How strict were British Railways on uniforms in 1963?

[Harlesden]

Of course "Oh Doctor Beeching" was only a sitcom, but Booking Office Clerk Su Pollard didn't appear to possess a uniform, and Buffet Manageress Julia Deakin (working the buffet by herself) didn't seem to possess an overall - even when the great man himself (Doctor Beeching) was expected and everyone else was turned out in clean pressed uniforms.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Of course "Oh Doctor Beeching" was only a sitcom, but Booking Office Clerk Su Pollard didn't appear to possess a uniform, and Buffet Manageress Julia Deakin (working the buffet by herself) didn't seem to possess an overall - even when the great man himself (Doctor Beeching) was expected and everyone else was turned out in clean pressed uniforms.

I Think it may have depended where about's one was, perhaps in rural quiet areas they did not worry so much, but at busier stations maybe they were more strict about this. I recall seeing in the 1960s and 1970s, some very sloppy dressed rail employees, but also some smart ones too. I think things got better from the 1980s onwards. Some now are very good indeed.

 

[Welshman]

I think it also depended on the job they were doing.

I'm trying to remember back to my home station in 1960 [I was 12 at the time!], the ticket collectors and porters wore uniforms, but AFAIR the booking clerks would wear "normal" office clothes for that time, or casual jumpers/pullovers.

And in the case of the stationmaster, it also depended on the train! To greet the one London train of the day, the top hat would be brought out of its box, whereas for the other trains, the peaked cap would suffice!

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I think it also depended on the job they were doing.

I'm trying to remember back to my home station in 1960 [I was 12 at the time!], the ticket collectors and porters wore uniforms, but AFAIR the booking clerks would wear "normal" office clothes for that time, or casual jumpers/pullovers.


And in the case of the stationmaster, it also depended on the train! To greet the one London train of the day, the top hat would be brought out of its box, whereas for the other trains, the peaked cap would suffice!

Yes I remember the many and varied pullovers/jumpers in the 1960s and early 1970s, then when I started commuting in what is now SWTland, they seemed to have started to standardise the Pullovers accross the network, firstly by having plan Vee Neck heavy looking navy blue long & short sleeved pullovers, these were followed by again navy blue pullovers, but with red and white trims around the waist, neck and cuffs, at the same time some of the guys on our line also wore golf type jumpers like the Pringle Diamond sweaters.

All of these had the BR loco on the chest and a few employees also sported the very heavy ribbed Navy blue Vee & Round neck "Military style woolly Pullys, with shoulder and elbow patches.

I Think the BTP still wear something similar in fact.

I guess by doing this they were trying to smarten up the image of BR.