Post Office Sorting Van


A Post Office Sorting Van is a type of rail vehicle built for use in a Travelling Post Office.
British Rail built ninety-six of these vehicles between 1959 and 1977, to several similar designs, all based on the Mark 1 coach design. They were numbered in the range 80300–80395. The earliest vehicles built featured catching nets and collection arms, to allow mail bags to be exchanged without the train needing to stop, a practice which continued until 1971. Following the Great Train Robbery, vehicles from 80319 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 NS, 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

Several sorting vehicles have been preserved, including examples from most of the big four companies, as well as some from even earlier. There are also several BR Mark 1 vehicles in preservation, including the first-built vehicle, no. 80300; the last vehicle built with large windows, no. 80318; and the final vehicle overhauled by EWS, no. 80382. The complete list is shown below:
British Rail Mk1 TPO sorting vehicles:
NumberTOPS CodeNameBuiltLocationNotes
80300NSX-1959 WolvertonSevern Valley RailwayFirst-built vehicle.
80301NSX-1959 WolvertonGreat Central Railway-
80307NSX-1959 WolvertonGreat Central Railway-
80318NSX-1961 WolvertonColne Valley RailwayLast vehicle built with large windows.
80327NSAGeorge James1969 YorkNene Valley Railway-
80328NSA-1969 YorkSevern Valley RailwayUsed as Santa's Grotto at Arley during December, kept in Kidderminster Carriage Shed for rest of year.
80329NSA-1969 YorkSevern Valley RailwayUsed as Santa's Grotto at Arley during December, kept in Kidderminster Carriage Shed for rest of year.
80334NSA-1969 YorkRushden, Higham & Wellingborough Railway-
80337NSABrian White1969 YorkNene Valley Railway-
80345NSARichard Yeo1969 YorkGreat Central Railway-
80349NSA-1969 YorkGreat Central Railway-
80371NSA-1973 YorkGwili Railway-
80374NSA-1973 YorkBattlefield Line Railway-
80382NSA-1977 WolvertonBo'ness and Kinneil RailwayRebuilt from SK 25109. Last vehicle ever overhauled by EWS.
80394NSA-1977 WolvertonBuckinghamshire Railway CentreRebuilt from SK 25156.

Pre-nationalisation design TPO sorting vehicles:
NumberCompanyBuiltLocationNotes-
70294LNER1937 YorkGreat Central RailwayOnly surviving LNER TPO.-
30225LMS1939 WolvertonMidland Railway - Butterley--
30272LMS1949 WolvertonNene Valley RailwayFormerly in National Collection. Last surviving vehicle from Great Train Robbery set.-
4920Southern1939 EastleighNene Valley RailwayFormerly in National Collection.-
4922Southern1939 EastleighBluebell Railway--
814GWR1940 SwindonDidcot Railway Centre

Pre-grouping TPO sorting vehicles:
NumberCompanyBuiltLocationNotes
2178GNR1885 DoncasterNene Valley RailwayOnly surviving GNR TPO. Six-wheeled.
599GWR1889 SwindonSt GermansOnly surviving broad-gauge TPO vehicle.
20LNWR1909 WolvertonThe Railway AgeLater LMS 30244.
186WCJS1883 WolvertonNational Railway MuseumLater LMS 30384.