Charity Shop's "Big Project" 2025
We are delighted to announce that the charity shop will be supporting the renovation of the Southern TPO (Travelling Post Office) coach currently located on Platform 4 at Nene Valley Railway (Wansford) station. For too long, the TPO has been sat at the platform covered in tarpaulin and after much deliberation, it has finally been decided that the time is right to return the carriage to its former glory. Once this is complete, the coverings can be removed and the coach will be used as an exhibition/educational piece at the railway. Unfortunately, this renovation will not include returning the coach to running on the tracks; it will be primarily cosmetic.
The History
The Southern TPO coach was built in 1939. It was originally used on the Southern Railway night postal service from Waterloo to Exeter; subsequently it was moved to Dover for the Eastern Division's night postal service. In 1977, the Southern TPO coach was taken out of service and came under the ownership of the National Rail Museum as part of the National Collection. In the same year, it was loaned to NVR as a static coach; since then it has housed the NVR Exhibition, which includes the original post office racking. Recently, the National Railway Museum transferred sole ownership to NVR; which means that we can now complete the works necessary to ensure that it will be weatherproof and able to be used for many years to come.
What is Required?
It is going to take approximately £25K to get the coach cosmetically restored to a high standard. The NVR Fundraising Team will be seeking external grants to help cover some of these costs; unfortunately this in itself is a challenge and they cannot be guaranteed. The charity shop will therefore be raising additional funds to financially support the project as it progresses.
How can you help?
As well as requiring financial contributions, the TPO renovation will require a team of willing helpers to make the restoration possible. Could this be something you could do? If you would be interested in finding out more about getting involved; please contact Sarah Hudson Mann. The main criteria for success in becoming a helper: enthusiasm!
What Happens Next?
The renovation works will begin in the next few weeks. Initially this will be solely internal improvements so that we can start to use the coach for exhibition/education purposes. The aim is that visitors to NVR can climb aboard the coach and be taken back to a time when mail was not just transported but also sorted on the train. There will be interactive sorting activities and opportunities to experience what life was like for a postman working on the Night Mail and TPO services.
Once appropriate funds have been secured, the exterior of the coach will also be renovated to make it secure and weatherproof. Once this is completed, the tarpaulin will be removed and the coach will be seen properly for the first time in many years.
This will be a long-term project, reliant on regular donations and successful applications for grants. The charity shop will remain on the journey until the restorations are complete but will also continue to support other small projects around the railway.