Wimps we may be but poor was a problem too! when your making seasonal pay, in Durbin WVA where do you find wool you can afford?

When I was slacking (save for the track work days) I always kept to the blue cotton shirts (strangly enough left over from my tenure at Cass).
And the blue and white pokadotted kromer, I never left the engine house with out that. I am glad to hear that there are other's out there still using them on the RR, so far I haven't run in to one besides Artie Barkely.

Poly..... I still remember the first time I got to fire a saw mill engine for a few days at a steam and gas show. I had made that mistake, (infact all my work clothes at that point were made of that stuff). I still have the shirts to prove it's REALLY not a good idea when working around a wood fired boiler, where the cinders leave dime size burns in your shirt. It think most of the scars on me have dissappeared by now though.

Ben, Gary's right. The Climax Locomotive Manufacturing Co. skimped on its products by failing to install the Patented 240 Air Conditioning System.

It's easy to turn on - just get the locomotive up "to 40" mph, and the breeze wicks the sweat out of your clothes, cooling you off.





I think I remember that trip ;)

I recall a Labor Day weekend in Mississippi where I intended to photograph Mississippian no. 77, but got called in to fire in a pinch. Penny loafers, brightly colored Madras shirt . . . no one mistook me for an old-time fireman that day!

JAC

Warren,

Your observation couldn't be any less serious. Not only are we "entertaining" and presenting a brand of "theatre," I would be inclined to think that all of our work to restore railroad equipment back to their original appearence is all for naught when a crew decides to dress up in modern work clothes.

What visitors miss out on is a "human context" with which to associate themselves and the steam locomotives (or other various railroad equipment). It seems to me that daisy pickers are especially surprised, if not interested, in how dirty workers can get get covered in coal dust in the first place. I've been happy to answer the many questions as to "how'd you get so dirty? you must have been workin' hard!" It is interesting to note that when I wear my engineer's cap outside the "train world" it gets plenty of positive compliments from the vintage-cum-style sensitive society, who nevertheless call it a "conductor's hat."

Now, looking like a ragafmuffin isn't always advisable as all the oil and coal and gunk on our hickstory stripes can certainly turn people off. Jerry J, on the OC however, had the happy policy of making sure crews wore period outfits, without logos of any kind, and I was happy to oblige.

It may not seem like something to get bent out of shape over, but I think when crews go about promoting themselves with logos abundant and neglect any historical inclination in their clothing, we definately lose something. The human element is no longer this amiable, walking-photo-from-a-history-book, but a crew member with a modern baseball cap and logos.

Ross makes the good point that it is difficult to tell crew apart from visitors as many may feel inclined themselves to jump in their own overalls, but I think some sort of standardization (like how the High Iron Co. did their 'dress code') is necessary. A lot of crew may gripe at having to wear an engineer's cap, and I've seen people get made fun of for wearing something that is so obviously "choo choo" oriented, but I'm wondering if anyone agrees. Its also important to keep in mind that the Class One's probably don't jump for joy at the image of a bunch of overall wearing, engineer cap donning steam enthusiasts--unless of course, these enthusiasts can be professional and pragmatic.

I know with our own organization, we plan to implement a small array of 765/FWRHS centric work-wear, possibly coveralls with a logo, and I've constantly stressed that it's important to keep history in mind, and that we are always promoting ourself, not with a giant banner or a logo on our shirt, but with a beautiful 404 ton machine.

Kelly Lynch

I recall boarding one of the premier tourist lines out west with a vague feeling of unease that I couldn't explain until I deduced what was wrong with the train crew's footwear. The brakemen were all wearing tennis shoes. They were black high-tops, so it took me a while to realize they weren't real boots. Thereafter I lost a bit of confidence in the operation going up and down those mountains.

I notice no one has had the courage to ask whether they wear anything UNDER those Texas bib overalls.

Am I the only one here who does not wear jeans under my bibs in the summer? With a long sleeve shirt tucked in why wear jeans? Where I grew up this was standard fare. I am a big believer in wearing bibs on anything steam. I have been told that the probable reason Jim Cornell survived the collapse of the crown sheet on 1278 was that his bibs protected the vital organs in his trunk. It was he who stayed on the engine and tried to shake out the fire before things got worse not knowing the rupture had already blown the fire out of the firebox. For all the negative things said about the Cornells it is not generally recognized that Jim likely cut many years off his life trying to save others.

John Bohon

Worry not, John, I tend to not find jeans necessary under overalls, unless of course work, weather, or safety should require it. I've found that much denim is cumbersome, especially when you're the more "bendable" guy working on steam and tight places usually require all the dexterity possible.

However, I can think of a slight slip with a metal grinder two years ago where a second layer of denim would have proved very fortuitous...

Kelly Lynch

John Bohon makes an interesting point. The 2 old-timers who broke me in (Boilermaker Joe Karal ,NKP boilermaker 1922-1970, and CRRofNJ loco. engineer Charlie Strunk 1924-1974) both deceased-both taught me when ever you're on a steam engine ALWAYS wear long pants under your bibs, a long sleeve shirt and a good pair of thick work gloves(preferably welders gloves) as you never know when a fitting, water glass or steam pipe will let go and you'll be darn grateful for the protection.
So far its come true twice for me. Once a water glass let go at 70mph on the Pennsy main enroute Altoona-Harrisburg(1970) and once the steam delivery pipe to the lubricator burst at 79mph enroute Port Jervis-Hoboken(1998). Both times I was REALLY glad to have the proper clothing on.
Far as I'm concerned anyone who doesn't take these precautions is just tempting fate. Sorta like riding a motorcycle bareheaded! Not very bright!! IMHO-Ross Rowland

see below

http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/tenth.Html

Nice to see Howard remembers the Thompson Cap Company of New Haven CT. Their black corduroy caps were the best for winter service (with optional ear flaps)...

These caps are so useful I have been fortunate to have a few reproduced by a local seamstress down here in Virginia - they are also great to wear on and about the water...

I think it may be a regional thing, John. When I was working in Colorado, I might have worn as many as 4 layers in the winter, the top one being quilted coveralls, and two in summer. In Savannah, just bibs and T shirts in summer - and that was sometimes more than I would have preferred, but what i consider to be minimally necessary.

Rustler black thousand mile jeans and dark cotton shirts from thrift stores (I prefer St John's Bay and Duckhead) are pretty cost effective when bibs aren't required. The shirts come prestained, and the Rustlers don't show it much. I have a nice old holey denim jacket - like a western ranch one but without the high tight waist and with HUGE pockets - in both lined and unlined versions - that are very useful over jeans or bibs.

Aarne would hate my footwear of choice - ten dollar Wal Mart disposable sneakers with velcro on top. After severing some hand tendons which adhered upon reconstruction a few years ago, i avoid lots of laces. I do have work boots for when I am likely to drop heavy things on my feet. I grew up barefoot in Florida, but have lost most of my foot callous since, and don't do that anymore. We get old and turn into wimps.

I tend towards black Kromer or military surplus cotton caps for operating headgear, but have a sweat stained and thoroughly disreputable Australian khaki brimmed hat (without corks) I use in rainy weather, to help keep the water off. Good for cinders too. Doesn't seem out of place in Colorado or on other western rural lines, or in the rural south. I like to see derbies, etc for variety in period headgear. Vests seem to be good choices for conductors and station agents. Straw boaters look good on trolley conductors in summer, if they aren't driving PCCs. The pith helmet thing seems a bit out of place if your railroad isn't in Africa or India from my POV.

Cotton or other natural fibers by all means for comfort and safety.

dave

All of you have been talking about steam locomotives.

But I want to put in a word for the tractions lines, especially the Interurbans.

They used to have a motorman up front who was outfitted in clean bib overalls and the Conductor down in the cars with a traditional blue serge suit.
Especially true if there was a train of two or more cars.

Street cars in the down town were a bit less dressy with the Motorman dressed in anything. But as two man cars disappeared interestingly the dress went up with the concuctor doing both jobs and most ofton still wearing blue serge suits.

Take a look at the crews of the Sacramento Northern or the Pacific Electric.

Ted Miles

Heck, on ours not only did they leave out the A/C they apparently left out the shock absorbers too. :)

By the way, does anyone know where to find good photos of old time crews? I'd like to look some over for ideas of what some of them wore. I know everyone thinks striped bibs and a red bandanna, but the photos I have seen indicate there was actually a lot of variety.



I've got one too, and started wearing it on winter runs for the same exact reason. It's ended up becoming somewhat of a 'signature' for me, along with the black duster I break out when it's really wet outside. A lot of folks mistake it for a cowboy hat, but there is a difference.

I agree that train and engine crews must dress professionally. Remember that we not only are selling an experiance but that our appearance reflects highly on our professionalism (or in many cases, the lack thereof). A trainman working the rear end of a passenger train should NEVER wear bib overalls unless they are operating a passenger carrying freight train. The proper cap, cap badge, coat, vest and standard watch are a must. I generally wear a light sack coat on all but the hottest days. Enginemen should wear bib overalls and other work clothes as appropriate-no ball caps and should start each day with a clean set of work clothes. Cleanliness was a source of pride for many enginemen. Soiled clothes that will not come clean should be reserved for shop work or cut up for rags. Poly is an absolute no-no around steam locomotives as it can give you a nasty burn.