Travelling Post Office exhibition in Crewe
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From Easter 2007 visitors to The Railway Age in Crewe can explore the history of TPOs. The restoration of the BPMA carriage is the impetus for a new display marking the pride and camaraderie of TPO workers over the years.
It will include objects, segments of oral history and a screening of the famous GPO film, Night Mail. The TPO carriage was acquired by the BPMA in 1999 from Tyseley
Locomotive Museum.
The carriage dates from 1908 and originally carried the fleet number LNWR20. Built by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), it formed part of the Crewe to Holyhead 'Irish Mails' until 1940. During its working life it would have seen considerable alteration but the decision was made to restore it as far as possible back to its original LNWR livery. The carriage was quite advanced for its time with steam heating and the added luxury of a toilet!
LNWR specialist joiner Colin Worrall has carried out the great majority of the extensive restoration which has taken place at the LNWR workshops in Crewe. You can get an idea of the dramatic change from the 'before and after' pictures on this page. Other specialists have been involved but Colin has been the mainstay of the project.
Although many of the original fittings were still in good order, the wooden floor and panelling had all but rotted away. It has been a monumental task to return all of the original features back to their former glory.
Our thanks go to Colin and his team for all their hard work.