British Diesels and Electrics: Post Office Railway 1980 Stock

The Post Office Railway operated under the streets of London linking London Paddington and London Liverpool Street with Royal Mail sorting offices. Unmanned electric trains, consisting of two motor units either end of post carrying compartments, carried post under London from 1927 until the network was shut down in 2003 [1]. The 1980 Stock was built to replace older trains built by English Electric in the 1930s.

A preserved 1980 Stock train at the Postal Museum

Information
Number built:	34
Built:	1980-82
Builder:	Greenwood & Batley, Hunslet Engine Company
Motor:	English Electric (440v DC third rail)
Power:	22 hp (16 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	2w-2-2-2wRE

The origin of the 1980 Stock goes back to the 1960s and two prototypes built as the 1962 Stock. These were updated versions of the 1930/1936 Stock with new motors for better acceleration, disc brakes and improvements for loading and unloading mail [2]. These prototypes were extensively tested though the decision to built a series fleet based on the prototypes did not come about until the late 1970s [3].

The new fleet was an updated version of the prototypes. An order was placed with Greenwood & Batley though the manufacturer went into administration in 1980 after just three were built. Hunslet Engine Company, who took over Greenwood & Batley, built the bulk of the fleet despite that the 1980 Stock are often referred to as Greenbats.

The 1980 Stock formed the backbone of the Post Office Railway (which was re-branded as Mail Rail) along with some 1930/1936 Stock until the system was shut down. Some 1980 Stock was fitted with aerodynamic covers to reduce air resistence in the tunnels.

A number of 1980 Stock trains have been officially preserved, it is thought the rest are also still extant stored on the Mail Rail network which is closed (apart from the Postal Museum tourist attraction at Mount Pleasant - a Museum Train now runs on some of the track) but mostly intact.