A Travelling Post Office (TPO) is a type of mail train where the post is sorted en-route.

In the United Kingdom, these trains first started operating in 1838. The trains were operated most recently by Rail Express Systems, and their successor EWS. 9 January 2004 saw the last TPO trains operated, after Royal Mail decided to cease transporting mail by rail.

TPOs were equipped with letter boxes so that mail could be posted whilst the train stood at a station. The post-marks from TPOs are valued by philatelists.

TPOs were employed in many British Colonies. The Army Post Office had its own TPOs.

TPO trains are formed of several different types of vehicle. For more information see the following links.

• Post Office Sorting Van
• Post Office Stowage Van
• Brake Post Office Stowage Van
• Courier Vehicle
• Propelling Control Vehicle
• Brake Guard
• General Utility Van

See also

• Railway post office - The term for cars in North American use that served similar functions.
• Night Mail - Film and Poem about Travelling Post Office

External links

• Royal Mail - Travelling Post Office.
• Travelling Post Office of the Cape of Good Hope