Cold weather clothing supplied by BR in '60s/'70s?

[Morpethcurve]

Asking for a friend. (Really!)

Were footplate/cab crews expected to get their own overcoats, boots, head wear, gloves etc.,

Were any locos noisy enough to require ear defenders, and were any used in that relatively unenlightened era?

Many Thanks and HNY!

 

[6Gman]

Asking for a friend. (Really!)

Were footplate/cab crews expected to get their own overcoats, boots, head wear, gloves etc.,

Were any locos noisy enough to require ear defenders, and were any used in that relatively unenlightened era?

Many Thanks and HNY!

I do not recall any special winter equipment being issued to my father who was footplate 1947-1978.

Many diesel locos were noisy enough to require ear defenders, these were (I think) rarely or never supplied*, indeed my father's career ended because of hearing loss probably caused by his working environment.

* To footplate staff; I seem to recall they were available to depot staff.

 

[Gloster]

I can only speak for the late 1970s on, but I don’t think that things had changed much. All grades that might need them would be issued with a great coat and (I think it was and, not or) a heavy duty mac. Gloves, overalls, etc. would be issued to those that needed them. Boots were generally not issued, but there was a subsidised system to allow you to buy reinforced work boots: I don’t know when this started or if it applied to all grades. Protective headwear and ear defenders would probably be issued to those that required them, but I reckon that in the sixties the standards (everywhere) were lower; drivers probably wouldn’t qualify, only a limited number of staff operating heavy machinery would.

 

[Acathater]

I have a BR issued heavy jacket which I believe was probably footplate staff or guard issue. It dates from the 1960s or earlier
It's a heavy donkey-style jacket, black thick though good quality wool material, double breasted with flying lapels. Plain black buttons. No shoulder reinforcement or waterproofing so probably not intended for outside labourers. Woollen black/white herringbone lining
It came from someone who worked at Yeovil Town, I believe as a driver though that is uncertain

 

[Spartacus]

The other half's tight in lieu of long johns was, I'm told, popular!

 

[D6130]

When I was a guard (1983-88) I was issued with a good quality heavy woollen overcoat. This was invaluable when working on the extremely draughty ex-London Underground Standard stock - class 485/486 - on the Isle of Wight in Winter, with an Easterly gale blowing through the Channel!

From about 1989 onwards - as part of the BR Corporate Collection - train crew were issued with a padded sleeveless gilet to wear under their jackets in Winter.