Oral history; Interview with Steve Bigg, 2017
Main details
| Reference number | 2018/167 |
|---|---|
| Description | Steve Bigg, Vice Chairman of the Bluebell Railway talks about reupholstering heritage vehicles and how he came to run the trim shop with a group of volunteers at the Bluebell Railway. |
| Interviewee | Steve Bigg |
| Dates | 20/10/2017 |
| Collection | |
| Object type |
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| Topics | |
| Completeness | 100% |
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Physical description
Item content Attribute Value Object title Oral history interview with Steve Bigg, 2017 -
Interview summary
Track [00.31.02]. Steve Bigg [SB] was born on 25 February 1949 in Redhill, Surrey. He talks about his childhood, parent’s professions and education including his interests at school. [00:01:15] SB explains his early career in banking and transferring to a long career in retail. [00:01:50] SB explains that the Bluebell Railway is a preserved railway in Sussex that began in 1949 after the line closure in 1948 and describes key figure Dr Richard Beeching. [00:04:00] SB describes his experience as a member of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society that led to a voluntary role upon his retirement. He explains how he began working on carriage restoration and learned traditional upholstery using horse hair, canvas and springs. He describes how he became department manager. [00:06:15] SB explains how he became Vice Chairman and what this role is. SB explains that the society has to make sure that they abide by their preservation ethos and heritage standards but also remain commercially viable. [00:10:00] SB explains that the trimming process is a team effort and that with more experience they have been able to take on larger projects. He describes the trimming process, explaining that it depends on the type of carriage. He mentions the difference between first class, third class and Pullman carriages. [00:13:15] He describes different projects he has worked on from small repairs to large re-upholstery projects and working within a budget. He explains his work on the Pullman car 64 project where he reupholstered arm rests. [00:15:46] SB explains the process of re-trimming a moquette seat and assessing the condition of materials. He explains that there are no longer serviceable replacements and they have to find practical replacement solutions. He describes traditional materials and ideas that are still used from original specifications. [00:20:00] SB explains that most moquette designs are no longer manufactured but some factories, such as Holdsworth, still have the original specifications for them to be made. He explains that this is costly so they find moquette which is sympathetic to the period of the carriage. [00:21:50] SB explains the challenges of working with moquette and the cost of using it. He describes how they avoid wastage through accurate pattern matching. He talks about handling moquette, including stretching and machining it. [00:25:00] SB describes some of the trimming tools needed including curved upholstery needles and regulators to move horsehair around within the seat. He explains what a trimmers hammer is. [00:27:20] SB explains that he enjoys working as a team and the quality not quantity ethos in the Bluebell trimming workshop. [00:28:15] SB explains that his favourite moquette is a design he remembers from his childhood called Chainlink. [00:29:15] SB explains that in the future he would like to get involved with a more complex project, such as a Pullman car, in order to extend the team skill base in trimming. He explains his proudest trimming experience was working on a London Southwestern Carriage 1520. [00:31:02]. End of track [00:31:02] -
People involved
Role Person(s) involved Interviewer Georgia Morley, 20/10/2017Interviewee Steve Bigg -
Associated companies, people and places
Places Interview location Bluebell Railway, Horsted Keynes, 20/10/2017