The Travelling Post Office

The spacious lineside holiday carriage with a stove

St Germans - Cornwall - PL12 5LU

The Travelling Post Office offers fine self catering holiday accommodation with lots of character, sleeping up to four comfortably, or up to 6 using a sofa bed in the lounge. It is located on a railway siding adjoining the station platform at St Germans, in South East Cornwall, UK. There are fine views of passing trains on the adjacent GWR Plymouth to Penzance main railway line and over the Lynher valley. The Travelling Post Office has a wood burning stove, as well as electric heating with all fuel included. Pets are welcome and will enjoy the enclosed garden and the ten acres of private woodland just a few minutes walk away. Our pets page has lots of pet friendly places in Cornwall.

As with all our projects, we have aimed to combine authenticity with all the comforts you could wish for on holiday. The TPO is very well equipped, with a comfortable double bedroom, bunk-room (with views through the clerestory windows!), wc with shower and lounge diner with a leather sofa bed. A cot and children’s toys can be provided on request. The TPO still retains its original letter boxes, and letters can be posted through the garden side box. We have designed the interior to reflect its original purpose as a mail coach, and of course all the usual Railholiday touches, such as our Cornish welcome pack and variety of interesting games and railway books are included. Visit the St Germans page for pictures and more about this beautiful area.

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The TPO measures 47 feet by 8 feet and offers the following facilities :

Toilet with washbasin, shaver socket and shower
Galley kitchen with fridge, hob and microwave with convection oven etc
Double bedroom with bespoke wrought iron bed frame and DAB radio
Bunk room with 2 bunks c/w safety bars (top bunk suitable for child or agile adult only)
Lounge diner with TV and DAB radio, fireside chair, double sofa bed and wood burning stove c/w kettle
Enclosed garden area with seating and BBQ facilities
Free on-site car parking space
Electric heating and wood burning stove. All logs and electricity are included in holiday price
Use of childrens play area, games room with air hockey table, laundry room, freezer, swing ball, etc
Unrestricted free WIFI or wired broadband access

Please follow these links for more about the Carriage Inventory, Accessibility, Visitors Comments or the History of the carriage.

Travelling Post Office no 841 began its life as a standard gauge body on broad gauge bogies, with three passenger compartments, a sorting area, gangway, mail bag net and four delivery arms. It was numbered 2086. In 1896 the compartments were removed to increase the sorting area, and the vehicle was renumbered 841. In 1904 it made history by being pulled behind the City of Truro when it made its record-breaking 100mph run. Perhaps it held the gold bullion? More regularly it was used for Bristol to Penzance runs until it was taken out of service in 1934, after which for many years it formed part of a house in Wales. For more on the the history of the TPO click here.

Click here to book your holiday in The Travelling Post Office on-line now or check availability and prices.
If you prefer, we are pleased to accept telephone enquiries and bookings at any time on 01503 230783.

For information on St Germans and the environs, please visit our St Germans page.

Mail by Rail Web Sites

Mail by Rail - photos and history of the Mail by Rail story
Mikes' Railway History - The Western Postal - details about the postal service in the 1930s
Mikes' Railway History - Driverless Subway Trains carrying the mails under London's streets - about the Post Office Tube between Paddington and Whitechapel, which was built with the object of speeding up the distribution of letters and parcels between the railway termini and the principal district post offices
The TPO and Seapost society - caters for all who are interested in Travelling Post Office and Maritime (seapost/ paquebot/ naval) philatelic material, whether as a main collection or as part of some other collecting field

Travelling Post Office Visitors Comments

"Thankyou so much for the BEST holiday we've ever had - and all the Cornish goodies - they were yum" - Alan, Hayley and Anton

"Lovely layout, good facilities and the attention to detail and resources are brilliant. Thank you for the lovely goodies on arrival and the beautiful roses that smelt divine. The trains that were passing helped to make the holiday and were not intrusive at all." - Mr & Mrs B, Derbyshire.

"The location is amazing, and the accommodation really comfortable. We are sad to be leaving, with tears shed by some of the party." - Mr & Mrs D and family, Sussex.

"The TPO is wonderful and the hospitality is second to none." - Miss W, Northampton.

"We have had a fantastic time in the TPO and although we are a fairly young couple (both 23) it just goes to show you don't have to go to Ibiza to have a good time!" - Mr A, Kent.

"Fantastic conversion, very comfortable and well equipped in a great location. Couldn't ask for more." - Mr & Mrs M and family, Brighton.

"Pleasantly surprised at the comfort of the TPO. Found that St. Germans is very well placed as a base for touring the region and easily places for travelling further afield by train." - Mr & Mrs B, Scunthorpe.

"Lizzy and Dave were so helpful and the extra touches like fresh flowers and Cornish provisions made us feel really welcome." - Mr & Mrs F, Manchester.

"The toys provided in the TPO were fantastic and we also enjoyed playing outside on the ride-on toys. it certainly made for a very easy break." - Mr & Mrs R and family, Banbury.

"Your accommodation is so unique and it is also so refreshing to enjoy your genuine hospitality. Your efforts to provide "everything" for those who choose not to use the care and travel "light" for a whole week is very much appreciated." - Mr & Mrs T and family, Congleton.

"A fantastic week in every way - glorious weather, fantastic accommodation and lots and lots of trains." - The W Family, Devon

"A delightful place to stay." - The E Family, Isle Of Wight

"When we told our friends we were staying in an old "Travelling Post Office" next to a main train line, they thought we were mad! Little did they, or we, realise what a wonderful place we were going to." - The W Family, Cardiff

"It has been a wonderful week in a wonderful place. This is the first holiday in years that we've all wanted the 2nd week." - The W Family, Wilts

"A truly "first class" experience, excellent accommodation, superb weather and lovely hosts." - Mr S, Cheltenham

"Plenty to see and do in the area, well worth the long drive." - Mr L, Mansfield

"Dave & Lizzy are exceptionally nice people, ask if you can listen to their weekly band practice, very impressive. 10/10." - Mr T, Liverpool

"A lovely surprise to walk into the TPO, all the space is quite amazing!" - The B Family, Cambs

"A wonderful week in a wonderful position. The quality of the workmanship and restoration is exceptional. So much character, but with all the modern facilities you need." - The C Family, Stroud

"We have had a fantastic time in the TPO, the children have really enjoyed themselves. It is excellently operated and lots of space." - The C Family

"The TPO is simply lovely! What a week and what a place to stay! In the evening it was always a pleasure to return here." - The C Family, Somerset

"The Wests are back for a second visit! The folks in the village are most welcoming, we enjoyed sharing lunch with them in the local Methodist Church." - The W Family, Cardiff

"We've had an absolutely wonderful time. Our stay was very cosy and comfortable." - Mr C, Ipswich

"St. Germans is ideally placed to go and explore pretty much anywhere in Cornwall, and the TPO is very functional and spacious." - Mr N, Leicester

"Although the TPO is only 13 miles from our actual home, it has been a really memorable week." - The O Family, Plymouth

"A thoroughly enjoyable stay in this magnificently restored and equipped TPO." - Mr D