Appeal to save a rake of Mark 1 Sorting and Stowage Vehicles

The NVR appeal to save two EWS TPOs was very successful and resulted in enough TPOs being preserved to form a rake of FIVE vehicles for future generations to enjoy.

In addition to saving 80337 and 80456, the original targets, the NVR have also been able to secure 80327 "George James", 80402 and 80417.

Images of 80337, 80456, 80327 & 80402

Click on an image for a larger version

Updates

22nd October 2007

• The fifth TPO, 80417, arrived at Wansford today.

5th June 2007

• The appeal will close on Sunday 17th June.
• The NVR also hope to acquire a fifth Mark 1 TPO shortly. Donations are required to achieve this, so now really is the LAST time to get your donations in and be part of Rail Mail 2007.

23rd May 2007

• The appeal for this project will soon be closing, so now is the last chance to send in your donations to be eligible for the incentives on offer. The donors who qualify for the trip on the TPO before it enters public traffic will receive their invitation shortly, this will be the first TPO departure from Wansford on the Saturday of Rail Mail and is expected to be at around 09:50. So if you would like to be aboard the TPO set on its first run now is the time to send in your donation; remember donations of £100 or more entitle you to join us on this first run, donations of £250 or more enable you to spend the day with us at Rail Mail onboard the TPO and donations of £500 or more also entitles you to join us on an experience course in the future. Rail Mail 2007, is now just over four weeks away - you can be part of it!

6th May 2007

• 80402 was delivered to the NVR on the 1st May, so all four Mark 1 TPOs are now at Wansford.
• 80345 "Richard Yeo" has also been delivered to Didcot.
• Work on 80337 continues and we hope to have it fully operational within the next few weeks.
• The TPO set will be launched at Rail Mail. Make a note in your diaries - 23rd / 24th June.

19th February 2007

• 80337 now has two traductor arms fitted - Picture on the NVR website
• Please note: We will soon be closing our appeal, so if you wish to receive one of the detailed benefits then now is the time to send us a donation towards these coaches.
• 80334 was delivered to Rushden last Friday and 80413 is expected to be delivered tomorrow.

14th February 2007

• 80337 has now been delivered to Wansford.

13th February 2007

• 80456 has now arrived at Wansford and 80337 has been collected from Willesden. It is expected that 80337 will be unloaded at Wansford in the morning.
• It would appear that there are still some TPOs left at Euston.

12th February 2007

• TPOs are now moving. The next one to be delivered will be unloaded on Tuesday morning followed by another on Wednesday morning.

10th February 2007

• We have been informed that two TPOs will be delivered to the NVR, one on Monday and one on Tuesday. These will be 80337 and 80456, but we do not know in which order they will arrive.

9th February 2007

• Unconfirmed report that Euston Down Sidings shed has now been cleared of all vehicles.

8th February 2007

• The TPOs at the Euro Terminal have now been moved to a point where they can be collected by road.
• It is anticipated that movement of the vehicles will start next week.
• 80414, for VSOE, is also in the group, so was removed from Euston last week.
• 80345 and 80458 still remain at Euston

2nd February 2007

• It would appear that two rakes of coaches have been removed from Euston over the last couple of days. One vehicle that is confirmed as having been removed is 80337, one of the NVR's TPOs. Included in the two sets are other TPOs, some PCVs and BGs. We are not yet aware of the other vehicle numbers. The vehicles are now at Brent.
• We now know the location of the nameplates for 80327 "George James", which are quite safe. A set of replicas are to be made shortly.
• Update at 21:30
• The second rake of coaches is confirmed as 80427,94319,94321,94342,94305,94405,94467,80428,80426,80375,94345,94437. These were in roads 8 to 11 at Euston and appear to have already made it to Doncaster Belmont yard.

1st February 2007

• EWS have informed us that they hope to have a shunt at Willesden before Friday 2nd Feb to release various TPOs.
• Other information indicates that a shunt has taken place on the 31st January. Full details awaited.

21st January 2007

• 80457 has now been delivered to the Rushden Historical Transport Society.

19th January 2007

• Reports are coming in that some shunting has taken place at Brent and Willesden Euroterminal.
• It has been suggested that 80401, 80432 and 80434 may have been converted for some other use at Toton.
• Any information on the above two items would be most welcome.

13th January 2007

• 80401, 80432 and 80434 have appeared outside Toton depot - are they on the move?

11th January 2007

• 80457 has been saved by the Rushden Historical Transport Society.

10th January 2007

• Some pictures of 80327 appear on the NVR website at http://www.nvr.org.uk/gallery/?idx=16
• Our appeal is still open for donations to help towards the transportation of the coaches, the reinstatement of vacuum brakes and the repaint of at least one vehicle in the near future. Details of the incentives available can be found above.

9th January 2007

• 80327 was unloaded at Wansford by 9:45 this morning.
• It is three years to the day since the last TPOs ran - 9th January 2004.

8th January 2007

• 80327 was collected by our hauliers today from Booths and left at 1pm. The coach is expected to be unloaded at Wansford tomorrow morning.
• It is understood that 80457, currently at Booths, has also been preserved.

6th January 2006

• More images of TPOs between 2004 and 2007 now available.

3rd January 2007

• The rake of TPOs at Doncaster was delivered to Booths yesterday, including our 80327.
• We understand that 80327 is being shunted out of the rake and moved to a safe siding.
• Our haulier plans to collect 80327 on Monday 8th January before starting on those at Willesden.

2nd January 2007

• Firstly, may we wish everyone a Happy New Year.
• As far as we have been able to ascertain there have been no movements over the Christmas period.

24th December 2006

• More images of TPOs between 2004 and 2006 now available.

23rd December 2006

• Brian Hallett, Brian White and the rest of the TPO team would like to thank everyone for their continued support and really appreciate the support shown to us from across not only the UK but also many parts of the world. 2006 has been a frustrating, yet rewarding year, with much being achieved. Our plans for a rake of Mark 1 TPOs should finally come to fruition in the early part of 2007, which is only thanks to the support given to us by many of you. We wish everyone of you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year. 2007 is looking promising - we look forward to seeing you all on a TPO at the NVR next year. Thank you - BH & BW

21st December 2006

• EWS have informed us that they were not aware that the NVR had purchased 80327, hence its trip to Bescot. EWS also believe that the coach is now at Doncaster awaiting movement to Booths. Booths have been alerted to this and their shunter is looking out for it so that it can be moved to a safe siding upon arrival.
• The movement of our TPOs from the Euroterminal should start on 8th January 2007
• The appeal fund remains open for those wishing to help our cause. Whilst we may have purchased the coaches we still need to pay for transportation, the fitting of vacuum brakes and other renovation work.
• Images of TPOs between 2004 and 2007 now available.

19th December 2006

• We have been informed that 80438 has been purchased by a member of RVP, based on the Great Central.
• Mid Norfolk are also considering acquiring a POT.
• So at present the preserved ones (from Euston) are currently located at:
  • Euston DS: 80337 (NVR), 80345 (GWS) & 80458 (RVP)
  • Willesden Euroterminal: 80349 (RVP), 80394 (BRC), 80402 (NVR), 80429 (CVR), 80438 (RVP) and 80456 (NVR)
  • Bescot: 80327 (NVR)
  • Mossend? 80382 (SRPS)
• Thanks to Mick Yates and James Steward for the information.
• I now have some images of the carriages at Booths, which I hope to put up shortly.

16th December 2006

• We have been informed that 80394 is now destined for the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in place of 80385.
• Confirmed that 80349, 80394, 80402, 80429, 80438 and 80456 are in the Euroterminal at Willesden.
• Apparently the 8 at Booths are: 80346, 80352, 80354, 80359, 80368, 80379, 80419 and 80431 also present 94339 from Temple Mill
• The Bescot rake is: 80321, 80326, 80327, 80347, 80351, 80363, 80430, 80457 and 94447, according to TOPS 80430 and 94447 are due for Thomsons at Stockton!
• This just leaves the location of 80382 to be confirmed, Mossend?
• Thanks to Andrew Bratton and Ben Williams from departmentals.com for the information.

15th December 2006

• EWS have now written to us and have stated that some of the vehicles have been moved from Euston to Wembley Yard.
• C.F.Booths have said today that a batch of TPOs arrived the other day and that they are expecting another delivery soon.
• We have also been able to discover that the TPO's at Wembley have now been dispersed and that the following are now in Willesden Euro Terminal (where there is road access): 80349, 80394, 80402, 80429, 80438 and 80456. So it looks like 80394 and 80438 have been preserved.
• The rest, including our 80327 at Bescot, are either at Bescot or Rotherham Masboro (they went on 6S77 and 6G19, the 1731 and 2013 departures from Wembley yesterday - does anyone have full details of these trains?).
• At 13:30 today the following were seen at Booths, Rotherham: 80368, 80379, 80419 and three unidentified POS vehicles.

30th November 2006

• No further news from EWS.
• C.F.Booths have said today that they are expecting the first batch of TPOs imminently from Euston.

25th November 2006

• NAMEPLATE APPEAL
  One of our TPOs, 80327, was named "George James" on 20th June 1995. The coach carried the nameplates until it was withdrawn from service at the start of 2004, when they were removed. EWS have stated that the nameplates owned by the Post Office were returned to them, however the Post Office are not aware of there present location. We would like to return the nameplates to the coach, once it arrives at the Nene Valley Railway, so if anyone is aware of the current location of the nameplates then please contact me with details. If the original plates do not come to light then we will need to make a set of replicas.

24th November 2006

• No further news from EWS.
• If you have any news or pictures of the TPO movements then please send them to me at webmaster@tpo.org.uk and I will do my best to include them.

23rd November 2006

• No further news from EWS.
• The following are believed to have been extracted from Euston on 22nd November: 80346, 80349, 80352, 80354, 80359, 80368, 80379, 80394, 80402, 80419, 80431 & 80456. Note: Those in bold are known to be heading for preservation.
• The following are believed to remain at Euston as of 22nd November: 80320, 80323, 80331, 80337, 80339, 80344, 80345, 80350, 80356, 80358, 80360, 80361, 80365, 80367, 80373, 80375, 80377, 80378, 80380, 80385, 80395, 80414, 80417, 80423, 80426, 80427, 80428, 80433, 80435, 80437, 80458, 94118, 94305, 94309, 94319, 94321, 94325, 94327, 94341, 94342, 94345, 94405, 94414, 94418, 94436, 94437, 94467, 94484, 94494, 94496, 94523, 94535, 95734, 95743 & 95759. Note: Those in bold are known to be heading for preservation.

22nd November 2006

• No further news from EWS.
• The following were extracted from Euston on 16th November: 80321, 80326, 80327, 80347, 80351, 80363, 80382, 80429, 80430, 80438, 80457 & 94447. Note: Those in bold are known to be heading for preservation.
• Reports suggest that more vehicles will be extracted tonight.

16th November 2006

• EWS have now informed us, by letter, that they are now in a position to arrange movement of the TPOs from Euston to a point suitable for road access. The letter also states that they will be in contact this week to arrange a date and time for us to collect the vehicles. Watch this space for updates over the coming days.
• Unconfirmed reports suggest that a rake of 12 coaches left Euston last night, including 80327 which is one of ours.

10th August 2006

• TPO 80411 has been exchanged for 80402 today. 80402 will become the only stowage vehicle from the 80400 to 80402 range to be preserved.

21st July 2006

• TPO 80411 has been collected from Booths today.

13th July 2006

• Added images of our fourth Mark 1 TPO, 80411, to be purchased for the collection.

2nd July 2006

• Second image of 80327, at Penzance, added.

27th June 2006

• We have now secured our fourth TPO for preservation - more details soon.

19th June 2006

• Image of 80327 added.

21st May 2006

• The third Mark 1 TPO secured for the NVR is 80327 "George James".
• The appeal has now raised, including pledges, some £12,692. The appeal remains open and donations, no matter how large or small, are very much appreciated as we now need to move and restore the vehicles to an operational condition.

17th May 2006

• We have been able to secure a third TPO for preservation - more details soon.

7th May 2006

• The coaches still remain at Euston awaiting movement to Brent sidings for collection.

15th February 2006

• The "release note" for both vehicles has been received and EWS are currently inspecting the track and vehicles with a view to moving them out of Euston for collection, no date has yet been set due to the amount of vehicles involved.

22nd January 2006

• Additional picture added above of 80456, thanks to Allan Yeo.

21st January 2006

• Additional pictures added above of both coaches in their service days, thanks to Gareth Bayers.

18th January 2006

• The invoice for the two vehicles has been received and payment is now on its way.

16th January 2006

• A recent picture of 80337, shown above, has been sent in by Paul Ruston, to whom our thanks go to.

12th January 2006

• SUCCESS - EWS have informed us today that we have been successful with our bid for 80337 & 80456

8th January 2006

• The appeal has now raised £4,290.

31st December 2005

• The appeal has so far received a total of 45 donations and has raised £4,220.

24th December 2005

• The appeal has so far raised £3,200.

10th December 2005

• 80337 and 80456 were inspected on 22nd November and were found to be in very good condition.
• A bid was placed for both vehicles before the 5th December deadline.

1st November 2005

• EWS have informed us that tender forms are likely to be sent out early next week, WE NEED YOUR DONATIONS NOW TO HELP US SAVE THESE TWO VEHICLES.

30th October 2005

• So far three large donations have been received. More donations welcomed to help us achieve our aims.