Brake Post Office stowage van
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Infobox Train A brake Post Office stowage van is a type of rail vehicle built for use in a travelling post office. The principal features were an open interior for the stowage of mail bags before or after sorting (but not for the sorting operation itself); and a compartment for the train guard, equipped with a handbrake. Some were also provided with traductor arms and/or nets for the transfer of mail pouches between lineside equipment and the van.
Three were built by the Great Western Railway in 1933; one of them was written off in 1940, and a similar replacement was built that year. Originally, they did not have either nets or traductor arms, but both of these were fitted in 1946. They were used on the Great Western TPO service (Paddington to Penzance) until 1959, after which they were used on the Southern Region between London and the ports in Kent. They were withdrawn around 1972. One of these – the 1940 replacement – has been preserved.[1]
British Rail built nine of these vehicles between 1959 and 1968, to two similar designs, both based on the Mark 1 coach design. They were numbered in the range 80450-80458. Following the Great Train Robbery, vehicles from 80456 onwards featured a revised design with smaller windows.
In the early 1970s, British Rail introduced the TOPS classification system. Vehicles were given the TOPS code NU, followed by an A if they were air-braked, V if vacuum-braked, or an X if they had both air and vacuum brakes.
Preservation
All three of the latter-build Mk1 vehicles have been preserved. Also a survivor from GWR has also made it into preservation.[2]
| Number | TOPS Code | Built | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80456 | NUA | 1968 York | Nene Valley Railway |
| 80457 | NUA | 1968 York | Churnet Valley Railway |
| 80458 | NUA | 1968 York | Great Central Railway |
| Number | Company | Built | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 814 | GWR | 1940 Swindon | Didcot Railway Centre | Only exchange equipped coach with nets on both sides |
References
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External links
- Nene Valley Railway TPO Group - owners of preserved vehicle 80456 Template:Webarchive
- Rail Vehicle Preservation - custodians of preserved vehicle 80458
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