Swanage Open Day

Cleaning in rigger gloves tends to result in cold wet hands, because of the fabric back; I hence prefer nitrile gloves (sturdy ones like these, not the thin single use type).

If you have long hair, tie it back to avoid fire or entanglement. You don't have to cover it, but expect dirty hair if you don't.

I've never been to Swanage, but everywhere I do know has minimal or no workshop heating, so size your overalls and boots to allow for warm clothes underneath. Paint can occasionally seep through fabric and (permanently) stain more than one layer, so don't wear expensive clothes even if they are not exposed.

 

Thanks for the advice; that's very useful to know and I've now got a good idea what I'll need to get started.

 

Hang on, Laplace! We've got heating at Middleton. OK, we only turn it on when it gets to minus 5°! I agree that riggers can get wet/oily when you are cleaning but nitrile ones can get very sweaty. I was thinking of a pair of gloves more for protection against sharp edges and hot things, rather than when cleaning locos.
By the way, Pinkpanther, those riggers that you quoted are way OTT on price. You don't want to be paying more than £1.00/pair and you can get them for less than that.

 

Glad to meet you today - sorry I hadn't read above posts otherwise I could have mentioned them.
Overalls - they're Poly/Cotton so OK for non-working steam footplate duties (melting/burning risk). Possibly easier to clean in the washing machine but All Cotton tends to be the cloth of choice [Ariel, and the like, seems to work well].
Boots - Looks OK on photo [better than mine!] but 'try before you buy'. If you suffer with cold feet then allow space for extra socks otherwise you need them to be a 'snug-fit but comfortable' as walking surfaces may be treacherous at times and you won't want your feet sliding about both inside and out!!
Gloves - Too expensive. Suggest you look around various markets and £1 would be about right. At times you might have to treat them as a one day useage but normally they are quite hard wearing.
Heating - you'll be lucky as the Engine shed is 1885 vintage with one end open!! But the cabin has a real fire [when somebody lights it] and putting money into the tea fund entitles you to warming tea [think the coffee might have run out!] from time to time. As a volunteer you'll also get free teas/coffees and staff discounts on food from the Birds Nest restaurant coach in Platform 1.

 

I would suggest it is worth coming down for a volunteer induction before shelling out on expensive gear. If you're reasonably sure of the department you want to work in, the induction will show you round and give you a far better idea of what clothing and PPE you will be expected to provide.

On the safety footwear front, Stainers are a good local family company. Web site is here http://www.stainerssafetyfootwear.co.uk/ but I'm sure they don't have all their range on-line. A good example of try before you buy - as a guard I need safety shoes, but when I'm out working trackside I've got some safety hiking boots. Most roles around the railway benefit from some form of waterproof, ankle protecting steel toecap boot - but do the induction, ask the questions and see what other folk are wearing.

Extra volunteers are always welcome!

 

Rigger or nitrile gloves is up to your personal preference (I have cold hands, so don't like taking the gloves off to do cleaning): either type will do, and since both are cheap, you can easily change your mind later.

The comment about limited heating wasn't a complaint (a workshop shouldn't be house-warm, as this would be expensive and wasteful) but a recommendation to be prepared: on one of my first workshop turns (at Didcot, where the heating was a rarely-lit fire some distance from where I usually worked), I got paint stains on my coat because I was too cold to take it off.