London Under the Path: Riding the Underground Mail Rail Line
Oct 20th, 2017, 06:11 AM
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London Under the Path: Riding the Underground Mail Rail Line
Folks looking for something different in London, check this out (from Thomas Cook e-mail):
ERT RIDES MAIL RAIL
On Tuesday some members of the ERT team made an enjoyable visit to Mount Pleasant, London to explore the underground Mail Rail service and postal museum. The Post Office underground railway was designed solely for the movement of letters and parcels, with its automatically controlled trains operating on a 6.5 mile (10.5km) route between Paddington and Whitechapel. When operations ceased on May 31st 2003 the rail system was essentially left as it stood, but some of the tunnels have now been opened to the public who can take a 20 minute ride on the miniature trains complete with a theatrical audio-visual show and explore the interesting exhibition based in the abandoned engineering depot. A recommended day out for enthusiasts like us!
Find out more at http://www.postalmuseum.org/discover...ail-rail-ride/
ERT RIDES MAIL RAIL
On Tuesday some members of the ERT team made an enjoyable visit to Mount Pleasant, London to explore the underground Mail Rail service and postal museum. The Post Office underground railway was designed solely for the movement of letters and parcels, with its automatically controlled trains operating on a 6.5 mile (10.5km) route between Paddington and Whitechapel. When operations ceased on May 31st 2003 the rail system was essentially left as it stood, but some of the tunnels have now been opened to the public who can take a 20 minute ride on the miniature trains complete with a theatrical audio-visual show and explore the interesting exhibition based in the abandoned engineering depot. A recommended day out for enthusiasts like us!
Find out more at http://www.postalmuseum.org/discover...ail-rail-ride/
Oct 27th, 2017, 12:19 AM
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Just read the 100+ reviews on TripAdvisor. Most of the reviews were from UK visitors who seemed to love the museum, while some overseas visitors were disappointed. The underground train sounded a bit like the miniature train rides at theme parks, cramped for full-sized adults. Should be a good excursion for those interested in Royal Mail history.
Oct 27th, 2017, 02:16 AM
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I suppose it would be nostalgic for us, but not for people from overseas. I can still remember Christmas radio broadcasts for children where a reporter was supposedly wrapped as a Christmas parcel and went through the process of sorting and delivery, and that might well have used this train ride.
Nov 1st, 2017, 02:29 PM
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We did this today!
It wasn't the easiest place to get to. We tubed to Chancery Lane and it was a good 15 minute walk from there.
The train was dinky, so tiny and low, DH and I barely fit in side by side and really only by me leaning forward, whilst himself leant back. We'd have been better on the next train and trying to take a seat each, as some people were doing, but we were called forward to take the last seat. Each train only takes about 20 people.
The whole system was in miniature - just like the Tube but tiny. The platform was only about 1' high, the trains were minute, it was small gauge (poss 2'). There was a commentary and some visual displays at the stations so lots of interesting information.
But great fun. And great to discover a true bit of hidden London. Everyone seemed to get out of the train with a smile on their face!
The ride was just under 20 minutes and then you could have a nose around the Mail Rail Museum which was good.
After that we crossed the road to the Postal Museum which was included in the price of the ticket. That was quite interesting, maybe a bit aimed at children, but interesting anyway, as part of our heritage.
It wasn't the easiest place to get to. We tubed to Chancery Lane and it was a good 15 minute walk from there.
The train was dinky, so tiny and low, DH and I barely fit in side by side and really only by me leaning forward, whilst himself leant back. We'd have been better on the next train and trying to take a seat each, as some people were doing, but we were called forward to take the last seat. Each train only takes about 20 people.
The whole system was in miniature - just like the Tube but tiny. The platform was only about 1' high, the trains were minute, it was small gauge (poss 2'). There was a commentary and some visual displays at the stations so lots of interesting information.
But great fun. And great to discover a true bit of hidden London. Everyone seemed to get out of the train with a smile on their face!
The ride was just under 20 minutes and then you could have a nose around the Mail Rail Museum which was good.
After that we crossed the road to the Postal Museum which was included in the price of the ticket. That was quite interesting, maybe a bit aimed at children, but interesting anyway, as part of our heritage.
