Farewell
- South Wales TPO
1M95,
21h40 Swansea - Willesden PRDC TPO made its final departure on Friday 25th July 2003 following Royal
Mails announcement that it will cease to use rail
for the distribution of first class mail by March
2004, when its new distribution network integrating
road and air comes into place. The balance working
1V44 Willesden PRDC - Swansea TPO was similarly affected,
with the final arrival being at 03h40 on Saturday 26th
July 2003.
The consist of the Royal Mail coaching stock was NAA+NSA+NTA+NSA+NTA+NSA+NBA+NOA+NAA.
The train was serviced during the day at Margam Depot
/ Wagon Works and ran empty to Swansea Maliphant
Sidings during early evening, where the locomotive ran around
its train and propelled it into Platform 1 at Swansea
station. The out and home workings were manned by London
& Swansea TPO staff on alternate days with
1M95 being crewed by London TPO staff on Monday /
Wednesday & Friday and Swansea TPO staff on Tuesday
& Thursday. Twenty six Royal Mail TPO staff including
the manager arrived for duty just after 20h00
hrs and assisted in loading the mail onto their train
from awaiting lorries.
1M95
called at Cardiff, Bristol, Reading and Slough and
sorts mail for Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire,
Hampshire, Dorset, Kent, Sussex, Hertfordshire, Middlesex,
Surrey, Essex and London.
1V44
called at Reading, Bristol, Newport and Cardiff and
sorts mail for Somerset, Avon and South Wales.
Friday
25th July 2003 was a very sad night and this article
has been compiled as a tribute to the many Royal Mail staff that I have
made friendship with during the past fourteen years
and I wish them and their families the very best health
and happiness for the future.
This is how it went on the last day.....
