The Midnight Mail...

cabbage · May 12 2021 17:30

I am in the process of revamping the CPR. I have moved a station and used its plinth to create a hamlet on. I have a collection of DVDs with LMS training films on them. One of them is "The Midnight Mail". This is about the LMS hauled TPO and how they collected and delivered the mail in special sacks from line side posts (!) and hurl them into collection nets.

Locomotive Design do a set of plans for an LMS TPO... Has anyone built it or know if it can be made to "work"?

Regards

Ralph

Andy B · May 13 2021 07:03

Ralph,
Tri-ang did it in the 1950's-60's in 'OO' gauge using mechanical trips in the track (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SThkM6uxRVQ) - so I'm sure it can be done in G3 in the 2020's.

A couple of servos and a remote control....

Andy

John Candy · May 13 2021 10:51

My 1950's Hornby Dublo TPO (I think it is still here somewhere up in the loft) carried an electrical pick-up shoe and could be activated by pressing a button on the control desk .... I think the Triang version was purely mechanical and operated by a lineside "trip", so could not be de-activated.

Another "gimmick" which I have on my list is the "slip coach" ....... GW made good use of them..... with a flywheel driven by an axle pulley and slipped/braked by radio control.

Regards,
John.

AshleyW · May 13 2021 16:49

the gauge one society member, who lives at sandsend whitby, has a slip coach on his g.w.r rake and has it remotely un- couple at shows and it runs into the platform. i think the coach may have a motor to make sure it arrives ! ash

cabbage · May 22 2021 08:36

I now have the plans from Locomotive Design... The mail exchange system is decorative rather than functional. I am going to have to enquire of friends and relatives who might have some knowledge on how the basket and boom really worked!

The dvd is quite informative and I do know which wheel to crank to turn to swing out the boom and similarly the net, but just not how it works from there on in...

I suppose a modern day H&SE inspector would scream at some of the things done, having the post apprentice stand on the wooden deck of the net and pass the mail bags back inside - while the train is doing 60+mph ...

Regards

Ralph

AshleyW · May 22 2021 09:55

ruth goodman covered it at quorn in "full steam ahead", which can be found on bbc i player, you may see a bit of how it works from that.

Doddy · May 22 2021 11:08

GCR ROYAL MAIL TRAIN OPERATION:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stIh4RweYns

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