Some different takes on #GreatestGathering: 1. Line up, line up for the best shot 2. Third rail to Derby (for @gordon3417.bsky.social) 3. Bit harsh 4. End of the line See alt text for more #Railway200

Dwi'n Rheilffordd Bluebell heddiw, yn teithio draws y cefn gwlad Sussex ar hen trenau! Dyna llawer o hanes i weld a locomotifau swnllyd i wrando #BluebellRailway @gordon3417.bsky.social

Mega movement at Clapham earlier! 50008 “Thunderer” with 47715 and @gordon3417.bsky.social 423417 making their way to the Bluebell Railway this afternoon

Busy Minions over the last two days….

21 hours to go…. ebay.us/m/TegKU4

One day to go….. ebay.us/m/XxJSXK

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

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

Excellent day out at the Swanage Railway gala yesterday. Fantastic to ride in a proper slammer again, Thanks to the @gordon3417.bsky.social team. 15 years this month since the last slammers ran in the South, the end of the Lymington shuttle. Ker-lunk, tic-a-tic-a-tic-a… #RailBlue #SwanageRailway

New phone case, who this? Thanks @gordon3417.bsky.social for the speedy dispatch and delivery!

🇮🇹 Luigi Cantamessa, head of heritage arm of state rail #FondazioneFS is busy again. In Rimini he’s opened a training school for obsolete railway trades. Steam train drivers, cooks & furniture restorer skills are essential to preserve Italy’s railway heritage. ℹ️: www.fondazionefs.it/en/itinerari...

The SETG Team: Buckie, Dan, Billy & Potter. Brockenhurst Station, 06/06/2025.

@gordon3417.bsky.social @ Basingstoke 😍

Here she is! @gordon3417.bsky.social 423417 with 50008 at Basingstoke on their way to Swanage

Just joined the Western Mainline…. #5W50 #Seaside4VEP

Ready to rock and roll…. Next stop, Swanage. #5W50

Today is the day….

1….

The Minions are starting to get sweaty palms….

2….

3….

A little something for Swanage.

Coming soon to Disney+, the adventures of Gordon the VEP. He's a cheeky DC-powered chap who was banned from ITV after telling Thomas the Tank Engine to shove his coal up his bunker. Watch all 24 episodes now...

4…

Six days to go…..

Billy has been busy inspecting the Clever Bits. When we say 3417 works, we’re not mucking about - our Ops Department would take her out on a fast Ramsgate or Portsmouth tomorrow if asked :)

No - we’ve no idea how two different posts with the same caption came along either. Have a shot of the CM&EE getting his hands dirty while we work things out.

We’ve been busy for the last few days….

We’ve been busy over the last few days….

Another busy day. 76262 D-Door & Oppo D Seat Frames in. Lynn has replaced another 5 draft welts. Richard has fitted the new threshold for 76262 Drivers door. We’ve also briefed staff involved with the Swanage transfer moves, signed and filed paperwork & had tuna pasta for lunch.

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

Just some of the work that’s been happening at Strawberry Hill today. Retrimming a seat frame for fitting into 76262, while Bestie and Peter have done valiant battle with the heater boxes on 76263 - and what’s more they’re winning!

East West Rail? Done it! After our short stop in at Milton Keynes and a delayed departure we’re on our way to Bicester Village where we then get an hour and a bit break! Let’s get going again with @hastingsdiesels.co.uk East West DEMU!

It’s official - we are delighted to announce that 3417’s third and final appearance of the #Rail200 year will be in support of the Bluebell Railway’s Diesel Gala for the 5th to the 7th September 2025. Book your tickets now!

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….

So sad to hear this news… 😢 Green lights all the way, my man ❤️🌹🚦

Such a huge loss to the railway scene, Gordon was truly one of a kind. My thoughts are with his family and friends #GordonPettitt #RIP

Rest in Peace Gordon, I've met him a few times at Lancaster.

Fly high mate... R.I.P Gordon Pettitt

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

Stripping back another seat frame for 76263 - one of our faithful #dewalt drills doing the honours with a wire brush head. Turning hours of work into half that - should be able to get a few coats of #hammerite onto this piece today.

It’s not all dry-ups at Strawberry Hill. Minions do not live by bacon & fried eggs alone….

On Thursday, 507001 had a wash and brush up before meeting students from the University of Birmingham for a training day on Friday. Thanks to Tom, Jamie, Shaun and Stuart for the photography.

Something for Swanage, we think….

A few snaps from the last few days at Strawberry Hill….

#SecretsOut - in collaboration with @gordon3417.bsky.social we'll recreate 3 models of 4VEP 3417 in OO from the latest Hornby models & give you the chance of winning one, through auction or raffle prize. More details on this will follow, Stay tuned for updates #variousmultipleunits #bsmrguk

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.

We hit 1000 followers on YouTube today! #ExcitedMinions