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This article is about the train. You may be looking for the magazine story.

The Mail Train (also occasionally known as the Post Train) is a train which transports letters and parcels.

Pulling the Mail Train is noted as being one of Percy's favourite jobs.

History

Between the third series and Thomas and the Magic Railroad, two separate trains were pulled by Thomas and Percy as the load was too heavy for one engine to do the work alone. Since the sixth series, Percy usually carries the mail alone, with Thomas substituting for him whenever he is not available, though other engines have also pitched in when needed. When the Mail Train was unavailable altogether, Harold is sometimes used as substitute.

Hiro usually takes a mail train to the Mainland, while Hong-Mei pulls the mail train in China.[1][2] Mail from the Mainland was previously brought in by Henry to be transferred to Percy's train.[3] In an annual story, the mail for the Mainland is instead shown to be handled by a high-speed train.[4]

The train usually consists of special utility vans and a brake van, however these have occasionally been accompanied by open wagons or short flatbeds.

Mail Vans

"I pull the mail trucks. They're red and they're wooden, and they're full of very exciting parcels!"
― Percy[src]

The Mail Vans (also known as the Sodor Mail Coaches) are specialised pieces of rolling stock used for transporting letters and parcels across the railway. These vans form the majority of the rolling stock used for the mail train. The mail train usually consists of only two of these vans, although there have been occasions when trains of up to six have been seen. Daisy takes one of these mail vans from Arlesburgh West up to Harwick every morning.

Technical Details

Basis

The mail vans are based on the Southern Railway Diagram 3101 Covered Carriage Truck (CCT), albeit with bogies in place of the usual four wheels. This van was derived from the earlier SE&CR Diagram 960 PMV, It remained in production until 1955, and remained in regular service until 1986, with a few surviving on departmental duties into the 1990s. The utility vans share the same basis.

Livery

The mail vans are painted red with black roofs, valences, buffer beams and wheels. They originally had black bracing, though this has been changed to red from the twenty-second series onwards.

The vans originally had the words "SODOR MAIL" written across the doors on both sides in white. Starting from Hero of the Rails, the lettering was replaced by a graphic of an envelope with wings, also in white.

Appearances

Thomas & Friends

Specials

Music Videos

Learning Segments

Videos

Books

My Thomas Story Library

Engine Adventures

Annual Stories

Magazine Stories

The vans also appear in the magazine stories, Lost Luggage! and Snatched to Safety.

Video Games

Official Description

From Official Media:[1]

Sodor Mail Coaches: The Sodor Mail Coaches ensure fast and efficient mail delivery service. The mail for the townsfolk is picked up by the engines and sorted on the move just like the typical mobile sorting offices that were designed and build in the 1940's in Britain.


Historical Note: Britain pioneered mail sorting on the move, resulting in a fast and efficient national mail delivery service. The Sodor Mail coaches are based on the typical mobile sorting offices that were designed and built in the 1940's.

From Official Media:[2]

Sodor Mail Coach: Percy and Thomas enjoy pulling the Mail Train around the Island of Sodor. While the job can be hard work, the engines know it is very important. Because Percy and Thomas keep the Mail Train running like clockwork, everyone calls it "the pride of the line."

Trivia

  • In Hero of the Rails, they are referred to as "Mail Trucks" in the UK and "Mail Cars" in the US narration. Whereas, in the merchandise ranges, they are referred to as the "Sodor Mail Coaches".
  • The Mail Vans logo from Hero of the Rails onwards is a reference to pigeon carriers, where pigeons would carry letters and mail from humans.
  • In several pieces of merchandise and other media, the mail vans are repurposed from other pieces of rolling stock:
MailCoaches(Stroudley)

The Mail Vans as LBSC Stroudley Coaches in the magazines.

Merchandise

Mail Trucks

These trucks are special 7-Plank Trucks that are occasionally used as part of the Mail Train. The trucks have been pulled by Edward and Percy. James once helped Edward deliver these trucks containing presents from Brendam Docks to Knapford.

Technical Details

Basis

These trucks are based on 7-plank trucks.

Livery

In the third series, the plank trucks used for the mail train were dark green with black bracing. Since the ninth series, they have been painted crimson with black bracing.

Their Take Along toys depict them with the words "SODOR MAIL" on both sides in white, later replaced by the graphic of an envelope with wings as per the vans on their Mega Bloks toys.

Appearances

Official Description

From Official Media:[3]

Mail Train: Thomas and Percy steam through the stations all night to ensure heavy loads of letters are delivered on time making the Mail Train, the pride of the line.

Merchandise

Travelling Post Office Vans

The Travelling Post Office Vans are specialised vans with nets to catch mail bags from lineside posts.

Technical Details

Basis

The vans are based on London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Royal Mail Travelling Post Office Vans.

Livery

The TPO vans are red with two yellow stripes along the sides. They have black ends and light grey roofs.

Appearances

Merchandise

References



--- Dropped | * 1991-1994 maps only | ** 2014 map only

* David Mitton map only | ** Sam Wilkinson map only
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