Station Master's jacket, North Eastern Railway

Railway uniform jacket, North Eastern Railway, Station Master's jacket, c.1865. This striking stationmaster’s jacket is based on the design of a coachman’s uniform from the days before the railway. With silver-plated buttons and a velvet collar, it would normally have been worn together with a top hat. It comes from the North Eastern Railway (NER), which took over the pioneering Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) in 1863.

A Station Master was the person in charge of a railway station and all staff who worked there. Historically this was traditionally a male role, however there were some women who took up this position. The title of Station Master has largely fallen out of favour and the role is now generally referred to as a Station Manager.