As you know I'm also into Morris Minor Vans, mainly G.P.O. vehicles mail and telephone vans. So here is an interesting picture of a slightly bent one and how it happened.
VAN DRIVER IN CRASH ESCAPES BY 'A MIRACLE'.
A Post Office driver was trapped in the cabin of his van and dragged along upside down for 150 feet after collision with waggons near Dalkeith today. Three of the waggons were derailed and the van ended up across the rails on its roof, a total wreck. But the driver, George Harrison escaped with only minor bruises and shock.
"It was a miracle" said colliery worker, William J Brown who was one of the first on the scene. The accident happened shortly before 8am on a level crossing connecting a farm road with Smeaton Colliery, Dalkeith. The van was delivering mail to the colliery's preparation plant. As it went over the crossing it was caught by waggons which wee being shunted. At the side of the railway, workers in the colliery smithy stood watching the smithy operations. Then 17-year old Thomas Dixon, shouted "There's an accident. " The men rushed up the embankment and found Harrison trapped in his cabin. Said Mr Brown "His right trouser leg was ripped and his left foot was jammed. We freed it and he climbed out himself. "His first concern was for the mail". He actually ran about collecting the scattered mail and packages and refused to go to the first aid centre for treatment until the last package was found. "As the workers tried to release the van driver, Brown handed over a knife to cut a boot from Harrison's foot but they managed to treat him without it. Harrison, after treatment at the first aid centre was allowed home.
Taken from the Evening Dispatch: October 8, 1958.
From the POVC.
The van is OXN 81 (GPO serial number 50120), part of a batch of 680 Morris Minor mailvans registered NYH 498-999 and OXN 1-178. They were registered on 22nd April 1954 but delivery extended through 1954 and into early 1955. We hold the GPO records for most mailvans from 1950 to 1985; the card for OXN 81 is missing suggesting that something "happened to it". We also hold the licensing sheets (GPO vans didn't have individual road fund licences but carried Crown Exemption Certificates) for most mailvans - this lists London County Council as having been advised of sale or break-up of OXN 81 on 8th December 1958. This date is much earlier that normal withdrawal of these vans - they generally lasted until 1963 or 1964.The record card for a later Morris Minor - UXH 285 new on 16th October 1958 shows it to have replaced 50120 (accident). UXH 285 was based at Dalkeith in Head Postmaster Edinburgh's area with the van maintained at Carlton Road in Edinburgh.
I hope to have more vehicle stuff for you next week!
