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railroad work clothes

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Posted by SALfan on Monday, November 30, 2015 10:21 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

Could be worse.  I once had a summer job for exactly one day at a tar paper plant, not unlike a paper mill.  Needless to say, I had to take off my work clothes before Mom would let me in the house.  The work clothes were thrown out and US Steel called right after I got home to offer me a job in their steel warehouse, which I accepted immediately.

When my brother and I picked tobacco growing up, Mama made us leave a clean outfit just inside the back door before leaving, and directed us to strip and change when we got back home.  The dirty clothes were thrown outside, and after we showered we were responsible for putting them into a washtub with a liberal dose of laundry detergent and water.  The next day we changed the water/detergent mix and added the clothes from that day, and same thing the day after that (our cousin's tobacco field where we were working took about 3 days for the crew to go through).  Twenty-four to 48 hours after the last clothes were added, we had to wring out the whole pile, and only then was it clean enough to go into the washing machine.  Picking tobacco was undoubtedly the nastiest job I ever had, and I didn't miss it one bit after I didn't have to do it any more. 

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Posted by Mookie on Monday, November 30, 2015 5:13 PM

mudchicken

BossHen once explained to the current El Heffe' that I got up in the morning, chugged downed breakfast, went outside and rolled in the dirt at least twice before going to work. The look on his face was priceless. Comes with the turf.

 

Finally, a good laugh for today!  And knowing BossHen, I can hear her saying this!  Too funny!  

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, November 30, 2015 1:58 PM

Could be worse.  I once had a summer job for exactly one day at a tar paper plant, not unlike a paper mill.  Needless to say, I had to take off my work clothes before Mom would let me in the house.  The work clothes were thrown out and US Steel called right after I got home to offer me a job in their steel warehouse, which I accepted immediately.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, November 30, 2015 1:01 PM

BossHen once explained to the current El Heffe' that I got up in the morning, chugged downed breakfast, went outside and rolled in the dirt at least twice before going to work. The look on his face was priceless. Comes with the turf.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by tree68 on Monday, November 30, 2015 12:12 PM

mudchicken
BossHen is often waiting at the back door

Back when smoking was allowed in places like our banquet hall, one of the folks who often oversaw events when we rented the building out would often come home and strip at the back door because of the smell of cigarette smoke that permeated his clothes.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by mudchicken on Monday, November 30, 2015 11:46 AM

EmbarrassedWrote off overalls long ago. Duluth firehose cargo pants and a heavy khaki work shirt. With the crud I get into, BossHen is often waiting at the back door with the firehose and a bar of Lava....entry to the house denied until I surrender the offending garments. (mudroom has become Mud's Room)

The worst is usually after a bridge fire. Mooks has heard a few of those stories.

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by DSO17 on Sunday, November 29, 2015 6:55 PM

I have been using Roundhouse Brand bib overalls for a couple years and am very satisfied with them. The only thing I do is to cut off the hammer loop to keep from getting caught up on anything. They are Made in the USA and can be ordered online. Just do a Google search for "roundhouse overall"

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Posted by zugmann on Sunday, November 29, 2015 6:31 PM

WSOR 3801
I've been on the railroad over 11 years. Am I still one of the young guys?

Depends who you are working with.

With that in mind, I'm lokoing at the Walls website.  Seems they only sell bibs with Liberty and Big Smith brand names.  My favorite ones are a pair of Walls that carry the Walls label.  I have a pair of Liberty ones, but they are cut a little tight for their advertised size and I'm not too crazy about them as a whole.  Anyone try the Big Smith brand?

  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.

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Posted by WSOR 3801 on Sunday, November 29, 2015 5:31 PM

I wear bibs at work.  Work'n'Sport brand, from Farm and Fleet.  I have tried Key, but the front pockets are too small.  I'm planning to head to a Duluth Trader store one of these days to see how their bibs fit me.  

I've been on the railroad over 11 years.  Am I still one of the young guys?

Mike WSOR engineer | HO scale since 1988 | Visit our club www.WCGandyDancers.com

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Posted by jeffhergert on Saturday, November 28, 2015 5:11 PM

I still wear bibs.  Key since my local clothing store (we're still lucky to have one) could no longer get Oshkosh overalls.  Quite a few still wear bibs, but mostly the older guys.  I have seen a few of the younger ones wearing them, too.

I also wear, during the cooler parts of the year, a Carhartt denim coat.  It still has buttons on the two upper pockets and an inside pocket on both sides.  It's a bit shorter than the chore/shop coats I've seen on line, but it suits my needs.

Jeff

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Posted by zugmann on Saturday, November 28, 2015 3:55 PM

billiebuffalo
I know the equipment is better,the track better,but what do you wear to work, shorts, sandals and a tank top.Just whining a bit about tradition being lost. Tell me it aint so,i need some good news.

 I've been wearing bibs.  I like wearing them when on the ground.  Although most people wear jeans, there's still a couple here keeping the bib tradition alive. 

  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.

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Posted by billiebuffalo on Friday, November 27, 2015 7:57 PM

Its the little missing things that make me unhappy,top pockets if there are two do not have covers or snaps to close them.What good are they with no buttons  to keep closed so your stuff stays put,no pencil pockect built into one of the top pockets,also i am finding the one large inside pocket has been dropped and the length has been cut two inches from the 1970 standard issue.How do you work with snow blowing up your backside and melting and your smokes fall out into the snow for lack of buttons.I am slightly surprised the fly hasn't been eliminated.I know the equipment is better,the track better,but what do you wear to work, shorts, sandals and a tank top.Just whining a bit about tradition being lost. Tell me it aint so,i need some good news.

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Posted by Deggesty on Friday, November 27, 2015 7:10 PM

I think Dickies are what I had one pair of when I  was in grammar school--they were solid blue. The only person I remember wearing striped blue overalls was my best friend's father--he farmed and painted houses. Most of the overalls I saw men wearing were solid blue--that is what at least one merchant in town sold, and I may have sold some when I was working for him.

Johnny

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Posted by zugmann on Friday, November 27, 2015 4:24 PM

Lab

Back to the original question. A Google search for striped bib overalls shows lots of them.

 

Original question was about a chore coat.

 

My favorite pair of bibs were Wall's (still have a pair that I got about 8 years ago).  Also have a pair of Dickies which are decent.  You can get Liberty brand at Tractor Supply, but they run small. 

  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.

Lab
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Posted by Lab on Friday, November 27, 2015 4:14 PM

Back to the original question. A Google search for striped bib overalls shows lots of them.

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Posted by Mookie on Thursday, November 26, 2015 1:25 PM

rdamon

I guess what they say is true ...

"The wider a man's foot, the more he likes trains"

 

That's what they say, huh....?

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by rdamon on Thursday, November 26, 2015 10:18 AM

I guess what they say is true ...

"The wider a man's foot, the more he likes trains"

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Posted by zugmann on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 4:08 PM

tree68

 

 
Randy Stahl
I'm looking for striped bib lederhosen for work.

 

I think I'd pay to see that....    Devil

 

I think I'd pay not to see it.

  

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Posted by SALfan on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 10:18 PM

I have ginormous feet, too.  Wissota Trader, the company from which I bought shoes for years, has gone out of business.  An outfit called B. A. Mason appears to carry similar shoes, but I've never tried them.  If you try Mason please let me know how it goes.

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 9:04 PM

Randy Stahl
I'm looking for striped bib lederhosen for work.

I think I'd pay to see that....    Devil

LarryWhistling
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Come ride the rails with me!
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Posted by rdamon on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 8:10 PM

Nordstrom's Rack has been my haven of things that end in at least two or more 'E's

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 4:35 PM

Paul of Covington

   Murphy and the rest of us duck-footed people:  Have you checked JCPenney on-line?   I've been able to find shoes for my wide feet there.

 

  I'm a fussy shoe shopper, because I have fat, whimpy feet.  I want to put the shoes on and walk around the store a couple of times.  The sporting goods store was the only place I've found in town that had something that works.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 4:32 PM

Randy Stahl

I'm looking for striped bib lederhosen for work.

 

Randy

 

  There are probably some online stores that specialize in that type of apparel, but I'd guess those sites aren't geared toward business pursuits. Mischief

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Posted by Randy Stahl on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 3:52 PM

I'm looking for striped bib lederhosen for work.

 

Randy

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Posted by csmith9474 on Monday, November 23, 2015 9:33 PM
Whatever good stuff e-COMS has to offer, Carhartt, Duluth Trading, or anything else that can cut out that cold Rawlins winter.
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Posted by Paul of Covington on Monday, November 23, 2015 9:32 PM

   Murphy and the rest of us duck-footed people:  Have you checked JCPenney on-line?   I've been able to find shoes for my wide feet there.

_____________ 

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, November 23, 2015 6:22 PM

Murphy, surely you are not the only one in town with feet that big? Or is the shoe purveyor afraid of Big Feet?Smile

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Monday, November 23, 2015 5:12 PM
Murphy, Try Wolverine World Wide, (the Hush Puppy guys). They do a lot of Extra Wides for those of us with pontoons for feet.
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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, November 23, 2015 4:52 PM

zugmann
 
billiebuffalo

tings mus be a changin!

 

 

 

Mainly the loss of the garmet industry in this country.

 

  We may have hit the point where the internet generation doesn't even know there was  a garment industry in this country.

     My feet are the same shapes as Donald Duck's feet, therefore finding shoes that fit are hard to find.  I always buy  the same brand and style of shoes because I found something that works.  They truly look like Charlie Brown's shoes.  Recently, my local, way-over-priced retail sporting goods store has decided to only stock up to size 8 in my style of men's shoes.  So off I go to the internet.

      On Amazon's website they have my shoes.  In the description, it lists the shoes as being "Made in the USA or imported".  That narrows it down.  They also have my shoes available in shiitake color.  I think I'll stick with brown- Charlie Brown brown.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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