Tom Tipper has a Post Van (also known as the Sodor Mail Van) which he uses to collect and deliver mail across the Island of Sodor. The van was once taken away and replaced with a bike while Tom was ill, as the postmaster saw it as too old and expensive. However, when Percy accidentally ran the bike over, destroying it beyond repair, Tom received a new van after the postmaster decided that it was worth the expense after all.
Technical Details
Basis
The Post Van is based on a Morris Commercial J-type van, built between 1949 and 1961. Approximately one-eighth of J-type vans built were bought by the General Post Office, which used them for mail collection and deliveries in country areas all over the United Kingdom. The Sodor Bakery van and the T. Drysdale Signwriter van are also based on these vans.
Livery
The Post Van is painted red with a light grey rooftop. In The Railway Series, it has the Sodor Mail logo on its sides. Before its restoration, its hubcaps were painted black, but have now been repainted red.
In the video game, Railway Adventures, the Post Van's rooftop is painted red.
Appearances
Magazine Stories
Video Games
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Official Description
From Official Media[1]
“ | Sodor Mail Van: The Sodor Mail Van is used for mail collection and delivers on the Island of Sodor.
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Audio Files
Horn
Only used | Sound Effect |
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Mind that Bike |
Trivia
- The Post Van's model had a cast made for the Sodor Bakery van, and began sharing its chassis with the latter.
- The Post Van's model used to be on display at Drayton Manor, but it was sent back to storage in early 2020. The model was then redisplayed at the second Clearwater Event in August 2022.
- Despite the fact it is faceless and apparently non-sentient, the Post Van was given a nameboard. It is also the only faceless vehicle to have one.
- The Post Van's CGI model was originally made under Nitrogen Studios, however the model went unused until the twenty-fourth series.
- In some shots from Mind that Bike, the van has silver rims on its wheels, for most of the episode the hubcaps are entirely red, then in the fifth series one of the front hub caps was silver with red trimmings.
Merchandise
- Ertl (discontinued)
- Thomas Engine Collection Series (with flatbed; discontinued)
- Capsule Plarail (normal, advertisement with Mr. Bubbles, and metallic)
- Nakayoshi (with postbox; discontinued)
- Pocket Fantasy (discontinued)
References
Locomotives | Steam | Thomas | Percy | Toby |
---|---|---|
Diesel | Mavis | |
Former | Glynn | Coffee Pots | Daisy | |
Rolling Stock | Passenger | Annie and Clarabel | Henrietta | Hannah |
Non-Rail Vehicles | Terence | Bertie | Harold | Bulgy | Caroline | Bulstrode | Tiger Moth | Elizabeth | The Hot Air Balloon | Cleo | |
People | Mrs. Kyndley | Farmer Finney | Farmer McColl | Farmer Trotter | Ruth | |
Affiliates | Toby's Branch Line | Ffarquhar Quarry Company | |
Infrastructure | Stations | Knapford | Dryaw | Toryreck** | Sports Field Halt** | Elsbridge | Maithwaite** | Hackenbeck | Ffarquhar | New Harbour* |
Sheds | Elsbridge Engine Sheds (Carriage Shed) | Hackenbeck Shed | |
Tunnels and Bridges | The Valley Bridge* | Elsbridge Viaduct | Bulgy's Bridge* | The Watermill | Hackenbeck Tunnel |
Road vehicles | Terence | Bertie | Trevor | Bulgy | George | Caroline | The Horrid Lorries | Butch | Thumper | Elizabeth | Nelson | Jack | Alfie | Oliver | Max and Monty | Kelly | Byron | Ned | |
|
---|---|---|
Aircraft | Harold | Tiger Moth | Jeremy | Emerson | Isla | The Hot Air Balloon | Aeroplanes | |
Watercraft | Bulstrode | Captain | Terrey | Krystyna | Canal Boats | S.S. Roxstar | Lucinda | Alysia | Northlight | Wharf Canal Boats | The Mayor's Yacht | Sodor Line | |
Cranes | Cranky | Colin | Ol' Wheezy | Hee-Haw | Happy Hook | Merrick | Reg | Carly | Big Mickey | Beresford | Kobe | Cassia | Carter | |
Others | Owen | Stefano | Trailers |