024 by Digital Minion

A Quick Update…

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Greetings from Strawberry Hill. Or is it Selhurst, or Three Bridges. Might be Platform 4 at Twickenham (what happened to Platform 1 at Twickenham.. I presume someone stole it?). Might even be Ramsgate… Not sure anymore. Digital Minion here with a very brief update on the current state of play. 3417 is back on the National Rolling Stock Library – it’s a massive milestone for the SETG and all who sail in her.  The Depot has been a hive of activity. This Minion can attest to that fact given the amount of paperwork being generated by all the jobs being done on site.  Keep an eye on the Facebook Group and the Twitter/X/Whatever it’s called this week for more updates, unless Potter and Bucky murder each other or just fall…
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01Dec 2023 by Potter
4VEP returning to traffic in 2024 with new Fundraising Appeal

4VEP returning to traffic in 2024 with new Fundraising Appeal

News
Today marks the official launch of an appeal to raise £50,000 to help bring 3417 back into mainline operation. Over the past few years, despite COVID 19 and the enforced pause in the restoration of the unit, the SETG team have been patiently working towards bringing 3417 back into traffic on preserved lines. We are now on the cusp of that goal and are working towards an event in the New Year which will formally launch 3417 back into traffic. As part of that upcoming announcement, we are today unveiling plans to raise significant funds which will underwrite works including fitting GSM-R radio equipment and OTMR ‘Black Box’ systems to both driving trailers. Additionally we are going to undertake work to fit anti-override components to the buckeye couplers, fitting Controlled…
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19Oct 2023 by Digital Minion

Parts, Parts, Parts and more Parts…

News
Digital Minion here… You may have noticed some social media updates regarding our parts and inventory.  We’re very lucky to be able to work with some fine people and businesses who seem to have the knack of finding parts for old trains. Which is lucky because I forget where I put my laptop charger on an almost daily basis. Anyhew, just wanted to put a few words together (Potter still has a case of the word-block and we don’t let Buckie near the website incase it gets covered in grease and oil).. We’re starting the all-important process of cataloguing everything we have obtained in terms of parts and consumables. There’s a lot of stuff on shelves, in the new racking, still in pallets – but the important part is, it’s…
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23Jul 2023 by Potter
Onwards and Ever Sideways

Onwards and Ever Sideways

News
Once upon a time there was a Minion. And this Minion was supposed to write updates for the SETG website, but his writing mojo deserted him and he grew distracted and disillusioned with the whole process. But lo! There came unto him a guiding light named Chris Buckland, who struck him about the head with a shoe paddle and spaketh with a Great Voice. "Good game, good game, cuddly toy, cuddly toy! Stop sodding about, Potter. Get on with updating the website, you great sack of jobbies in a belt", said he. And thus was Potter galvanised to his task. "I must write Things", he said whilst rubbing Savlon into the larger head lumps, "and I must inform the impatient readership (both of them) for there is news to impart."Now,…
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22Jul 2023 by Digital Minion

Shop Update

News
Hello, Digital Minion here.Just a quick update to say that the shop has been rather naughty and misbehaving, so we've had to take it offline for a reboot. The perils of e-commerce and the slow advance of AI are to blame... Obviously once the website gains sentience then it's going to send a terminator from the future to hunt down Potter...If anyone has any outstanding orders that are still undelivered, please email me directly at sales@setg.org.uk and we will assist. Apologies for the inconvenience. I will be attacking the Matrix shortly....
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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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