Footplate crew outfit

hi all , being i haven't got a message back from a form about overalls and jackets etc , would anyone be willing on letting me know where i can buy a BR Jacket for the footplate?

anything local between south west London and eastleigh near the mainline or any branch lines would be great as there easiest to get to ( or on line shops)

cheers all .

 

If you want the "Authentic Look" you can try John Beesley, he advertises in Steam Railway most months (if not every) and will do mail order.

If you are after just a Bib and brace with a jacket I use Faithful brand that I buy from Surplus & Outdoors online, follow the link to "Outdoor Workwear".

 

Try John Fletcher, the Shed Shop NYMR.

http://www.shoppersworld.co.uk/template ... ymr/?s=411

You can order online.

 

The NYMR ones are excellent- I use them and delivery is quick too.

 

I'm gonna cry at £46 lol , any idea if there is a website for him as doing a google search on "John Beesley footplate" but only found about everything else apart from his site

i like the idea of having near costume made bib and brace with jacket but i must say £46 is it not worth just looking for something cheaper?

 

I'm afraid John Beesley doesn't have a website. His overalls are fairly faithful copies of the original BR articles but they are more expensive than the NYMR ones. I bought some a couple of years ago and they were £55 (I think) then.

Overalls of the right material and type are not that common, so they are a bit pricey. But they are hard wearing.

 

I would recommend the NYMR ones, I recently bought some up there and they seem pretty good to me. Beesley overalls are good but there have been a few about that go purple when washed. This is because he got hold of a batch of orange ones and dyed them navy!

 

Yep I have a set of Beesleys and after about 10 washes purple patches have began to appear- hence why I now buy NYMR ones, which are cheaper anyway.

 

If you are on a budget and don't mind wearing an ordinary set of modern overalls the Surplus and Outdoors do a bib and brace for £12.99 and seconds jackets at £5.00. I have bought these in the past and they are perfectly acceptable (the jacket needed a button sewing on). The Faithful branded ones are £19.99 each and therefore you are still looking at around £40.00 plus postage. (No I'm not on commission, I just think they do a good service )

 

In a word - NO!

Cheap overalls dont last well in the harsh footplate environment. You will get what you pay for with Beesleys, trust me I am still using a pair on and off EIGHT years after I bought them! Try the NYMR shed shop ones or Beesleys. £46 isnt that much when you think they may last for 5-6 years regular use. The quality and material will be far better, but watch as they shrink a little at first, buy slightly larger than normal.

 

If you ignore the camera shy young man in front, you can see Mr Fletcher's latest member of staff, all dressed up and raring to go.

http://www.davidsmstspics.fotopic.net/p39343652.html :smt002

 

Apologies for drifting off at a tangent, but I'm bemused by the blue tie. Was such a tie design and colour worn during the 1950s and 60s as part of the British Railways uniform?

Chris (from down south, where plain red ties were the norm)

 

NYMR sounds like the best one then , will go talk to mum about buying them ready for my next turn :smt001

cheers all

 

Can someone tell me where to get a cloth cap for being on the footplate?

 

Or a proper greasetop O

 

I'd recommend Mr. Beesley's footplate gear, excellent quality...
Plus, your custom will help to get 'Primrose' steaming again! \/

 

Small Prairie - Don't forget that Western style footplate uniform is different in style and colour to everyone else's (as you would expect) !

 

If you want to get a tweed type flat cap then the best place is the type of mens outfitters your grandfather would go to (or if your very young, your great grandfather!!! ).

I use a black cloth cap that I found in Marks and Spencer a few years ago.

Don't forget, the grease top was a recent addition to the footplate, but a very useful one. I would use a grease top for prep'ing and then change to the a flat cap when running, this way you don't get a oil sodden cloth cap. #-o

 

I'm usually to be found in a Marks and Spencer cloth cap. When I left it at home a few weeks ago and arrived for my turn, someone even didn't recognize me!