The BPMA has spent over four years and more than £100,000 returning a TPO dating from 1908 to its former glory. The restored TPO would have originally travelled at around 70mph, rattling its workers about as they sorted, filled mailbags and transferred mail bags at high speed. Our aim has been to recreate the TPO as a working carriage so you can glimpse at the experience for yourself.

The BPMA acquired the TPO for their collection from Tyseley Locomotive Museum in Birmingham in 1999. Carriage LNWR20 had been ready for scrap from around 1960 but had luckily been saved by the Railway Preservation Society. It was originally built in 1908 at the Wolverton Works and operated by the London & North West Railway (LNWR) on the Crewe to Holyhead route. It was in service until at least 1940.

The restoration began in 2003. Although the process was aided by a few original fittings such surviving in good condition, it was a daunting proposition as you can see from the picture above. Without our generous funding from Royal Mail Group it would not have been possible.

Before restoration could begin the carriage was stripped and left to dry out for six months. Most of the floor and panels had rotted away so new timber had to be shaped where necessary. Colin Worrall, a specialist joiner contracted by the LNWR, carried out the majority of the extensive restoration at the LNWR workshops at Crewe. Below you can see the restored TPO in its LNWR livery in January 2007.

Colin has said of the project:

"We were thrilled to be a part of the restoration of such an important vehicle and we’re delighted that this Travelling Post Office will be on display."

You can see Colin working on the outside of the TPO in 2003. Another picture is one of the original details: a stern notice on the toilet reminding 'Gentlemen. Lift the seat'!

Research into the restoration plans took place at The Royal Mail Archive, the National Railway Museum at York and The National Archives at Kew. You can see one of the plans for LNWR20 found at The National Archives below. Other specialists were also called in: F W Aldridge replaced the electrics and added period light fittings. Peter Douthwaite worked on the interior upholstery. Des Pawson worked to old patterns to make the new netting for the bag exchange apparatus. Resident Master Saddler Howard Blakeman produced new leather mail pouches in the workshop at Crewe Saddlery Ltd.

At the height of its working life carriage LNWR20 would have been a busy, packed carriage, demanding of its overworked postal workers. It has demanded almost as much in its restoration - see the difference inside from the pictures below. You can visit carriage LNWR20 in all its splendour at Bressingham Steam and Gardens in Diss.

Illustrations

Our TPO carriage, 2003

Our restored TPO carriage, 2007

Colin Worrall deals with rotting timbers

Sign on TPO toilet seat

Diagram of TPO carriage LNWR

TPO carriage interior, 2003

TPO carriage interior, 2007