We were honoured to have some minions from the SETG @gordon3417.bsky.social on board today. Here’s driver Steve reacting to driving a proper train 😉

Meanwhile, Basingstoke ROC had a small delivery this morning….

DTO No.77730, ex 5702, has a new home.

Photo credit goes to Justin Foulger.

The past isn’t quite dead yet :)

SETG Announces arrival of 455 871 'Roy Watts MBE' into preservation. YouTube video by Southern Electric Traction Group

What great news for a Monday!
youtu.be/NxTn7GVQpnY?...

@gordon3417.bsky.social

The last two have left The Park.
But one remains, and it needs your help.

www.gofundme.com/f/preserving...

She looked better second time around!

4VEP electric multiple unit 3417 ‘Gordon Pettit’ in P3 at Eastleigh. The unit is in the original blue with aluminium window frames, half yellow ends, red blinds Class 73 73213 hauling to Swanage Gala, in GBRF livery

4VEP electric multiple unit 3417 ‘Gordon Pettit’ on the up fast at Eastleigh. The unit is in the original blue with aluminium window frames, half yellow ends, red blinds Class 50 50008 hauling back from the Swanage Gala, in Hanson & Hall livery

Red Blinds at Eastleigh. Outwards and Returns of the day, almost exactly 12 years apart.

@gordon3417.bsky.social on its way to the #SwanageRailway gala, May 2013 and on its way back, today, May 2025
#RailBlue #SETG #4VEP #EMU #Eastleigh

Talk about dream come true getting to run your models on the real thing. We took #Project3417 Jnr x3 to Strawberry Hill Depot to see the real @gordon3417.bsky.social & all became kids again playing trains on trains! Huge thx to Steve, Lynn & Darren for accommodating us
#VariousMultipleUnits #bsmrguk

One day to go…..

ebay.us/m/XxJSXK

After yesterday’s deeply sad shift, it was a relief to just do a nice little spin out to Alton and back.

Turn the page; tomorrow is always a new day.

Express man again today: 10 down to Pompey and 8 back up.

Found myself on a pass train to Waterloo, looking around and grinning because I’m lucky enough to be a tiny cog in this great British Railway Machine.

Not a bad thought to carry into the start of a shift.

The fascism playbook hasn't changed—only the speed we're flipping through its chapters.

50008 with @Gordon_3417 5W50 Strawberry Hill CSD to Swanage potters (!) through Reading West.
@driverpotter.bsky.social

Today is the day….

A small browse through Twitter has reminded me how pleased I am to be on #Bluesky.

Meanwhile Lynn The Trim has seen the results of her labours fitted to the East Anglian Railway Museum’s Class 101 DMU - astonishing work!

Change of plan - I’m now mooching at Waterloo, cunningly disguised as Myself.

(Yes - it’s one of those evenings)

If anyone needs me, I’ll be sitting at Alton.

We don’t do rushin’ about at Wimbledon Park. #EasyDoesIt

If anyone needs me, I’m currently sat in the Up Bay at Weybridge.

We’re trained to do it, although it’s like anything; when you do it for real there’s a lot of adrenaline involved…

I make no apology when I say I wept a little yesterday.

Just having a man like him say that I had done something well, challenging my opinion or giving me the benefit of his experience… Imagine the best teacher you ever met; that respected voice, the person who’s approval you valued and treasured…

I can. Yon big wooden jobbie is known as a Short Circuit Bar. It’s used to cut out the 3rd Rail traction current in an emergency.

750 DC & civilians don’t mix. When you need the juice off quick, this is how you do it.

He invited me to call him Gordon.
I couldn’t do it - he was always “Mr Pettitt.”

I was the third generation of my family to meet him; not a bad boast….

We’re deeply saddened to announce that Gordon Pettitt passed away on 31st March. He was charming, knowledgeable, supportive; a manager of the old school.
Our thoughts are with his family and his friends - we are honoured to have known him.

#GordonPettitt #RIP

Another two little jobs quietly boxed up today - Oppo D Door (right hand) seat bay refurbished and fitted. FMAs 0404 and 0446 closed.
#quietlypleased

Something for Swanage, we think….

Buy your buckets and spades; Gordon is off to the seaside!

We’re delighted to announce that 3417 will be joining the Swanage Railway for their Diesel Gala 9th to 11th May 2025.

Just passed a 400-series Driver’s assessment…

Blimey.