Linesmen in Clapham (1976) - An example of early PPE?

[NetworkGrail75]

Hi Everyone

I'm an employee at Network Rail doing some research for a project for Railway 200.

I'm a complete newbie when it comes to trains/rail so I thought I'd post this here, given the brain trust that exists here!

We found this amazing archive photo from the very talented Barry Lewis showing two rail linesmen in Clapham (date given is 10th May 1976). We'd love to know if anyone has any thoughts or actual experience with the vests/garments worn in the photo. Are these early iterations of PPE?

Our project aims to look at the beginning of PPE, it's evolution from the past up to the present. We've got a ton of questions!

- Were these regulation/standard issue vests during that period?
- Who manufactured them?
- We're these vests considered safe for use?
- Were helmets, gloves, goggles, boots not required at the time - and if not, when were they introduced?

In anyone has any information about these topics, it would be great to hear from you! Any input is most welcome and I thank you in advance!

Cheers
Network Grail.

 

[hexagon789]

Hi Everyone

I'm an employee at Network Rail doing some research for a project for Railway 200.

I'm a complete newbie when it comes to trains/rail so I thought I'd post this here, given the brain trust that exists here!

We found this amazing archive photo from the very talented Barry Lewis showing two rail linesmen in Clapham (date given is 10th May 1976). We'd love to know if anyone has any thoughts or actual experience with the vests/garments worn in the photo. Are these early iterations of PPE?

Our project aims to look at the beginning of PPE, it's evolution from the past up to the present. We've got a ton of questions!

- Were these regulation/standard issue vests during that period?
- Who manufactured them?
- We're these vests considered safe for use?
- Were helmets, gloves, goggles, boots not required at the time - and if not, when were they introduced?

In anyone has any information about these topics, it would be great to hear from you! Any input is most welcome and I thank you in advance!

Cheers
Network Grail.

Use of high visibility jackets/vests for trackworkers commenced trial in the Glasgow area of the Scottish Region in 1964. It was then rolled out to Edinburgh and Aberdeen based trackworkers. I understand these were full sized jackets, not vests, and crews referred to them as 'fireflies'.

From 1965, the London Midland Region trialled the vest type you see in the photo for trackworkers on the newly electrified sections of the WCML.

By 1976, I think they would've been standard issue for such workers.

 

[NetworkGrail75]

Thanks @hexagon789 - that's really good information!

I like the use of "fireflies" - it must have been quite a novelty to see clothing that brightly coloured!

 

[hexagon789]

Thanks @hexagon789 - that's really good information!

I like the use of "fireflies" - it must have been quite a novelty to see clothing that brightly coloured!

Indeed, and thus I think aptly demonstrating the effectiveness.

I only know about these early trials from media of the time - I have a large collection of Modern Railways issues from the period; the ScR trial in Glasgow is mentioned in the June 1964 issue for example.

 

[NetworkGrail75]

Thanks again @hexagon789 - the detail about the Glasgow trial in 1964 is worth it's weight !

 

[Gloster]

These look like the standard HV Vests that were used by all grades and were the only type available when I started in 1978.

The culture of the era was still very much that you were responsible for your own safety and I think that it was only a few years before that it became a requirement to wear vests on the track, rather than an option. Even so, as late as the mid-1980s signalman like myself would frequently go out on the track to speak to traincrew or others without bothering with a vest and management wouldn’t turn a hair. The purpose of the HV vest was to allow the driver to see us at a greater distance and if there were no trains we signalmen were considered to know that a vest wasn’t necessary.

Helmets, gloves, goggles, boots, etc. were issued to those whose jobs required them. There was, if I remember correctly, a BR-supported scheme that allowed you to buy strong work boots: they were either reduced or had a payment plan (or both).

And yes, of course they were considered safe.

 

[NetworkGrail75]

Thank you @Gloster - that's really fascinating to know. How attitudes have changed regarding visibility!

 

[Ashley Hill]

IIRC the reflective stripes appeared about 1987. My first issued vest was a plain Velcro tabard type but after getting it caked in grease my second vest came with the reflective strips.

 

[NetworkGrail75]

@Ashley Hill - wow, good to know! It's funny to think that reflective strips were part of the original issued tabards.

I suppose we're so used to seeing them now on all manner of articles

 

[Gloster]

There were no reflective strips on the original HV vests: they were just intended to be easily seen being bright orange (until they got dirty). I have a vague recollection of being told that one reason they were so flimsy with only buttons on the front was so that they would tear off easily if they caught on something, rather than dragging the employee along: I have no idea if this was true.

I am not sure who made them: it might have been BR itself or it might have been an external supplier, possibly several over the years. I would think that the design was a BR one, not one offered to it by an external agent.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

There were no reflective strips on the original HV vests: they were just intended to be easily seen being bright orange (until they got dirty). I have a vague recollection of being told that one reason they were so flimsy with only buttons on the front was so that they would tear off easily if they caught on something, rather than dragging the employee along: I have no idea if this was true.

I am not sure who made them: it might have been BR itself or it might have been an external supplier, possibly several over the years. I would think that the design was a BR one, not one offered to it by an external agent.

Most likely the point regarding the flimsiness is true; the modern ones are basically two halves held together with press studs (although they stay together and you put it on as you would a normal garment and zip it up), the idea being if you catch it on a passing train it comes apart and you don't get dragged.... having said that I never fancied testing it to see if it works

 

[Taunton]

I don't recall the detail others do, but do remember in 1976 being in a dmu across the Forth Bridge. Single line working was in force to Inverkeithing during Sunday relaying, and the Pilotman climbed into the cab with nothing more than an armband showing his role, over his normal civilian tweed jacket. Incidentally the relaying train was on one track in Inverkeithing tunnel, with work in hand, we passed by cautiously on the other track just feet away, with just periodic blasts on the horn.

 

[Rescars]

These look like the standard HV Vests that were used by all grades and were the only type available when I started in 1978.

The culture of the era was still very much that you were responsible for your own safety and I think that it was only a few years before that it became a requirement to wear vests on the track, rather than an option. Even so, as late as the mid-1980s signalman like myself would frequently go out on the track to speak to traincrew or others without bothering with a vest and management wouldn’t turn a hair. The purpose of the HV vest was to allow the driver to see us at a greater distance and if there were no trains we signalmen were considered to know that a vest wasn’t necessary.

Helmets, gloves, goggles, boots, etc. were issued to those whose jobs required them. There was, if I remember correctly, a BR-supported scheme that allowed you to buy strong work boots: they were either reduced or had a payment plan (or both).

And yes, of course they were considered safe.

We must have started around the same time. I was given a vest then too, though my role at the time barely ever took me trackside. IIRC the issue of vests to certain management grades was seen as a bit of a novelty. I came across the remains of one recently. There was a label showing the number 44/23085. No mention of a manufacturer's name, but there were cleaning instructions - DO NOT BOIL!

On the matter of footwear, I recall an incident c1981 when an Accident Report form had to be completed after the local H&S Officer accidently stamped heavily on a colleague's foot - whilst trialling a new design of safety boot. Ooops!

 

[Elecman]

I had that button type of HV vest issued to me in 1976

 

[ChiefPlanner]

HV vests were apparently only mandated for the look-out men (men only in those days - sorry) , who were tasked with safety of the working groups or gangs by warning them of approaching trains and getting them clear of the open railway as neccessary.

I am sure that someone better qualified than me - can confirm that

 

[NetworkGrail75]

Thank you everyone for contributing to this thread! It's been very useful for our research into this topic!

 

[WesternLancer]

Hi Everyone

I'm an employee at Network Rail doing some research for a project for Railway 200.

I'm a complete newbie when it comes to trains/rail so I thought I'd post this here, given the brain trust that exists here!

We found this amazing archive photo from the very talented Barry Lewis showing two rail linesmen in Clapham (date given is 10th May 1976). We'd love to know if anyone has any thoughts or actual experience with the vests/garments worn in the photo. Are these early iterations of PPE?

Our project aims to look at the beginning of PPE, it's evolution from the past up to the present. We've got a ton of questions!

- Were these regulation/standard issue vests during that period?
- Who manufactured them?
- We're these vests considered safe for use?
- Were helmets, gloves, goggles, boots not required at the time - and if not, when were they introduced?

In anyone has any information about these topics, it would be great to hear from you! Any input is most welcome and I thank you in advance!

Cheers
Network Grail.

One of the things you might want to have a look at are copies of the in house BR Film Unit (British Transport Films - BTF) films a good number of which were staff instructional films including those aimed at track work and track safety. As the film unit started in 1948 that means you can find high quality moving film footage from that date onwards easily enough. Which may help with your project.

Many BTF film unit staff progressed on to being major motion picture film makers - suffice to say you are not talking about 'home movie' type film making.

The BTF film archive is now held by the British Film Institute (BFI) - many films have ended up uploaded onto you tube but the BFI have made selected films available on a DVD collection published in recent years as well as some via there own free to view access at BFI online

I was watching one on the DVD recently and it has at least one film specifically relating to visibility of track workers and must have been made to screen to all relevant staff (eg drivers and track workers I assume)


it's on this DVD - British Transport Films Collection Vol 15 'Life on the Line' and I think the film is 19 minute long 'Who's in Charge' if I am remembering correctly

The BFI online shop page seems to be down but I suspect you could ring the shop to order a DVD, or as Network Rail's predecessors (BR) must have donated the film archive to BFI you may find you have the ability to access the film material as the donor organisation - I suspect a NR archivist colleague would know if this was the case

Contact us

We welcome feedback. If you have a query or suggestion, or would like to make a complaint, please get in touch with the appropriate team using our online contact forms.

www.bfi.org.uk

Alternatively and easily enough the DVD collection is available to buy from HMV and various other retailers.

https://hmv.com/store/film-tv/dvd/british-transport-films-volume-15-life-on-the-line?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19859212513&gbraid=0AAAAACmFV8XkrPCBEJ3xmozKF5bPUaSBB&gclid=CjwKCAjwo4rCBhAbEiwAxhJlCbQBRBOIFYSdzj4HkmUO8VpgoCF7KcJYFk09ljiF_EMJPP1gzjLRkBoCkjgQAvD_BwE

There are other DVDs in the BFI series that feature track work in other eras (I certainly recall one film showing how track is re-laid over a weekend in the 1950s and in that case the audience would be for general public cinema release - ie a short film shown before the feature film as was usual back in the day so the film is presented in an entertaining and informative style)

Often films featured modernisation work so inevitably track based crews feature - for example 'Wires over the Border' from the early 1970s about the west coast route electrification into Scotland has extensive scenes of gangs erecting and wring the overhead electrical equipment, and there are other such films from other periods.

More about BTF and a complete catalogue of their output is on this website - this would include plenty of films that were staff instructionals that have not made it on to DVD or you tube I suspect, but BFI would have copies if they remain in existence.

BTF - British Transport Films

BTF - British Transport Films - Britain's most productive industrial film unit. Although normally associated with railway work, the BTF repertoire extended to all facet's of transport under the British Transport Commission, including London Transport, bus tours, inland waterways, sea ports plus...

nicwhe8.freehostia.com

Hope all this helps, apols if you were already aware of it.

 

[NetworkGrail75]

Thank you @WesternLancer - that's a great tip off! I wasn't aware of any of this information, so thanks again!

 

[DelW]

Those short sleeveless shoulder-length-only hi-vis vests (as on the left in photo) were very much railway issue only. A colleague of mine in the 1970s had worked for BR and kept his when he left. He reckoned that if wearing it on a train journey, he was highly unlikely to be asked for a ticket!

In another industry, I worked in civil engineering from the early 1970s and for the first decade or so, the only PPE I was issued with was a donkey jacket. I first had hi-vis issued when working alongside a live motorway in the early 1980s. Hard hats became mandatory in the mid 80s but were very unpopular at first.

Different times indeed!

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Brings back a few memories - first job working as Freightliner Agent , Ipswich Port in 1979 involved very hands on work in shunting , coupling and uncoupling snd train preparation in making sure the container loads were safe and fit for travel. Safety boots absolutely mandatory and were issues. 45 years later I still have these very good quality boots. HV jackets absolutely mandatory as the dock workers had also to wear them. Hard hats (safety type) issued - but not madatory.

Fast forward to 1996 when I was Operations Manager for North London Railways and by then HV were long mandatory (by then a much more comfortable one with zips) - but privatisation was in force , and after a collision involving a passenger train and an empty stock train , there was (rightly) a formal enquiry.

One of the reccomendations was that wearers of HV ought to carry some markings as to who their employeer was , and to an extent their job role. Which as far as NLR was concerned - we implemented for managerial roles at least.

 

[WesternLancer]

I’m pretty sure my late father in law had a slang term for the hv tops in the picture which he’d have worn when trackside at old Dalby etc (he worked at Railway Technical Centre).

I’ll ask Ms Lancer if she can recall the term. Not sure if it was commonly used or just a phrase he used tho ppl here will know.

 

[Gloster]

I never heard them called anything but HV vests, except when one of the other learners on my induction course called them High Velocity vests. (Grief, I remember that after 47 years!)

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I never heard them called anything but HV vests, except when one of the other learners on my induction course called them High Velocity vests. (Grief, I remember that after 47 years!)

Mini Vests was a local term used as well by some staff.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

I still have my HV 'mini-vest' (issued 1977) which I use now and again for short journeys on my bike to and from the station! The 'orange' has faded a bit after umpteen washes but still O.K.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

I worked in all three boxes at Clapham Junction in my time (mid-late 1970's), and we never used high vis attire. We had authorised walking routes to A & B boxes and C box was on the country end of plat 3/4, so no need, as far as we were concerned at the time.

PS: when paying visits to/around the yard we did use mini vests as shown in the OP's image, but that was as far as it went in orange terms in those days. This was just before the orange (padded) jackets came in to use, one of which I still have somewhere!

 

[AndrewE]

I still have my HV 'mini-vest' (issued 1977) which I use now and again for short journeys on my bike to and from the station! The 'orange' has faded a bit after umpteen washes but still O.K.

SWMBO insists on wearing one of my old ones when on her bike too. It has narrow retro-reflective strips on both front and back, so it is clearly not a very old one...

 

[ChiefPlanner]

I still have my ex BR orange vest in the car boot , and a still active personal Bardic lamp - you never know when you might have to go back and protect.......