The West Of England TPO

The West Of England Travelling Post Office

17 June - 15 September 1957

2210 Paddington - Penzance (0645)via Bristol
	CW	Previous Working	Vehicle	From	To	Next Working
1	812	1840 Penzance - Paddington (0355)	Siphon G*	Paddington	Penzance	1840 Penzance - Paddington (0355)
2		"	Stow. Bk. Van 812, 813 or 814 "A"	"	"	"
3		"	Stowage Van 793, 794 or 795 "B"	"	"	"
4		"	Sorting Carr. 843, 844 or 845 "C"	"	"	"
5		"	Sorting Carr. 806, 807 or 808 "D"	"	"	"
6		"	Sorting Carr. 846, 847 or 835 "E"	"	"	"
7		"	Brake Van 39, 81 or 1177 "F"	"	"	"
8	813	2113 Plymouth - Paddington (0355)	Siphon G*	"	Plymouth	2113 Plymouth - Paddington (0355)
9		2243 Exeter - Paddington (0355)	Siphon G*	"	Exeter	xxxx Exeter - Torrington
10		"	Siphon G*	"	"	2243 Exeter - Paddington (0355)
11		0035 Bristol - Paddington (0633)	Siphon G**	"	Bristol	0035 Bristol - Paddington (0633)

* - Siphin G, 1020,1042, 1223, 1228, 1275, 1326, 2917, and 2922. Branded "To work only on Down and Up West of England T.P.O." allocated to these workings.
** Siphon G 1297 and 2943 branded "To work on Down and Up West of England T.P.O" allocated to these services. >

1840 Penzance - Paddington (0355) via Bristol
	CW	Previous Working	Vehicle	From	To	Next Working
1	812	2210 Paddington - Penzance (0645)	Brake Van 39, 81 or 1177 "F"	Penzance	Paddington	2210 Paddington - Penzance (0645)
2		"	Sorting Carr. 846, 847 or 835 "E"	"	"	"
3		"	Sorting Carr. 806, 807 or 808 "D"	"	"	"
4		"	Sorting Carr. 843, 844 or 845 "C"	"	"	"
5		"	Stowage Van 793, 794 or 795 "B"	"	"	"
6		"	Stow. Bk. Van 812, 813 or 814 "A"			"
7		"	Siphon G*	"	"	"
8	813	2210 Paddington - Plymouth	Siphon G*	Plymouth	"	2210 Paddington - Plymouth
9	121	2000 Kingswear - Newton Abbot	News Bk. Van	Newton Abbot	"	0505 Paddington - Bristol
10		2210 Paddington - Exeter	Siphon G*	Exeter	"	2210 Paddington - Exeter
11		xxxx Torrington - Exeter	Siphon G*	"	"	"

2210 Paddington - Penzance (0645)
	C/W	Previous Working	Vehicle	From	To	Next Working
1	812	1840 Penzance - Paddington	Siphon G	Paddington	Penzance	1840 Penzance - Paddington
2	812	1840 Penzance - Paddington	Stowage Brake (812/813/814)	Paddington	Penzance	1840 Penzance - Paddington
3	812	1840 Penzance - Paddington	Stowage Van (793/794/795)	Paddington	Penzance	1840 Penzance - Paddington
4	812	1840 Penzance - Paddington	TPO (843/844/845)	Paddington	Penzance	1840 Penzance - Paddington
5	812	1840 Penzance - Paddington	TPO (806/807/808)	Paddington	Penzance	1840 Penzance - Paddington
6	812	1840 Penzance - Paddington	TPO (846/847/835)	Paddington	Penzance	1840 Penzance - Paddington
7	812	1840 Penzance - Paddington	Full Brake (39/81/1177)	Paddington	Penzance	1840 Penzance - Paddington
8	813	2210 Plymouth - Paddington	Siphon G	Paddington	Plymouth	2210 Plymouth - Paddington
9	814	2243 Exeter - Paddington	Siphon G	Paddington	Exeter	2243 Exeter - Paddington
10	815	2243 Exeter - Paddington	Siphon G	Paddington	Exeter	0830 Exeter - Torrington
11	-	0035 Bristol - Paddington	Siphon G	Paddington	Bristol	0035 Bristol - Paddington

1840 Penzance - Paddington (0355)
	C/W	Previous Working	Vehicle	From	To	Next Working
1	812A	2210 Paddington - Penzance	Full Brake (39/81/1177)	Penzance	Paddington	2210 Paddington - Penzance
2	812A	2210 Paddington - Penzance	TPO (846/847/835)	Penzance	Paddington	2210 Paddington - Penzance
3	812A	2210 Paddington - Penzance	TPO (806/807/808)	Penzance	Paddington	2210 Paddington - Penzance
4	812A	2210 Paddington - Penzance	TPO (843/844/845)	Penzance	Paddington	2210 Paddington - Penzance
5	812A	2210 Paddington - Penzance	Stowage Van (793/794/795)	Penzance	Paddington	2210 Paddington - Penzance
6	812A	2210 Paddington - Penzance	Stowage Brake (812/813/814)	Penzance	Paddington	2210 Paddington - Penzance
7	812A	2210 Paddington - Penzance	Siphon G	Penzance	Paddington	2210 Paddington - Penzance
8	812A	2210 Paddington - Penzance	Siphon G	Penzance	Paddington	2210 Paddington - Penzance
9	-	2200 Kingswear - Newton Abbot	Full Brake (News)	Newton Abbot	Paddington	0505 Paddington - Bristol
10	814A	2210 Paddington - Exeter	Siphon G	Exeter	Paddington	2210 Paddington - Exeter
11	815A	1942 Illfracombe - Exeter	Siphon G	Exeter	Paddington	2210 Paddington - Exeter

2210 Paddington - Penzance via Bristol (0635) SX
	C/W	Previous Working	Vehicle		From	To	Next Working
1		1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX	Siphon G*	O22 O33	Paddington	Penzance	1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX
2		1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX	Stowage Brake Van 812/813/814 "A"	L23	Paddington	Penzance	1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX
3		1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX	Stowage Van 793/794/795 "B"	L21	Paddington	Penzance	1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX
4		1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX	Sorting Carriage 843/844/845 "C"	L25	Paddington	Penzance	1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX
5		1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX	Sorting Carriage 806/807/808 "D"	L18	Paddington	Penzance	1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX
6		1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX	Sorting Carriage 846/847/835 "E"	L25 L14	Paddington	Penzance	1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX
7		1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX	Brake Van 39/81/1177 "F"	K40	Paddington	Penzance	1900 Penzance - Paddington (0355) FSX
8		2130 Plymouth - Paddington (0355) SX	Siphon G*	O22 O33	Paddington	Plymouth	2130 Plymouth - Paddington (0355) SX
9		2300 Exeter - Paddington (0355) SX	Siphon G*	O22 O33	Paddington	Exeter	2300 Exeter - Paddington (0355) SX
10		Paddington (0355) SX	Siphon G*	O22 O33	Paddington	Exeter	xxxx Exeter - Torrington
11		1315 Bristol - Paddington (0633) MSX	Siphon G**	O22 O33	Paddington	Bristol	?

12 June - 10 September 1961

1C04 2220 SX Paddington - Penzance (0635) via Bristol ♦♦
	C/W	Previous Working	Vehicle			From	To	Next Working
1		1900 FSX Penzance - Paddington (0355)	Siphon G	SG	*	Paddington	Penzance	1900 FSX Penzance - Paddington (0355)
2		"	Stow. Bk. Van 80450, 80452 or 80453 "A"	BPOT		"	"	"
3		"	Stowage Van 80400, 80401 or 80402 "B"	POT		"	"	"
4		"	Sorting Carr. 80300, 80302 or 80304 "C"	POS		"	"	"
5		"	Sorting Carr. 80301, 80303 or 80305 "D"	POS		"	"	"
6		"	Sorting Carr. 80306, 80307 or 80308 "E"	POS		"	"	"
7		"	Stow. Bk. Van 80451, 80454 or 80455 "F"	BPOT		"	"	"
8		2130 SX Plymouth - Paddington (0355)	Siphon G	SG	*	"	Plymouth	2130 SX Plymouth - Paddington (0355)
9		2301 SX Exeter - Paddington (0355)	Siphon G	SG	*	"	Exeter	2301 SX Exeter - Paddington (0355)
10		"	Siphon G	SG	*	"	"	xxxx Exeter - Torrington ( )
11		1635 MFX Taunton - Paddington (2125)	Siphon G	SG	**	"	Bristol	1635 MFX Taunton - Paddington (2125)

* - Siphons G, 1002, 1014, 1015, 1033, 1035, 1036, 1039, and 1041. Branded "To work only on Down and Up West of England T.P.O." allocated to these workings.
** - Siphons G 1043 and 1049 branded "To work on Down and Up West of England T.P.O" allocated to these services.

Dia. 720 80300-5 (6) POS Lot 486 Wolverton 9/59 nets & arms (2)
Dia. 721 80306-8 (3) POS Lot 487 Wolverton 11/59 (1)
Dia. 722 80400-2 (3) POT Lot 488 Wolverton 11/59 nets & arms (1)
Dia. 723 80450-5 (6) BPOT Lot ??? Wolverton 11/59 (2)

The Travelling Post Office (TPO)

22.10 Paddington to Penzance (06.45)
	C/W	Previous working	Vehicle	From	To	Next working
1	812	18.40 Penzance - Paddington	Siphon G	Paddington	Penzance	18.40 Penzance - Paddington
2	812	18.40 Penzance - Paddington	Stowage Brake (812/813/814)	Paddington	Penzance	18.40 Penzance - Paddington
3	812	18.40 Penzance - Paddington	Stowage Van (793/794/795)	Paddington	Penzance	18.40 Penzance - Paddington
4	812	18.40 Penzance - Paddington	TPO (843/844/845)	Paddington	Penzance	18.40 Penzance - Paddington
5	812	18.40 Penzance - Paddington	TPO (806/807/808)	Paddington	Penzance	18.40 Penzance - Paddington
6	812	18.40 Penzance - Paddington	TPO (846/847/835)	Paddington	Penzance	18.40 Penzance - Paddington
7	812	18.40 Penzance - Paddington	Full Brake (39/81/1177)	Paddington	Penzance	18.40 Penzance - Paddington

18.40 Penzance to Paddington (03.55)
	C/W	Previous working	Vehicle	From	To	Next working
1	812A	22.10 Paddington - Penzance	Full Brake (39/81/1177)	Penzance	Paddington	22.10 Paddington - Penzance
2	812A	22.10 Paddington - Penzance	TPO (846/847/835)	Penzance	Paddington	22.10 Paddington - Penzance
3	812A	22.10 Paddington - Penzance	TPO (806/807/808)	Penzance	Paddington	22.10 Paddington - Penzance
4	812A	22.10 Paddington - Penzance	TPO (843/844/845)	Penzance	Paddington	22.10 Paddington - Penzance
5	812A	22.10 Paddington - Penzance	Stowage Van (793/794/795)	Penzance	Paddington	22.10 Paddington - Penzance
6	812A	22.10 Paddington - Penzance	Stowage Brake (812/813/814)	Penzance	Paddington	22.10 Paddington - Penzance
7	812A	22.10 Paddington - Penzance	Siphon G	Penzance	Paddington	22.10 Paddington - Penzance

No	Lot	Completed	Type	Dia.	Dimensions
39	1462	21/11/31	Passenger Brake G	K.40	61.4 1/2 x 9.0
81	1481	21/01/33	Passenger Brake G	K.40	61.4 1/2 x 9.0
793	1499	04/11/33	PO Collector Van G	L.21	57.0 x 8.6
794
795
806	1430	17/12/29	PO Sorting G	L.18	57.0 x 8.6
807
808
812	1503	23/12/33	PO Stowage G	L.23	50.0 x 8.6
813	1503	23/12/33
814	1666	xx/xx/40
835
843	1719	xx/01/47	PO Sorting Van G	L.25	63.0 3/4 x 8.11
844
845
846
847
1177				K.40?

K.40
Great Western Coaches Appendix Vol.2 p.157
7' plate bogies

L.18
Great Western Coaches Appendix Vol.2 p.171
7' plate bogies

L.21
Great Western Coaches Appendix Vol.2 p.171

46' 6'' - 57' Steel-panelled TPOs: 1927 - 1947

All pre-1946 TPOs were basically similar to the 1933-35 standard corridor stock but of 57' or less length, 8' 6'' width with flat body ends. The whole series were mounted on standard 7' bogies.

No's 806-808 were 57' sorting vans with guard's compartment, recessed sliding doors both sides, delivery arms and near-side net and were completed in 1929 for the Great Western TPO. The apparatus was removed in 1959, there were transferred to the Southern Region in 1960 and painted green. In common with other South Eastern Division locomotive hauled stock they were fitted with electric heating in 1961-62.

February 1933 saw the ordering of seventeen TPO vans of varying types, No's 793-6 57' the rest 50' in length, except No's 815-7 which were only 46' 6'' long. They entered service between late 1933 and early 1934 and virtually displaced all the clerestory sorting and pick up delivery vehicles. No's 793-5 were collecting vans, with recessed sliding doors both sides and with full equipment for the Great Western TPO. They were reduced to stowage vans in 1953.

No's 812-4, with guards compartment were for the Great Western TPO and as built had neither nets nor delivery apparatus. No 814 was destroyed at Hay Lane, Swindon in 1940 and an identical replacement vehicle was built on Lot 1666. All were fitted with delivery apparatus in November 1956.

Those vehicles without nets or delivery apparatus were so designed that it was possible for them to be converted at a later date, as indeed was the case with 812-4.

The replace No's 1063-5, the 1896 Ocean Mails vans used for stowage on the Great Western TPO, 61' 4 1/2'' passenger brake vans No's 39, 81 and 1177 were appropriated for use as stowage vans in the Great Western TPO.

In 1945, all TPO vehicles remained in chocolate and cream livery, except 812 and 813.

Five post-war TPOs only were built , sorting vans No's 843-847 of 1946/47 of standard Hawksworth outline and turned out in post-war chocolate and cream livery. These were allocated to the Great Western TPO.

Great Western Coaches from 1890
Michael Harris

http://www.tpo.org.uk/

During an unusually lengthy cold spell lasting two months, D603 Conquest finds employment heating stock for the up West Of England TPO at Plymouth on 20 January 1963. The Royal Mail vehicle W80452 is a Stowage Brake Van built at Wolverton in 1960.