The Travelling Post OfficeRail Mail 2004 |
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The Nene Valley Railway's TPO Group held its third "Rail Mail" event over the weekend of 19th / 20th June 2004 using Didcot's superbly restored TPO coach, 814.
During the weekend TPO 814 performed a total of 14 exchanges at Sutton Cross, with 42 pouches successfully picked up from the lineside standard and 44 pouches successfully dropped to the lineside net. Full details of which locos have worked the exchange can be found here. The Southern TPO, 4920, on platform 4, was in use to demonstrate the sorting of mail, with the public being encouraged to 'have a go'. Our very own TPO, M30272M, was on display in the shed looking somewhat different than at the last TPO event in 2002. The coach having been turned and now resembling a TPO once again. There were several stands around the Wansford site, including the Friends of Postal Heritage, Post Office Vehicle Club, Railway Vehicle Preservations Ltd, TPO 814 Group, Friends of M30272M TPO Group, Richard Yeo, Neill Oakley, NVR RLS, Adrian Vaughn, Oakwood Video and of course the Beer Festival, which during the Saturday evening had live music with the band "Legend". Saturday evening also saw an informal get together at Wansford for all those involved with the weekend, here a light hearted talk was given by Brian White and a buffet was laid on before many retired to the bar. Six locomotives and the DMU covered the timetable for the passenger service and TPO runs. Click on the link for pictures from the lineside exchanges, around Wansford,TPO and NVR staff at work and Marie Saville's Collection. There is also a Captions Page, where you can send in some captions to pictures taken during the event if you wish.
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