Brake Post Office stowage van
12 ft 9+1⁄2 in (3.90 m)
ETH 3 or 4
A brake Post Office stowage van is a type of rail vehicle built for use in a travelling post office.
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.
| 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 |
External links
- Nene Valley Railway TPO Group - owners of preserved vehicle 80456
- Rail Vehicle Preservation - custodians of preserved vehicle 80458
