Moquette display at Sheffield Park

In the Bluebell Railway museum.

 

We covered that in the latest issue of The Bluebell Times

PATTERNS OF THE PAST: RAILWAY UPHOLSTERY AND DESIGN

Running alongside Steam to Sheffield Park: The Earl, the Cricket, and the Line, the Bluebell Railway Museum is pleased to present a new temporary exhibition exploring the often- overlooked art of railway carriage upholstery.

Based on an exhibition originally developed by Cuckfield Museum, this display showcases a range of historic moquette designs used by the Southern Railway and British Railways. These distinctive patterns once formed the backdrop to millions of journeys, combining practicality with strong graphic design and a clear sense of identity.

The exhibition also celebrates the skill, dedication, and craftsmanship of the Bluebell Railway’s volunteers, whose work at the Heritage Skills Centre ensures that these traditional techniques and materials continue to be understood, practised, and preserved for future generations.

This exhibition offers visitors a fresh perspective on railway history — not just how trains were built and operated, but how they were experienced by the people who travelled in them.
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If you ever get the opportunity to look round the Trim Shop in the Heritage Skills Centre, it is very interesting.

Tom