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}}80300 was the first of 96 Post Office sorting vans built between 1959 and 1977 for use in travelling post offices("TPOs").<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_Office_Sorting_Van</ref><br>

==80300 in service and preservationService==80300 was the prototype BR Mark 1 Post Office Sorting carriage.<ref Name=SVR>SVR Stock Book 9th Edition</ref> It was built by BR at Wolverton in 1959 to Diagram 720 (NS501), Lot 30486. It entered service in the Western region in October 1959, transferring to the London Midland region in October 1977.<ref>[[Bibliography#Other References|Longworth (2013)]] p.182.</ref>In the latter region it was used on the nightly ‘postal special’ which left Euston for Glasgow at 8.30pm. Stops were made at Crewe and Carlisle to transfer mail to and from other TPOs serving different parts of the country. At one time the coach was fitted with a net and apparatus to allow the high speed collection and dropping of mailbags at 34 locations along the route.<ref>Information displayed in the coach</ref> It was later fitted with dual heating (steam and electric) and brakes (vacuum and air).

It arrived on the SVR in March 1997 from Barton Hill near Bristol, already restored ==Preservation==[[File:80300atHighley.jpg|thumb|300px|right|80300 in late 1960s maroon livery, having been donated to use as the railway by EWS Railways.<ref Name=SVR/> visitor centre]]

Before 80300 arrived on the opening of SVR on 19 March 1997 from Barton Hill near Bristol, already restored in late 1960s BR maroon livery.<ref Name=SVR/> It was presented to the Engine House railway on indefinite loan by EWS Railways in 2008a ceremony at [[Kidderminster]] on 21 March 1997 by Richard Dykes, Managing Director of Royal Mail, and Ed Burkhardt, Chairman of EWS.<ref>SVR News 122</ref> 80300 was used as the visitor centre at [[Highley]]. This visitor centre was officially opened on 2 June 2001. {{As of|2018}}, it <ref>SVR News 137</ref> It is on long term display at [[The Engine House]] with the interior accessible to the public. The ‘postal special’ featured in the 1936 GPO film ‘Night Mail’, noted for the poem written by WH Auden and music by Benjamin Britten. Part of this film can be seen in the TPO at Highley.

*[http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrustrhrp.org.uk/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=2429 80300 on www.vintagecarriagestrust.orgRailway Heritage Register On-Line]*[https://wwwplayer.bfi.youtubeorg.comuk/free/film/watch?v=FkLoDg7e_ns -night-mail-1936-online "Night Mail" on YouTubeBritish Film Institute, a 1936 documentary showing practices that changed little over the following 40 years.]