The Fifth International Fair
of Railway Equipment and Technologies EXPO 1520

A solemn ceremony for the commemorative cancellation of the “History of Russia’s Uniforms. Uniforms of Railway Workers” postal stamps will take place at EXPO 1520

The “History of Russia’s Uniforms. Uniforms of Railway Workers” postal stamps were released into circulation on August 11, 2015 by the FGUP Marka Publishing Center with advisory support from JSC Russian Railways.

A solemn ceremony for the commemorative cancellation of the stamps will take place on September 2, 2015 as part of the EXPO 1520 Fifth Anniversary International Fair of Railway Equipment and Technologies.

JSC Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin and Head of the Federal Communications Agency Oleg Dukhovnitsky will take part in the official event.

The stamps bear the images of:

• a general and a conductor of the Railways Department (1843);
• a train depot chief and a 2^nd class engineer (1952);
• a railway chief and a conductor (1979);
• a train chief and a conductor of a passenger railway car (2015).

The history of the uniforms is an integral part of the emergence and development of the railway industry and the training of specialists of different levels.

In accordance with the 1809 Manifesto of Emperor Alexander I, the Main Directorate of Waterway and Ground Communications and the Railway Corps and Institute of Engineers were established. Special uniforms were designed for the agency’s employees and students. 

1855 marked substantial changes in the way the uniforms were designed. By 1873, more than 50 joint-stock railway companies had been founded in Russia, each introducing its own kind of employee uniform. An emblem consisting of two spread wings and a wheel representing speed, accuracy and comfort was designed and still adorns the contemporary railway uniform.

Approved in 1878, the first common railway uniform differentiated between worker categories and ranks, such as railway engineers, officials at central and local agencies, railway employees, etc.

The uniforms went through several transformations over time, as social and economic circumstances in the country changed. After WWII, civilian-type uniforms were introduced to replace the military or semi-military style.

The modern railway uniform, while highlighting continuity and preservation of historical traditions, demonstrates a clean break from the military style, emphasizing comfort, function, aesthetics and compliance with fashion trends instead.

The new uniform has been phased in across all JSC Russian Railways units since 2010.