Special TPO

The Special TPO was the premier Travelling Post Office in the country and was the backbone of the TPO network. Its purpose was to carry mail to and from Scotland, ensuring next day delivery for as much mail as possible. Its punctual running and its connections with other TPOs were critical to the Post Office’s circulation (the movement of letters around the country).

This insight shows some of the detail of the operation of the Special TPO and its connecting services, as at Summer 1972.

The Special TPO ran between London, Glasgow and Aberdeen, as shown in red on the map below. Edinburgh was served by  additional sorting carriages which were added to the rear of the Down Special at Carlisle. These were known as the ‘Carlisle-Edinburgh Sorting Carriage’ and are shown in pale red on the map, along with an arrow indicating one direction only. There was no corresponding Up working from Edinburgh on the Special; this was part of the Caledonian TPO. A further nuance to the working of the Down special was that its Glasgow carriages were known as the Crewe-Glasgow Sorting Carriage since their function changed at Crewe.

It can be seen that important connections were made into and out of the Special at Birmingham, Crewe, Preston, Carlisle and Perth. A Summary of the Special’s timings is shown below the map.

Click on the name of a TPO in the map legend to see more of the rolling stock marshalling and timing of that service.