This typical Southern Railway 1930s' moquette (other railways had similar "jazz" styles) was used from about 1935 in new coaches such as Maunsell open third No.1309. The Bluebell Railway has had this pattern reproduced by Holdsworths, and is their ref. BBJW. The photos are of the reproduction material.
The first two coaches to be trimmed with this moquette on the Bluebell will be SR Maunsell open third No.1336, and an SECR Birdcage Brake being restored to SR condition as No.3363.
This was a typical moquette found in Southern vehicles from the mid-1930s until their withdrawal from service in the 1950s. For example, both SECR Birdcage Brakes No. 950 and No. 3363 retained remnants of this material.
The photo on the left shows the reproduced material in Maunsell Hastings-gauge Brake Third No. 3687. The photo below is of the extremely faded original moquette which had survived in 3363. The first use of this material in service stock on the Bluebell was in SECR Hundred-seater No. 1098, when it was re-trimmed in 2015.
This uncut moquette was extensively used on first class, and is thought to date from the 1930s. The photo on the left is from a dining car chair, whilst that on the right is a good unfaded colour sample from the underside of a quarter-pad arm-rest. It is possible that the pattern dates from later than the 1930s, since it was still in use after nationalisation.
This page is part of the Carriage Technical Pages
Pages about Moquettes: Index - 1920s - 1930s - 1940s - 1950s - 1960s - Pullman
Last update 26 January 2026 by Richard Salmon, with thanks to Trevor Rapley.