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BR Mark 1 TPOs
In the 1950’s, the newly formed British Railways embarked a programme of standardisation in bringing together the best practices from all the ‘Big Four’. As well as locomotives, this included carriages. BR built the standardised ‘Mark 1’ coach which was modified for a number of uses and variations including Travelling Post Offices.
At the Nene Valley Railway we currently have five Mark 1 TPOs. These are a mixture of ‘sorting’ coaches (With large frames inside where mail would be sorted on the move) and ‘stowage coaches’ (Where sorted and unsorted mail would be stored in bags).
Mail bags were exchanged on the move so the train did not have to stop in every village along the route that needed post delivering. The NVR is one of only 3 places in the UK which can perform mail drops at speed whilst on the move.
When British Railways were building their standardised Mark 1 coaches in the early 1950’s they continued to build pre-grouping TPOs. However by the late 1950’s many TPO’s were becoming life expired. As such, BR designed the Mark 1 TPOs, the first of which was built in 1959. The last coach was built in 1979, long after passenger carrying Mark 1 carriages were built.
These coaches were taken out of operational service in 2004 when five coaches were bought by the NVR. Four were bought for use in demonstration mail trains, whilst the fifth is used as a tools van for the civil engineering department. One of the sorting vehicles has been refitted with nets and arms to perform ‘mail drops’ on the move.
There are two sets of lineside apparatus that are able to do mail drops at Sutton Cross, just East of Wansford and at Yarwell Junction, to the West of Wansford.
The brake coach, in which the guard sits and works is currently in store awaiting overhaul.
The coaches are:
| No. | Type | Year Built | Built at | Diagram | Lot no. | Current condition | Notes |
| 80327 | Sorter | 1968/9 | York | 728 | 30778 | Operational | Built with provision for traductor arms but not nets. On 20th June 1995 this arraige was named "George James" at Penzance Station in recognition of over 40 years service to the TPOs by Penzance based George James. This vehicle was also the last but one TPO to be given a major overhaul. |
| 80337 | Sorter | 1968/9 | York | 729 | 30779 | Operational - Fitted with equipment for lineside exchanges |
Built with the ability to carry exchange equipment, but never carried it in service. This vehicle was modified in later years to include a system called "Priority Service". The vehicle was in use on the final night of the TPO services when it formed part of the Great Western TPO. Since preserved at the NVR it has had traductor arms and nets fitted to conduct TPO drops. The vehicle has been named "Brian White" in recognition of NVR volunteer and former TPO operator Brian White's services to TPOs continued operation and preservation. |
| 80402 | Stowage | 1959 | Wolverton | 722 | 30488 | Operational | Built with both an apparatus net and traductor arms. The vehicle is the only mark 1 stowage van with apparatus ability to survive. The other two, 80400 and 80401 both having been scrapped. |
| 80456 | Brake Stowage | 1968 | York | 733 | 30782 | In store, requiring overhaul | Built with a brake compartment at one end to accommodate a guard. THis enabled complete rakes of TPOs to be marshalled without the need to use any passenger carrying brake vehicles. |
| 80417 | Stowage | 1968 | York | 732 | 30781 | Used by the NVR's civil engineering dept. as a stores van/workshop |
London Post Office Railway Unit 807
We have recently taken delivery and ownership of a vehicle from the Post Office Underground Railway. This line opened in 1927 and was mothballed in 2003 and ran through Central London. Vehicle no. 807 was built in 1930 and was used until 1984 when it was preserved by the British Postal Museum & Archive. It was donated to The Nene Valley Railway in 2013.
Most people who visit London have never heard of this underground railway, yet alone seen it. The 2ft gauge London Post Office Railway ran in tunnels underneath London between Paddington and East London, beyond Liverpool Street. The line operated between 1927 and 2003. The electric railway carried no passengers, had no drivers or guards, but at one stage carried 25 million letters a week.
The building of the line was not straightforward. It was first proposed in 1911 and construction started in 1915. Due to labour shortages in the First World War, work stopped in 1917 and the line was not opened until 1927.
The first batch of vehicles were built in 1927. However these did not prove to be successful and were too heavy for the line, causing a number of derailments. As such a new design of stock were constructed in 1930, with more to the same design being built in 1936. No. 807 was built as part of the second batch in 1930. In 1980 a further, more modern, design was introduce to replace the aging 1930’s stock. A number of the 1930’s stock were upgraded at this time to supplement the new stock and were used until the line closed.
By 2003 it was claimed that transporting post on the railway was five times more expensive as by road so the decision was taken to close the line.