1960s rail cards

[Sporty60]

My father used to work on the railway and as a child I seem to remember having a green cardboard pass measuring 4" by 3".
On a train journey once I remember someone showing a pink/ purple one to the ticket collector and I've always wondered who those were issued to.
Many thanks in advance.

 

[Rescars]

IIRC in the 1970s, second class duty passes were green and first class were white, both printed in red ink. Others who reached loftier positions in the hierarchy will recall the colour of their "leather" passes (valid on and off duty). Were these pink perhaps?

 

[RT4038]

'Priv' cards used to be printed on quite large pieces of card (could have been 4x3?). First Class ones were white, not sure of the colour of 2nd class.

 

[Sporty60]

Ah thanks, sounds similar, so 1st was white and my green one was second or standard.
The pink/ purple is the mystery still.

 

[Rescars]

There could be some specific refinements. IIRC some junior members of Travellers Fare management were provided with second/standard class green passes stamped "Valid first class in restaurant cars only". The same colours applied to both regional and all stations passes.

 

[6Gman]

There could be some specific refinements. IIRC some junior members of Travellers Fare management were provided with second/standard class green passes stamped "Valid first class in restaurant cars only". The same colours applied to both regional and all stations passes.

There were all manner of exclusions and inclusions, often dependent on the date at which you had entered the railway service. For example, my mother was entitled to discounts on Caledonian McBrayne ferries but I wasn't because CalMac changed ownership before I started work on the railway. Ironically as a child I'd qualified, but as an employee I didn't.

 

[ajs]

Back in the 60s & 70s, Southern used to sell 7 day Runabout Rover tickets which covered a limited area. These tickets were a purple colour. See photo, although colour has faded over time.

 

[Sporty60]

Interesting.

I'd further describe it as being like a rectangular beer mat in texture.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

I don't know about 'status' passes, but the 2nd class 'Holiday Runabout Tickets' from the Western Region (mid '60s) in my collection are 4in x 3in, green and 'beer mat' in texture. By the seventies and the British Rail corporate era these were reduced in size to 3.25 in x 2.25 in but red on white. Season tickets are similar.

 

[Gloster]

My card for priv tickets, issued in late 1978, was blue. Like 6Gman‘s it was not valid on CaledonianMacbrayne, which was made clear by a red overstamping on it.

 

[Springs Branch]

. . . someone showing a pink/ purple one to the ticket collector and I've always wondered who those were issued to. . .

Was the person seen someone employed by BR or possibly a regular passenger showing a season ticket? IIRC in the early 1970s, normal point-to-point season tickets could be printed on thick card ("beer mat" texture describes it nicely) and 4" x 3" sounds like the size, give or take.

At that time my uncle commuted between Bolton & Manchester Vic (brolly-and-briefcase civil servant, not a railwayman). I'm not sure whether he bought weekly or monthly seasons, but I remember seeing one of his which was pink.

Here's a random example of a Weekly Season from 1973.

 

[Sporty60]

Getting close I think although they were landscape in style rather than portrait.
Maybe it was a type of season ticket which makes sense.
Thank you to everyone for your input.

 

[Jim Jehosofat]

Was the person seen someone employed by BR or possibly a regular passenger showing a season ticket? IIRC in the early 1970s, normal point-to-point season tickets could be printed on thick card ("beer mat" texture describes it nicely) and 4" x 3" sounds like the size, give or take.

At that time my uncle commuted between Bolton & Manchester Vic (brolly-and-briefcase civil servant, not a railwayman). I'm not sure whether he bought weekly or monthly seasons, but I remember seeing one of his which was pink.

Here's a random example of a Weekly Season from 1973.
View attachment 174335

I wonder if I issued that ticket. I started my railway career in June 1973 and after around 8 weeks training in passenger and parcels at the Divisional Manager's Office at Beckenham I was allocated to Erith ticket office. I would have been just over 17 when this ticket was issued.

 

[Mollington St]

Thought i would add these to the conversation

A 1954/5 and 1960/61 Railway Pass , like the 5 shillings reward if found

I will see what others i can come across

I have started to scan and get up on my site various interesting tickets - www. Transport Past Times