Sorting the miniature mail with the Graham Farish 'POTs'
Prepare to sort the mail with these new arrivals from Graham Farish! There were few vehicles more specialised than the BR Mk. 1 Post Office vans, with Travelling Post Office (TPO) formations featuring POS coaches (Post Office Sorting – already modelled by Graham Farish) where mail was sorted on the move, and POTs (Post Office Tenders) where mail was stowed during the journey. Its the latter that is now available in a variety of guises, suitable for the 1970s to 2004 period (and beyond given a number of vehicles now reside on heritage railways!).
Introduced in the 1960s and in operation until the end of the TPOs in 2004, the POT has been a mainstay of TPO formations during the BR period and into privatisation when they were operated by EWS.
This Graham Farish model of the POT is the latest addition to the brand’s flagship Mk. 1 coaching stock range. Carrying all the hallmarks of this iconic design, the distinctive profile of the Mk. 1 coach is captured to a tee from the bodysides to the roof, which incorporates finely moulded ventilators.
On the bodysides the handles and grab handles surrounding each door are moulded precisely, while the minute grilles adjacent to each of the small bodyside windows are engraved to great effect.
During the late-1980s and early 1990s, POT vans often starred in formations comprising Mk. 1 TPOs, GUVs and BGs in an eclectic mix of liveries - Intercity, BR blue/grey, Royal Mail - even some Network SouthEast 'interlopers'!
At either end, the corridor gangway is complete with lamp irons on either side and within, the corridor door is modelled with its small window which is flush glazed – as are all windows on these models. A metal grab handle is added to each end individually, and ETH connections are present on the coach end and bufferbeam. Footboards are included on the solebars below each door whilst the underframe sports a full complement of equipment, with the truss rod frames modelled in all their glory and flanked by battery boxes, vacuum cylinders and other auxiliary equipment.
The representation of the stronger B5 bogies are fitted with metal wheelsets, while the standard N scale coupling is attached via a NEM coupling pocket to the close coupling mechanism that is fitted to the carriage floor, which operates in tandem with the bogie.
Under EWS, little changed to the 1990s-era livery, bar ends being painted black (which soon faded to a adopt a bluish hue!). The ends, underframes and roofs of vehicles were prone to accumulate grime - let us customise yours on checkout.
Of course, for those seeking more authenticity, we're here to provide authentic patina to these models, especially on the EWS-owned vehicles over their blue ends (these should be black which faded to a bluish hue through repetitive carriage washing). Simply customise yours upon checkout!
