Main line Travelling Post Office run to mark 85th anniversary of Night Mail?

“THIS is the Night Mail crossing the border, Bringing the cheque and the postal order…”

W H Auden’s opening lines to 1936’s evocative GPO documentary film Night Mail about the work of the Travelling Post Office (TPO) are known by thousands, and to many conjure images of Fowler 4-6-0s on the West Coast Mail Line, footplate crews working hard, and the stunning scenery north of Carlisle.

The short film, which is regarded as a classic, will be 85 years old in 2021, and to mark the anniversary the Great Central Railway-based Rail Vehicle Preservations (RVP) group plans to take a six-coach TPO set back onto the main line for a steam-hauled run between Derby and Bristol.

Read more in the August 2019 issue of The RM – on sale now!

Railway Reads

From the history of steam through to 21st century rail transport news, we have titles that cater for all rail enthusiasts. Covering diesels, modelling, steam and modern railways, check out our range of magazines and fantastic subscription offers.

---

---

---

About the Author

Let off some steam...