Brake Post Office stowage van

A brake Post Office stowage van is a type of rail vehicle built for use in a travelling post office.

Brake Post Office stowage van
Preserved Great Western Railway vehicle no. 814 at the Didcot Railway Centre.
In service1959–2004
ManufacturerBR Wolverton & York
Family nameBritish Railways Mark 1
Constructed1959, 1968
Number built9
Fleet numbers80450–80458
Operator(s)British Railways
Specifications
Car length64 ft 6 in (19.66 m)
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height12 ft 9+12 in (3.90 m)
Maximum speed90–100 mph (145–161 km/h)
Weight34–36 tonnes (33.5–35.4 long tons; 37.5–39.7 short tons)
HVACDual (steam & electric),
ETH 3 or 4
BogiesBR2 or B5
Braking system(s)Vacuum or Dual (Air & Vacuum)
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)

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
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