BR 80300 Post Office Sorting Van

BR 80300 Post Office Sorting Van
BR 80300 Post Office Sorting Van.jpg
BR 80300 Post Office Sorting Van
Built By BR Wolverton
Status Static display
Number W80300
Livery BR Maroon
Other numbers M80300
History
Built 1959
Diagram 720
Lot 30486
Type POS
TOPS code NSV
Seats None
1997 Arrived on SVR

Carriages

80300 was the first of 96 Post Office sorting vans built between 1959 and 1977 for use in travelling post offices ("TPOs").[1]

Contents

Service

80300 was the prototype BR Mark 1 Post Office Sorting carriage.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] It was later fitted with dual heating (steam and electric) and brakes (vacuum and air).

Preservation

80300 in use as the visitor centre

80300 arrived on the SVR on 19 March 1997 from Barton Hill near Bristol, already restored in late 1960s BR maroon livery.[2] It was presented to the railway on indefinite loan by EWS Railways in a ceremony at Kidderminster on 21 March 1997 by Richard Dykes, Managing Director of Royal Mail, and Ed Burkhardt, Chairman of EWS.[5]

80300 was used as the visitor centre at Highley. This visitor centre was officially opened on 2 June 2001.[6]

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.

See also

References

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_Office_Sorting_Van
  2. 2.0 2.1 SVR Stock Book 9th Edition
  3. Longworth (2013) p.182.
  4. Information displayed in the coach
  5. SVR News 122
  6. SVR News 137

Links

SVR Wiki

Main Page

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Welcome to the Severn Valley Railway Wiki

From this week's featured article
Trimpley Reservoir can be seen to the west of the line between Bewdley and Arley. The reservoir, which is managed by Severn Trent Water, was opened in 1968 and covers 29 acres. It is open to the public and is used by the Trimpley Sailing Club, while other activities include angling, wildlife watching and walking. (Full article...)
Schematic Map of the SVRSevern Valley Railway
BridgnorthEardingtonHampton LoadeCountry Park HaltHighleyThe Engine HouseArleyVictoria BridgeNorthwood HaltWyre Forest LineBewdleyStourport BranchBewdley TunnelConnection to Network RailKidderminsterMaps#Schematic maps of the pre-closure SVRMapandlinks.png
Click on the map for a
larger interactive version

For 101 years between 1862 and 1963, the Severn Valley Railway formed part of the national railway network, running for 40 miles between Hartlebury and Shrewsbury. Established as a separate company, it was mainly operated by the Great Western Railway (GWRGreat Western Railway) and later by British Railways (BRBritish Rail or British Railways).

The present day Severn Valley Railway (SVRSevern Valley Railway) was established in 1965 to preserve part of the line as a heritage railway. Today it has six stations and two halts and runs for 16 miles along the Severn Valley between Bridgnorth in Shropshire and Kidderminster in Worcestershire, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route. Operations involve a mixture of steam and heritage diesel-hauled services.

This unofficial website is a project aimed to collect information and record events relating to the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both past and present.

For timetables, fare information, and news about special events, please visit the SVR Official Website. Other news and information of interest to members, shareholders and enthusiasts can be found on SVRLive.

In April 2023 the SVRSevern Valley Railway announced the launch of a Survival Fund to enable it to overcome the current financial crisis and implement longer-term plans for its future. Information and details of how to donate may be found on the SVRSevern Valley Railway's Survival Fund page.

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History of the Severn Valley Railway

Current events on the SVRSevern Valley Railway

Information about the SVRSevern Valley Railway

Miscellaneous


Query Corner

Unsurprisingly, there are a large number of questions about the SVRSevern Valley Railway, both in pre-preservation days and for a number of historical items since then. Take a visit down to Query Corner to see if you have a recollection relating to some long forgotten event, or know of a reliable source (maybe an early edition of the SVR News?) that might have the information we need!

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