Fireman's Uniform in the 1960s

[Doug at lytham]

Can anyone help. As part of the British Rail uniform in the mid 1960's you were
issued a 3/4 coat similar to a Donkey Jacket. My question is "did the jackets
have leather type pads on the shoulders. May sound a silly question but I am writing a book and want to be accurate. That is one issued to Firemen'

 

[furnessvale]

Can anyone help. As part of the British Rail uniform in the mid 1960's you were
issued a 3/4 coat similar to a Donkey Jacket. My question is "did the jackets
have leather type pads on the shoulders. May sound a silly question but I am writing a book and want to be accurate. That is one issued to Firemen'

Sounds like a "reefer" jacket. I was not footplate but my brother was. From my recollection it was substantially heavier than a donkey jacket but no leather shoulder pads.

 

[Saltleyman]

The previous poster is correct, it was a black jacket three quarter length, lined with a "blanket" material, called a "reefer" jacket or "P" jacket and definitely did not have "leather" on any part of it.

 

[PeterC]

On a sartorial note it is the leather (or plastic) covering across the yoke that distinguishes a pea jacket from a donkey jacket.

 

[Bill EWS]

I had a Reefer jacket for a while. It didn't have leather patches. Seamen wore a similar jacket. They were great for the Winter.

 

[randyrippley]

I have one. No patches, no shoulder waterproofing. Double breasted, flying lapels. Lining black/grey herringbone blanket material