423417_GordonPettitt
@Gordon_3417
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The last operational 4VEP. Owned by @BluebellRailway , restored & operated by the S.E.T.G. @YorkshireTea approved & allowed to say #Smeg . #WomblesForever
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Joined February 2011
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35 years ago, shortly after 08:10, three trains collided just outside Clapham Junction station. This morning we remember those who lost their lives, those who survived and pay tribute to those who assisted in the aftermath.
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Ladies and gentlemen, today the SETG put a 400-series EMU into Platform 19 at Waterloo.
We couldn’t have done this without the help of our friends inside and outside of the Big Railway. Thank you, all of you. We hope it was as special a day for you as it was for us.
Night night.
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4VEP 423 417
Returned to the National Rolling Stock Library 16th January 2024.
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A little bit of Slamdoor nostalgia for you on a Tuesday evening….
Who remembers travelling like this?
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Big News from Strawberry Hill.
Anyone want to come out to play in 2024...?!
@RailwayMagazine
@bluebellrailway
@RAIL
@railwaysillus
@RailwayMuseum
@SEG3142
@4SUB4732
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This picture has just cropped up on Facebook. And we thought the 2HAP looked good! The Minions saw this, went cross eyed and had to go and lay down....
What a superb piece of restoration!
Well done to the team at
@RailwayMuseum
and
@LocomotionSHD
.
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We're not saying he's obsessed, but Buckie might have popped in this morning to check up on the Old Girl....
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We're proud to announce that
@RealtimeTrains
has decided to support the restoration of
@bluebellrailway
's unique 4VEP EMU No.3417.
@Richard_rail
@chris_railway
@cmajrail
@Modern_Railways
@HeritageRailMag
@railexpress
Follow the link below to learn more.
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It's remarkable what a small group of people can do when they have the right skills, the right support and the right belief. 3417 is coming back.
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As recorded by a Roving Minion, 5868 & 5909 on the Up Fast at Surbiton.
Behold the Blue & Grey splendidness!
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A small video for you all. After Maggie passed away so suddenly in 2022, the loss was massive. Just one gesture of condolence came courtesy of our friends
@ClanLine28
; they organised a whistle salute at Surbiton - Maggie’s home station.
It still gives us goosebumps…
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Yesterday was a brilliant, brilliant day.
The Minions are quietly recovering.
If you enjoyed yesterday, or were at Waterloo or saw 3417 in transit or you’ve just enjoyed our Twitter feed, please consider donating to the next stage of 3417’s restoration.
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Our friends at
#LocomotiveServicesLtd
, hearing of the death of our much loved friend Margaret Abrahams, arranged a whistle salute this evening as their train passed
#Woking
.
Woking was Maggie’s last depot.
Lynn, Doug & Dave are grateful beyond words.
Thank you.
#railwayfamily
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Back where it belongs.
3417 basking in the winter sunshine
@LondonWaterloo
.
27th January 2024
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SETG are delighted to announce the first install and successful testing of ETCS digital signalling equipment in 3417.
A spokesperson for SETG said "It's been a top secret effort to get it fitted, but we're looking to the future."
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The SETG are proud to announce that as part of our ongoing restoration, 3417 is now dual-voltage to allow for work across the wider UK electrified network.
Modifications made at Ilford by
@BombardierR_UK
will mean that 3417 can become the first
#4VEP
to work under the wires.
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Stuff it - what do you fancy? A quick Rounder? Or a cheeky change of head code to 10, or 42, or 90?
#ReadyToGo
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All done. Minions well pleased and cream-crackered. 9 work requirements ticked off & boxed-up.
As Christmas presents go, this is an early one - and a good one.
From the SETG, a very Merry Christmas to you all!
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Part One in the saga of how we got 3417 to Waterloo....
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Seat bases started by Mum, finished by daughter. How we wish that Maggie were here to appreciate this.
Well done Lynn - we’re proud of you.
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And how 76262’s cab ended the day.
Looks nice, doesn’t it….?
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The things you find when a Minion is browsing the contents of their hard drive....
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Behind those three yellow doors, a little bit of railway magic is happening.
A combination of enthusiasm, faith, generosity, vision and a dash of “you’re kidding, right?”
Friendship started this project.
The group of friends has grown larger than we ever thought possible.
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“Night night, old girl”, said the Minions.
Today was a very very special day and won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
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76263 didn’t look like this at about 9:30 this morning….
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A view that hadn't been possible for 18 years, 4 months and 5 days...
Broke that duck, didn't we?!
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Cards on the table. I am a train. No, really. An actual train. Doors and motors and couplings and everything. I'm sick of accounts telling me I am old, or rusty, or have too many doors, or that I’m painted green not blue.
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What a wonderful day.
Waterloo & Strawberry Hill Depot.
January 27th 2024.
More than 15 years since the last 4VEP departed.
Yesterday, one returned for the first time.
@Gordon_3417
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From our Waterloo night-link chum, taken this morning at Guildford.
Who says the Southern is scared of a bit of snow?!
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On behalf of all the Minions, a very Happy Birthday to the gentleman himself, Mr Gordon Pettitt.
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Happy New Year to all our followers - 2024 promises good things :)
Stay tuned!!
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@mrtimdunn
joined us at Strawberry Hill today.
If you’d like to know what he did with that screwdriver, stay tuned….
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And today we unveiled something in loving memory of an Absent Minion.
Lynn was very touched and we’re all very proud of ourselves: we managed not to blub.
#SleepTightMaggieMay
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Getting ready for the move to Ilford, courtesy of our friends at
@GBRailfreight
and
@BombardierR_UK
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And then after the magic - we have a live unit….
Clever, eh?
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What do you reckon? Just a cheeky nip up to Waterloo and back...?
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#Update
3417 has passed it's Ultrasonic Axle Testing, and the draw hooks have passed their MPI (magnetic Particle Inspection) tests.
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Anyone got anything planned for Summer next year....?
#AskingForAFriend
Photos courtesy of Andy Nash.
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Deep sprung seats for the win…
(Orange curtains optional)
Not too sure that this idea will catch on. Comfortable seats, plenty of leg room and space for your luggage.
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In loving memory of our friend Margaret Abrahams, who passed away on this day in 2022.
We miss you Maggie May.
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Looks almost ready for a Guildford New a liner, don’t you think?
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After a lot of work, and thanks to
@railwaybrakes
,
@ArmstrongPH
and
@RealtimeTrains
we have some news via our CM&EE
@ChrisUk10
.
“Job 302 carried out satisfactorily (and with additional testing): 3417 has passed its final brake test.”
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Thank you Tim. You were most welcome.
CLUNK. Why did
@LondonWaterloo
host this rare BR slam-door electric train survivor on Saturday?
@Gordon_3417
is being restored beautifully by volunteers as a piece of commuting history, and they need our support. New video, inc
@DriverPotter
interview:
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Ah memories! The time when we helped
@60163_Tornado
out...
Probably one of the most surreal pairings in railway history!!
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The Old Girl looked tired. Very, very tired….
The bodywork was badly faded, and corrosion was setting in as well.
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The more observant of you will have noticed a lack of pictures from the outside of 3417 recently. There’s a reason for that!
The SETG are pleased and very proud to reveal the new livery for 3417.
#JaffaCakeVEP
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When you send a tweet, and 35 years after a tragedy, one person gets to say thank you to someone who helped them.
Wow.
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Windows free of brake dust…
You wouldn’t believe how much work this takes to achieve.
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Indoors, onboard, unit cut out - time for a Number One Exam.
Now that we’ve got 3417 up to scratch and in ticket, it has to stay that way. Minion Billy is on the case.
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@ltmuseum
If there are any parts that we may have in stock that could assist, please let us know.
Kind regards,
The SETG.
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What a piece of work - a stunning finish to a hitherto un regarded piece of railway history. And Potter got to be the first Wimbledon man to be able to put an EP key on the desk of the HAP for more than 25 years. He was pleased!
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Meanwhile, our appeal has very quietly ticked towards £10,000.
Do you have any spare pennies yo throw into the pot....?
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Before the Old Girl was (very slightly) famous…
3417 at Waterloo at 19.25 on 25th April 1998.
@networkrail
#DailyPick
#Archive
@SW_Help
@Gordon_3417
@DriverPotter
- voila, in Stagecoach stripes livery still with several years to go in service. 🙂
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One of the Minions has been chatting to a very talented chap,
@nerailwayartist
, about the possibility of a t-shirt design.
He came up with this as a first doodle.
The Minions went “Wow”, very loudly.
What do you think?
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Yeah - it’s a good feeling, doing this job.
A really good feeling.
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Another day done.
Another day closer to a serviceable unit.
You can help bring it closer still….
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We were sent this yesterday - the view from the front of London Underground’s 4TC unit as it waits for the road into Swanage station.
When was the last time 2 400-series units passed each other in traffic? We think it needs to happen again, and soon!
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One more small detail to attend to and then we can go home…. And we want to go home.
Today has been a long but productive day.
Three compartments squared up, another seating bay back in, frames needle-gunned, jumpers painted up, work completed and faults closed.
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And then yet more light!!!
That’s 76263 lit up for the first time in well over a year! Now for the business end of 62236... Stay tuned for more!
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The Minions are on-site and have been most of the day. Buckie is fed up….
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