Brake Post Office Stowage Van

British Rail Brake Post Office Stowage Van
Preserved Great Western Railway vehicle no. 814 at the Didcot Railway Centre.
In service	1959–2004
Manufacturer	BR Wolverton & York
Family name	British Railways Mark 1
Constructed	1959, 1968
Number built	9
Fleet numbers	80450–80458
Operator	British Rail(ways)
Specifications
Car length	64 ft 6 in (19.66 m)
Width	9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height	12 ft 9 1⁄2 in (3.90 m)
Maximum speed	90–100 mph (145–161 km/h)
Weight	34–36 tonnes (33.5–35.4 long tons; 37.5–39.7 short tons)
Train heating	Dual (steam & electric), ETH 3 or 4
Bogies	BR2 or B5
Braking system(s)	Vacuum or Dual (Air & Vacuum)
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)

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	Rushden, Higham & Wellingborough 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