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Did you know that London once had an underground, driverless railway for its post?
Known as Mail Rail, or formerly the Post Office Railway, it operated from 1927 until 2003 to move mail around between postal sorting offices. Like the London Underground but for envelopes rather than people.
And now it has its very own museum where you can see some of the tunnels for yourself.
History of Mail Rail
Mail Rail’s line ran from Paddington Head District Sorting Office to the Eastern Head Sorting Office in Whitechapel, a distance of 6.5 miles.
It originally had eight stations, the largest of which was underneath Mount Pleasant sorting office, on the boundary between the boroughs of Islington and Camden .
The line was first used for Christmas parcels in 1927 and letters were carried on it from February 1928.
(Image: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
As time went on, sorting offices were relocated, so there were only stations left by the time the line was nearing closure.
Then in April 2003, Royal Mail sent out a press release saying the railway would be closed at the end of May that year. It had previously been reported that using the line was five times more expensive than using road transport for the same task.
How to visit
(Image: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
A museum opened in September 2017 for tourists to explore part of the railway beneath the Mount Pleasant depot.
The 15-minute, immersive underground experience will allow you to explore the former Mail Rail line in a 15-minute circular trip on board a mini train.
You’ll see the original station platforms as well as experience some theatrical displays showing what it was like to work on Mail Rail.
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Tickets to the museum and mail rail experience cost £16 for adults if you book online and there are a range of concessions.
Your ticket gets you a ride on the mini train plus unlimited access to the museum exhibitions all year.
Want more news? Head to the MyLondon homepage .
Got a story? Email lucy.skoulding@reachplc.com
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