Ahead of its launch in 2017, The Postal Museum is opening up the now deserted ‘Mail Rail’ to the public for the first time, as an immersive ride through its narrow tunnels.

As part of this unprecedented move, the Museum is offering people the once in a lifetime chance to sponsor a Mail Rail sleeper. This is a never to be repeated opportunity to own or gift a piece of British history and be part of the next chapter of Mail Rail’s life.

Image credit: The Postal Museum

After years of loyal service, many of these oak and jarrah sleepers – without which Mail Rail – the world’s first ever driverless electric railway – couldn’t have run, are now in desperate need of restoration or replacement in order to enable the railway to stay open for generations to come.

Limited to just 1600 sleepers, sponsorship costs £250 and sponsors’ names will be added to commemorative plaques on their rejuvenated sleepers. Sponsorship will also entitle the bearer to an exclusive ‘Walk the Rails’ tour, allowing guests to walk through the now deserted Mail Rail tunnels to visit their sleeper, before they whir into life once more.