Thread by @MrTimDunn

Many years ago, Britain had dozens of “camping coaches” all over our railway network. But few still exist. So, today, I’d like to tell you about the history of #CampingCoaches - and this beautiful 1895 converted Travelling Post Office I stayed in last night... (thread)...⬇️

Camping coaches, or camp coaches, were a brilliant idea: The first ten were by the LNER in 1933. The GWR quickly picked up on the idea too - launching great value (car-free) holidays that created extra rail traffic, revenue, goodwill and use of decommissioned rolling stock.

Interiors were often spartan by today’s standards: they were “camping” coaches, after all. But local staff would frequently augment the interiors. There were usually berth beds within compartments, a small kitchen & dining area carved out too. Pullman camping coaches existed too.

Camping coaches were located in scenic railway locations - mostly on a short siding and shunted into position for a few seasons. Sometimes they moved around Britain after the season, and a few were shored up permanently.

The LNER even has a unique “Touring Camping Coach" service. You joined at York and toured for a week to Pateley Bridge, Aysgarth and Glaisdale, attached to the back of scheduled passenger trains. You took yr own food or requested it in advance from the Royal Station hotel in York

Britain’s public camping coaches died out in 1971: British Rail ended the concept by burning down or selling off the last. But. BUT! A few escaped and new ones began, privately. So last night I stayed at @Railholiday in Cornwall. They have restored 4 coaches, two by the tracks 😍

Over a 20 year period here at St Germans station (it’s on @GWRHelp line between Plymouth-Liskeard), Dave & Lizzy have restored an 1895 Travelling Post Office, GWR slip coach, Luggage Van and more. And you can rent out all of them.

One of my favourite things here is Millpool, a carriage that’s been designed to be fully accessible for wheelchair users or less-mobile guests. This is very thoughtfully designed with special bed, accessible bathrooms etc. 👍

Next up for restoration is one of Queen Victoria’s royal train carriages. The project is immense, but I got the feeling Lizzy and Dave at @Railholiday are well up for the challenge - it’s a delight to see the rest of the historic railway fleet restored to such a high standard.

Anyway. Back to the Travelling Post Office... There are trains outside the window there are so many trains outside the window oh my god there are so many trains

The Travelling Post Office was built in 1895. It’s beautiful. ANd DiD i mEnTiOn tHaT ThErE aRe TrAiNs oUtSiDe TeH wInDoW

The @Railholiday in-carriage library is just about the best I’ve had in a holiday home

This window is where, when this Travelling Post Office was at work, the staff would pull down a lever flinging a net out the side of the coach. It’d catch waiting bags of mail on trackside hooks as the train passed, which got hoiked inside and then sorted on the move.

(If yr holiday home hasn’t got a model train set then is it even a holiday?)

The kitchen here has even been designed to look like an old Travelling Post Office sorting rack. And the original post box for posting mail directly into the mail train is still in the side. For more of these, see @thepostalmuseum and archives.

(Btw I’ve not been paid to write this. We’ve just had a really good time, and I think this stuff is fascinating)

So. The @Railholiday GWR Travelling Post Office:
By the railway tracks. Log burner. Kitchen full of train things. 2 bedrooms. Railway books. Sustainable eco-friendly setup. Lovely people run it. Trains by the window. You are literally living in a train.
I think you’d like it.🚂👍

Quite a few people have replied in this thread with other Camping Coaches you can stay in too, so do scroll through and have a look. (Thank you everyone who had made suggestions; I can’t keep up!)