Post Office Railway

I visited the Postal Museum and went for a ride on the Mail Rail tube train yesterday, Tuesday 19th September 2017.

I thought that what the Post Office has done was fantastic and give it 9.9 / 10. My only reason for not giving it 10 / 10 was the brevity of the train ride. A longer ride would have been even better!

The Postal Museum has two sites located at Mount Pleasant, which unfortunately is a London backwater in so far as despite its location it is remote from any railway services. Its about 15 minutes walk from Kings Cross St Pancras station.

One of the sites is about post and telephone, the other site is about Mail Rail.

Mostly the museum exhibits at the Mail Rail site are about the deep level tube line under London but the mainline postal service has not been forgotten. Visitors even have a chance to practise sorting 'letters' inside a swaying simulation of a former sorting carriage.

The highlight of my visit was the ride on a converted Mail Rail tube train. The journey passes through several stations where audio-visual film displays are shown on the platform walls. There is also a simulated power cut - where the train comes to a halt and for a few seconds everyone is in pitch black. Although the Post Office railway used a third rail power supply system these trains are battery powered.

Below are two images which I tweeted - at present I do not have any other images online.

One shows a train at the station and the other is a still image from moving video showing the view. The trains have clear glass (or perhaps similar material, such as Perspex) covers which are closed during the journey as these afford maximum visibility whilst also preventing passengers from touching the inside of the tunnels.









www.postalmuseum.org/

Simon

Saw an announcement for that (on ianvisits?), it's on the must-do list for the next time I'm in London. (15 minute walk? Bah. I've walked 2 miles each way to see a good steam engine .)

That looks like a professional promotional film produced for the Postal Museum. Its a shame that the train shown has the white (rather than red) light illuminated at the back.

My film will be more personal and at one stage you will even hear my voice - talking to someone. I was thoroughly enjoying my ride and did not want to alight from the train when it was over!

However, as with Jack's film I am only going to show edited highlights of the ride and av films shown at the intermediate stations. Its not that I don't have more footage, but rather that I see how a tremendous effort went into creating that leisure ride and I don't want to steal its heartbeat by giving away all its secrets. It would be unfair, even dishonourable, and perhaps also a breach of copyright. This is not a normal public transport railway and I feel that it should be treated differently to (for instance) the first run of a new type of train or bus.

For anyone who is reading this from overseas, or for what ever other reason is unable to visit in person, I apologise in advance. My film will also only act as a 'taster' that encourages a personal visit.

I've just started editing it but because of a busy weekend coming up it might be Monday before I finish.

Simon

It took me a little longer than expected or hoped for, but here is my film.

The Postal Museum the Post Office Railway, and more! The 'more' part includes footage of the Travelling Post Office (TPO) mailbag apparatus in action at the Didcot Railway Centre.

Enjoy!

Simon

I feel sure that I did see some sections of track which still have the third (power) rail, although I read somewhere that it is not live.

I am not sure why it was removed, perhaps it was just "belt and braces" safety. Anyway, I would expect that the rails are stored somewhere safe for eventual reinsertion, if the railway ever becomes viable again and is reopened to mail rail / other parcel etc operations.

I also recall seeing some power collections shoes on the rolling stock that is on display in the museum.

I assume (and would be amazed if my assumption is wrong) that despite being battery operated the two trains which are now carrying passengers were built in a way that makes them perfectly safe should they ever operate on a section of railway where the third rail has been energised. OK, its not part of any plan at present but who knows what could happen in the future?

Simon

I am surprised. Very.

Even if the Mail Rail part of the Postal Museum closed the trains could have potentially proven useful as staff trains.

But, if clearance issues mean that they are not safe when travelling on routes equipped with a live third rail then I suppose it will mean two more additions to the sidings where disused trains are stored.

As an aside, I did film these stored trains but they were another feature that I removed from the film I placed on YouTube.

Simon

John,

From what I saw the overhead power supply is still there, I distinctly recall seeing this and some signs warning of the live overhead wires. However I do not know whether it is actually energised.

Simon