The end of the Royal Mail Trains signals the end of a long history of post by rail.

There are very few clues as to the origin and occupation of my grandfather, an Irish emigrant. He, like my father, had children born later in life and dedicated his early life to striving for a career to turn his financial fortunes. Recently, when applying for a passport I had to extract his birth and death certificates and found he was born in 1862 in the Vale of Avoca, Ireland and died without much note in 1949 in Southend-on-Sea Essex.

But what was interesting to learn was that his profession was listed simply as "Retired Chief Clerk - TPO - GPO" and this led me to a fascinating journey of discovery in both personal and postal history. Michael Beattie had left Ireland at the turn of the Century as many others did. He landed in Toxteth Liverpool with very little means. Despite this, he gained a scholarship to study in Liverpool and renounced his Irish Citizenship to join the GPO as a postal clerk. Although the family story was that he had set up some of the early postal code systems and been involved with the Travelling Post Office, my father had left very few clues beyond this ledger that I still have to this day.

So, with the help of some records from the British Civil Service and a kind researcher at the Postal Museum I started to piece together a small part of my family history. It was a unique experience to visit the museum in London, which now lies right next to Mount Pleasant a former hub that was once one of the largest sorting offices in the world. Here I was able to access his Civil Service records and learn more about his job as a Chief Clerk of the Travelling Post Office (TPO).

Across the road from the main museum building is Mail Rail, an interactive exhibition that tells a story of the history of communication and the role of the railway which heralded a new era of fast mail to the far north. Two specially constructed trains convey visitors on a 1km section of the 2' gauge Post Office Railway which ran driverless electric trains between Whitechapel and Paddington from 1927 to 2003, linking eight sorting offices.

The TPO system, an innovation in the 19th century, revolutionised mail delivery between Scotland and London. Initiated in 1838, the TPO facilitated the sorting of mail en route, significantly expediting the postal process.

Trains were equipped with sorting carriages, allowing postal workers to organise mail while travelling. This innovation was critical during an era when communication was vital for both personal and commercial activities. The TPO's efficiency not only enhanced the speed of postal services but also symbolised the burgeoning industrial advancements of the time, linking distant communities through a reliable and rapid communication network.

By the mid-20th century, the TPO had become an integral part of the UK's postal system, ensuring timely delivery of letters and parcels across long distances. The London to Scotland route was particularly significant, serving major urban centres and facilitating economic and social connectivity. Despite its eventual decline due to advancements in technology and changes in transportation infrastructure, the legacy of the TPO remains influential.

The TPO system underscored the importance of adaptable and innovative logistical solutions, paving the way for modern postal services. The Royal Mail has alas gone through a series of iterations and now as a privatised company it seeks to make savings. Last month they announced that after almost 200 years of conveying mail by rail they will decommission their last remaining dedicated electric multiple units by the 10th October 2024.

From a personal perspective I feel sad to see them go, without ceremony, or note. Indeed without any recognition of the logistical advances created through the unity of mail and rail. To reflect on this I am grateful to share a small personal history and to enjoy the WH Auden poem from the GPO's 1936 Night Mail film which can be found on the magazine's companion page.