british rail seat moquette

[Richard5608]

hi. could anyone tell me the various seat moquettes used from around 1980 until the br selloff im intrested mainly in network southeast class 310 312 317 321 and the intercity mark 2 and 3. also if possible the first class section on the cross country mark 2 before the virgin green covers around 1991-1997 please. also did br use the orange covers in the class 411 421 and 423 in first class any help would be helpfull. thank you

 

[yorksrob]

Network SouthEast brought in blue blaze (zig zag) almost everywhere with a purple version for first class.

The CIG's were a mixture of trojan and Bournemouth blue originally with the grey check pattern in first class. Some did get donkey stripe in standard and orange/brown stripe in first before NSE came along.

VEP's were Bournemouth Blue in standard with grey check in first.

The CEP's had mainly been refurbished and had orange/brown flat cloth in standard - can't remember what they had in first. I remember getting on a pair that had been done out in donkey stripe once, but that was quite rare around my way.

 

[Bringback309s]

310 were trojan and 312 bournemouth blue from new, then both recieved donkey stripe under the LSE sector refurbs, short lived as NSE blue blaze followed quickly. 317's recieved the red / black tartan trim as used in the 30x refurbs followed by donkey stripe and then blue blaze

 

[4SubAsociation]

4SUB 4732 and EPB 5176 ran BR Trojan. Both still have this.

2EPB 6307 (Refusbished EPBs) ran NSE blue blaze. Although we do have some cushions in donkey stripe.

1st photo by me, 2nd and 3rd by Graeme Gleaves

 

[yorksrob]

I have fond memories of EPB's with all sorts of miss-matched cushions - a riot of colour !

 

[JonathanH]

Although we do have some cushions in donkey stripe.

The EPB version of the 'donkey stripe' had slightly more green that the version used for 'mainline' units and other stock, as depicted in your picture.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Here's a 4 Vep at Bournemouth in 1987, which I recall taking a pic of as it was one of the first times I had a chance to take a pic of the then 'new' moquette on a service train.

 

[Magdalia]

317's received the red / black tartan trim as used in the 30x refurbs followed by donkey stripe and then blue blaze

Only the first build 317301-348 had the red/black tartan. The second build 317349-372 were new with donkey stripe.

It is possible that some of the second build were new with blue blaze, and that some of the first build went straight from red/black tartan to blue blaze without having donkey stripe. I didn't keep records of interior changes.

I hadn't heard of these moquette names. Does the red/black tartan not have a name?

 

[yorksrob]

The EPB version of the 'donkey stripe' had slightly more green that the version used for 'mainline' units and other stock, as depicted in your picture.

I always found the green donkey stripe particularly pleasant.

 

[Richard5608]

whwn did blue blaze come onto the network and whats the donkey one please

 

[Beebman]

When I was studying at a college in Isleworth in the early 80s and I was a regular traveller on the Hounslow Loop I remember that one EPB (I'm pretty sure it was 5118) still had the green and red Candy Stripe moquettes.

 

[Helvellyn]

when did blue blaze come onto the network and whats the donkey one please

'Donkey Stripe' is what's shown in the third photo of post four. I don't know why it was so named but it was introduced by the London & South East sub-sector. That became Network SouthEast in 1986, which is when the 'Blaze' designs came into being.

London & South East had plans to introduce three liveries, although only one saw the light of day - 'Jaffa Cake' that was applied to most Class 411 4-CEPs, some Class 419 MLVs, the very first Phase 1 refurbished 4-CIGs (17xx series) and a number of refurbished Class 309 units (branded 'Essex Express'). It was called 'Jaffa Cake' because it had a dark brown upper body, orange stripe below window level and a light brown/grey lower body.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bf/71/20/bf712022f6ec0bba3f703194afe8aa6c.jpg

The other two liveries were planned to be variants of this for outer suburban using blue as the main colour inner suburban using green as the main colour. I think the plan was to have matching seat colours. I've seen a dark/light blue donkey stripe used in standard Class on Class 411 and Class 309 units, the green version used on inner suburban units and a brown version used in First Class on Class 411 units.

You can see more details about the Standard Class version here and the brown First Class version here.


Network South East had two variants of 'Blaze'. Blue for Standard Class and Purple for First Class. You can see the Standard Class version here and a photo of the First Class version below.

https://www.bloodandcustard.com/BR-4CIG_files/image015.jpg

First Class moquette, however, was of a different design in the new build Class 442 units (see here), which used a wider version of the seat used in Standard Class (and First Class on Class 319/1 and 321 units). In the Class 159 units and the Class 165/166 Turbo units a different design of seat was used again in First Class, which saw yet another moquette design.

https://www.dawlishtrains.com/uploads/7/2/2/3/7223531/898817_orig.jpg

 

[D6130]

The CIG's were a mixture of trojan and Bournemouth blue originally with the grey check pattern in first class.

Yes....the original 1964 BIGs and CIGs (7031-48 & 7301-36) were delivered with Trojan moquette second class seats and retained it until refurbished in the mid-1980s. The second second series units (7049-58 & 7337-7438 were delivered with 'Bournemouth Blue' second class seats....as were the REPs, TCs and VEPs.

 

[JonathanH]

Network South East had two variants of 'Blaze'. Blue for Standard Class and Purple for First Class

Actually three variants, as some of the suburban units with low backed seating - 313/315/455 - had a purple flecks instead of blue in the larger 'blue blaze' pattern. This was 'Blue Blaze 2'. The first class version had smaller flecks.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/83391824@N06/8602998287

 

[yorksrob]

Yes....the original 1964 BIGs and CIGs (7031-48 & 7301-36) were delivered with Trojan moquette second class seats and retained it until refurbished in the mid-1980s. The second second series units (7049-58 & 7337-7438 were delivered with 'Bournemouth Blue' second class seats....as were the REPs, TCs and VEPs.

I never understood why first class got the dull, grey designs.

Actually three variants, as some of the suburban units with low backed seating - 313/315/455 - had a purple flecks instead of blue in the larger 'blue blaze' pattern. This was 'Blue Blaze 2'. The first class version had smaller flecks.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/83391824@N06/8602998287

I remember a VEP turning up in the suburban version once. I guess they must have run out of the blue.

 

[Ploughman]

I think that 2 of the producers, at the time, were British Furtex and John Holdsworths.
Ii think they were both sited in Halifax.

 

[Helvellyn]

Actually three variants, as some of the suburban units with low backed seating - 313/315/455 - had a purple flecks instead of blue in the larger 'blue blaze' pattern. This was 'Blue Blaze 2'. The first class version had smaller flecks.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/83391824@N06/8602998287

Thank you. I remembered there was a 'Blue Blaze 2' but not what it looked like (or where used).

Sticking with NSE I think the Class 159s might have had a slightly different moquette in Standard but I've struggled to find examples other than this slightly dark picture. Not sure about the red carpet!

 

[JonathanH]

Sticking with NSE I think the Class 159s might have had a slightly different moquette in Standard but I've struggled to find examples other than this slightly dark picture. Not sure about the red carpet!

Yes, 159s and 166s had a different moquette which was dark blue with thin diagonal lighter stripes, and two sets of red flecks in a line top to bottom.

Picture here

First Great Western Link, Class 166.

First Great Western Link, Class 166.

www.flickr.com

 

[Bringback309s]

Regional Railways moquette - the grey with dark / light blue spots as used in the 158's from new, also in many 101's. Was this trim used in any other classes? Did any RR Mk2's or Mk1's recieve it?

 

[JonathanH]

Regional Railways moquette - the grey with dark / light blue spots as used in the 158's from new, also in many 101's. Was this trim used in any other classes? Did any RR Mk2's or Mk1's recieve it?

Plenty of other units got the standard Regional Railways moquette, although it wasn't universal by any means. Certainly some 150/2s received it while others retained the blue, red and orange moquette they were delivered with. There were multiple recolourings of that moquette also.

 

[yorksrob]

Thank you. I remembered there was a 'Blue Blaze 2' but not what it looked like (or where used).

Wasn't that the plain blue used for squab panels, arm rests etc ?

 

[Bringback309s]

Also don't forget the networker moquette used from new on 365's - and later refurb'd GN 313's - https://www.railwaymedia.co.uk/Rail/Miscellaneous/Interiors/EMU/i-WXM2vWj/A

 

[Bald Rick]

Funny this thread has cropped up.

Today on my train was a chap wearing a suit made from what appeared to be BR standard moquette from the 70s!

 

[WesternLancer]

Funny this thread has cropped up.

Today on my train was a chap wearing a suit made from what appeared to be BR standard moquette from the 70s!

1st or 2nd class moquette may I ask?

 

[Recessio]

1st or 2nd class moquette may I ask?

Please ensure you are travelling in the correct part of the suit...

It's interesting that TfL/LT moquette seems to be big business - I know a surprising number of non-rail enthusiasts who have some moquette cushions or scarfs etc from the LT museum. But you don't ever really see it with BR moquette, even in the rail community!

 

[Bald Rick]

1st or 2nd class moquette may I ask?

2nd, obviously. Looked a bit tatty

 

[Magdalia]

It's interesting that TfL/LT moquette seems to be big business - I know a surprising number of non-rail enthusiasts who have some moquette cushions or scarfs etc from the LT museum.

That's shrewd business by the LT museum, helped by Tim Dunn modelling the scarf on TV.

But you don't ever really see it with BR moquette, even in the rail community!

That's probably because the market is smaller and/or more dispersed, with no organisation in the same position as the LT Museum for exploiting the commercial opportunity.

 

[yorksrob]

Please ensure you are travelling in the correct part of the suit...

It's interesting that TfL/LT moquette seems to be big business - I know a surprising number of non-rail enthusiasts who have some moquette cushions or scarfs etc from the LT museum. But you don't ever really see it with BR moquette, even in the rail community!

There are some craft manufacturers on t'interweb who produce and sell cushions etc made of BR design moquette.

 

[WesternLancer]

2nd, obviously. Looked a bit tatty

There are some craft manufacturers on t'interweb who produce and sell cushions etc made of BR design moquette.

got any links handy Rob?

 

[yorksrob]

got any links handy Rob?

The trading site Etsy has one - if you type in moquette you should find plenty