Brake Post Office Stowage Van


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.
NumberTOPS CodeBuiltLocation
80456NUA1968 YorkNene Valley Railway
80457NUA1968 YorkRushden, Higham & Wellingborough Railway
80458NUA1968 YorkGreat Central Railway

NumberCompanyBuiltLocationNotes
814GWR1940 SwindonDidcot Railway CentreOnly exchange equipped coach with nets on both sides