BR 80300 Post Office Sorting Van
| BR 80300 Post Office Sorting Van | |
|---|---|
 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 |
Contents
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 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.
Exterior detail showing the recess for the mail bag pick up apparatus
Interior view showing mail bag racks
Interior view showing sorting racks
See also
References
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_Office_Sorting_Van
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 SVR Stock Book 9th Edition
- ↑ Longworth (2013) p.182.
- ↑ Information displayed in the coach
- ↑ SVR News 122
- ↑ SVR News 137
Links
- 80300 on Railway Heritage Register On-Line
- "Night Mail" on British Film Institute, a 1936 documentary showing practices that changed little over the following 40 years.
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