TPO -> Newfoundland TPOs
Newfoundland TPOs
By Keith Morris
Start and finish dates: 1886 to c1953
The TPOs played an important role in the distribution of mails in Newfoundland. Communication in the early years was very difficult and even now the road network leaves much to be desired. Therefore the carriage of mail by railway and boat in those days was vital.
The railway starts at St John's and follows a circuitous route across the island and then down to Port aux Basques. The parts not served by the railway were served by a series of boats which operated when the weather permitted. The adjacent map of branch lines since 1883 is by Tanya Saunders and shown by kind permission of Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Web Site.
Note the location of the town of Botwood which played a major role in early transatlantic airmail routes.
Pre Confederation Period
The following is a list of TPOs with an indication of ship or rail, route and approximate dates of operation.
| TPO | Route | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentia TPO | St John's - Argentia | 23.11.1842 | 15.6.1948 | Rail |
| Bay De Verde RPO | Brigus Junction - Bay de Verde | 14.7.1917 | 3.8.1933 | Rail |
| Bonavista Bay RPO | St John's - Bonavista Bay | 26.5.1903 | 25.9.1918 | Ship |
| Bonavista Rly RPO | Clarenville - Bonavista | 21.5.1912 | 26.4.1949 | Rail |
| Coastal North TPO | St John's - Battle Harbor | 2.4.1891 | 25.9.1946 | Ship |
| Coastal South TPO | St John's - Harbor Breton | 14.2.1921 | 24.7.1944 | Ship |
| Coastal West TPO | Harbor Breton - La Poile | 2.4.1891 | 4.3.1931 | Ship |
| Conception Bay Rly TPO | St John's - Brigus Jcn - Carbonear | 16.8.1898 | c 1949 | Rail |
| Ferryland Rly ?PO | St John's - Ferryland | 13.7.1917 | 30.11.1920 | Rail |
| Fogo District TPO | Lewisport - Fogo | 6.11.1911 | 10.7.1947 | Ship |
| Fortune Bay TPO | Not known | 27.3.1922 | 14.1.1911 | Ship |
| Green Bay TPO | Lewisporte - Shoe Cove | 12.9.1914 | ? | Ship |
| Halls Bay RPO | Norris Arm - St John's | 24.1.1896 | 8.6.1938 | Rail |
| Hearts Content Rly TPO | St John's - Whitbourne - Hearts Content | 15.8.1916 | 24.4.1930 | Rail |
| Labrador TPO | St John's - Hopedale | 16.8.1896 | 11.10.1947 | Ship |
| Newfoundland Railway TPO | St John's - Port aux Basques | 8.4.1896 | c 1925 | Rail |
| N N & W Railway TPO | St John's - Port aux Basques | 22.6.1898 | 25.2.1903 | Rail |
| N & W TPO | St John's - Port aux Basques | 14.7.1900 | 14.10.1906 | Rail |
| SS Northern Ranger | St John's - Battle Harbor - Corner Brook | 22.5.1938 | 31.10.1947 | Ship |
| Notre Dame Bay TPO | Lewisporte - Shoe Cove | 5.9.1899 | 29.8.1947 | Ship |
| Placentia Bay TPO | Placentia Bay - Placentia | 5.11.1899 | 26.8.1947 | Ship |
| Placentia RPO | St John's - Placentia Jcn - Placentia | 14.1.1911 | c 1927 | Rail |
| Port aux Basques & North Sydney TPO | Port aux Basques - North Sydney | 7.7.1922 | c 1929 | Ship |
| Railway TPO | St John's - Port aux Basques | 23.11.1886 | 20.5.1899 | Rail |
| St John's & Port aux Basques RPO | St John's - Port aux Basques | 15.9.1930 | 3.9.1947 | Rail |
| South Coast TPO | Argentia - Port aux Basques | 9.8.1905 | c 1948 | Ship |
| S W Coast TPO | Port aux Basques - Corner Brook | 7.4.1943 | c 1947 | Ship |
| Straits TPO | St John's - Corner Brook | 30.6.1903 | c 1946 | Ship |
| Straits & N E Coast TPO | Not known | 14.12.1915 | c 1915 | Ship |
| Sydney & Port aux Basques TPO | Sydney - Port aux Basques | 21.12.1911 | c 1912 | Ship |
| Trepassey TPO | St John's - Trepassey | 28.2.1918 | 29.10.1929 | ?Rail |
| Trinity Bay TPO | St John's - Trinity | 13.12.1899 | c 1922 | Ship |
| White Bay TPO | Not known | 27.9.1918 | 1.12.1930 | Ship |
Bundle label from the St John's & Port aux Basques RPO, dated 5th November 1936
Post Confederation Period TPOs
After Confederation on 31st March 1949 the existing datestamps continued in use and can be found on Newfoundland, Canada and mixed franking covers. Before the end of 1949 new handstamps of typical Canadian style were brought into use. For just how long they continued in use is not accurately known, however one cover seen is dated 12th January 1953. Perhaps someone out there can offer an update on this point please?
| TPO | Route | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARG & N SYD TPO | Argentia - North Sydney | 1.8.1950 | 9.2.1951 | Ship |
| ARG & PAB TPO | Argentia - Port aux Basques | 9.11.1949 | 3.11.1950 | Ship |
| CLAR & BON RPO | Clarenville - Bonavista | 22.9.1949 | 28.7.1950 | Rail |
| LEW & FOGO TPO | Lewisporte - Fogo | 20.10.1949 | 28.7.1950 | Ship |
| LEW & SHOE COVE TPO | Lewisporte - Shoe Cove | 13.10.1949 | 24.7.1950 | Ship |
| St J & ARG RPO | St John's - Argentia | 21.10.1949 | 1.2.1951 | Rail |
| St J & C BK RPO | St John's - Corner Brook | ? | 12.1.1953 | Rail |
| St J & CARB RPO | St John's - Carbonear | 22.9.1949 | 27.11.1952 | Rail |
| St J & HOPEDALE TPO | St John's - Hopedale | 29.4.1949 | 15.7.1951 | Ship |
| St J & LEW TPO | St John's - Lewisporte | 14.10.1949 | 28.7.1950 | Ship |
| St J & PAB RPO | St John's - Port aux Basques | 20.9.1949 | 14.11.1950 | Rail |
| St J CH & C BK TPO | St John's - Cook Harbor - Corner Brook | 18.11.1949 | 12.8.1950 | Ship |
Source: TPO, the magazine of the TPO & Seapost Society 1986
