TPO Swap

[Ronan_Fitz]

Hi Folks, I purchased this Royal Mail TPO to be converted to Irish but apparently its the wrong layout to be used. Would anyone have an Irish TPO they they'd swap for this? Thanks.

[Horsetan]

1 hour ago, Ronan_Fitz said:

Hi Folks, I purchased this Royal Mail TPO to be converted to Irish but apparently its the wrong layout to be used. Would anyone have an Irish TPO they they'd swap for this? Thanks.

That's a BR Mk1 TPO, so the proportions are all wrong.

Ideally, you'd be wanting something like a Bredin Parcel Van, or Irish Freight Models' old resin kit for the CIE TPO

[Mol_PMB]

Indeed. There has not yet been a ready-to-run Irish TPO, as far as I'm aware. And the only kits were made in fairly small numbers and are no longer readily available.

So you may struggle to find an unwanted one out there. 

The forthcoming IRM Park Royal coach has the right underframe and bogies for a CIE bogie TPO, but the body is entirely different.

[Westcorkrailway]

Might be something for 3d printing? We can measure one in Downpatrick, I assume the bogeys are standard 

[Horsetan]

15 minutes ago, Westcorkrailway said:

Might be something for 3d printing? We can measure one in Downpatrick, I assume the bogeys are standard 

That would certainly be helpful 

[GSR 800]

Tommy at IFM told me he was considering a few bogie TPO kits for 2026.

I imagine if you send him an email expressing interest it may improve the chances of production.

[Horsetan]

4 hours ago, GSR 800 said:

Tommy at IFM told me he was considering a few bogie TPO kits for 2026.

I imagine if you send him an email expressing interest it may improve the chances of production.

What's his contact e-mail?

[Galteemore]

I think he operates mainly on Facebook. This is one of his posts with a TPO

[GSR 800]

5 hours ago, Horsetan said:

What's his contact e-mail?

bradytommy101@gmail.com

[jhb171achill]

There is a Bredin full brake available as a Studio Scale Models brass kit. As a complete novice raw beginner in brass modelling, i'm tackling one right now and it's going OK so far - and I think I've done the most awkward bits. So there's that.

Re the IFM one, the P&T markings are in red on a whitish-looking backgrouind. This is wrong. It should be a gold colour on a pale green background. Otherwise it's a very nice coach indeed/

[Ronan_Fitz]

Thanks for all the help folks. I guessed as much. I was onto Tom Brady whose TPO is posted but he's not doing them anymore. That's why I chanced the royal mail one. I'll just have to bide my time it seems.

[Horsetan]

14 hours ago, GSR 800 said:

bradytommy101@gmail.com

I remember buying one of his resin Laminate kits years ago. Let's see if he's serious about another run of the TPO kits....

[GSR 800]

47 minutes ago, Horsetan said:

I remember buying one of his resin Laminate kits years ago. Let's see if he's serious about another run of the TPO kits....

I've sent him an email citing the interest here in a return of the bogie TPO. I'd buy two myself. 

Edited February 17 by GSR 800

[GSR 800]

6 hours ago, Horsetan said:

I remember buying one of his resin Laminate kits years ago. Let's see if he's serious about another run of the TPO kits....

 

11 hours ago, Ronan_Fitz said:

Thanks for all the help folks. I guessed as much. I was onto Tom Brady whose TPO is posted but he's not doing them anymore. That's why I chanced the royal mail one. I'll just have to bide my time it seems.

Update on this from Tommy.

'yes i am hoping to have some bogie tpo available again the next month or two, probably mainly rtr as that what mose lads are asking for, if someone wants a kit im sure i can arrange that too.'

[Horsetan]

18 hours ago, GSR 800 said:

 

Update on this from Tommy.

'.... if someone wants a kit im sure i can arrange that too.'

That's it, I'm in.

I'm just after sending Tommy an e-mail. Hope he sees it.

Edited February 18 by Horsetan

[Horsetan]

On 17/2/2026 at 10:50 AM, Ronan_Fitz said:

...TPO is posted but he's not doing them anymore....

He is doing another run in the next two months. Just after getting a reply from him.

[Horsetan]

On 17/2/2026 at 10:17 PM, GSR 800 said:

 

Update on this from Tommy.

'yes i am hoping to have some bogie tpo available again the next month or two, probably mainly rtr as that what mose lads are asking for, if someone wants a kit im sure i can arrange that too.'

Further TPO update:

The CIE TPO is now available, and I'm just after paying for one. The basic kit only (not RTR) is 90 Euros, plus a further 20 Euros for delivery to UK by DPD.

Tommy accepts payment by Revolut, or IBAN transfer to his Revolut account.

[GSR 800]

5 hours ago, Horsetan said:

Further TPO update:

The CIE TPO is now available, and I'm just after paying for one. The basic kit only (not RTR) is 90 Euros, plus a further 20 Euros for delivery to UK by DPD.

Tommy accepts payment by Revolut, or IBAN transfer to his Revolut account.

Going to get two for myself!

An essential part of a layout like Mullingar from the 50s until the end of mail by rail.

[Horsetan]

18 minutes ago, GSR 800 said:

Going to get two for myself!

An essential part of a layout like Mullingar from the 50s until the end of mail by rail.

You know it makes sense.

The bogies will need to be widened somewhat for 21mm gauge. 

[jhb171achill]

Niggly detail on those - the P&T bit should be green writing on a pale yellowy-green background, not red and white.....

[Horsetan]

5 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Niggly detail on those - the P&T bit should be green writing on a pale yellowy-green background, not red and white.....

Mine's a kit, so I have every opportunity to make my own mistakes on paint shades

[Mol_PMB]

For fans of TPOs and mail trains, this is an impressive rake:

https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000306219 (O'Dea collection, 1967)

I think I count 3 TPOs, 4 bogie mail/parcels vans, 2 tin vans and a solitary passenger coach. The rate of progress of the mail behind a single 121 must have been distinctly 'second class'.

[GSR 800]

17 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

For fans of TPOs and mail trains, this is an impressive rake:

https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000306219 (O'Dea collection, 1967)

I think I count 3 TPOs, 4 bogie mail/parcels vans, 2 tin vans and a solitary passenger coach. The rate of progress of the mail behind a single 121 must have been distinctly 'second class'.

And yet I've seen footage of single 121s absolutely flooring it on trains in the early 60s, including the Enterprise.

 

[Horsetan]

3 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

For fans of TPOs and mail trains, this is an impressive rake:

https://catalogue.nli.ie/Record/vtls000306219 (O'Dea collection, 1967)

I think I count 3 TPOs, 4 bogie mail/parcels vans, 2 tin vans and a solitary passenger coach. The rate of progress of the mail behind a single 121 must have been distinctly 'second class'.

If anything, I'd think the mails were treated with greater priority than the passengers....