Timeline for 94148:
British Rail form 'Rail Express Systems' (RES) from their Parcels Sector
RES begin converting GUV vehicles into high security 'Super GUV' examples. This involved the plating over of windows and the installation of roller shutter doors, Helston's example was renumbered during this process from 95148 to 94148. It was here 94148 gained its 'NKA' TOPS code, The N being for Non-Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock, the 'K' donating General Utility Van with Roller Shutter Doors 100 mph, and the 'A' being for air braked.
As part of the privatisation of British Rail, RES is bought by an international consortium which was lead by Wisconsin Central Transportation.
Wisconsin Central purchase the freight companies Transrail, Loadhaul and Mainline and amalgamate them and RES to begin trading as the English, Welsh & Scottish Railway (EWS). EWS still retained the RES image for the Royal Mail trains.
This was to be the last month in use on Royal Mail services for 94148. It was noted on 8th October 2003 as part of train 1M61 18:44 Swansea to Willesden (TOPS report). Exactly a week later on October 15th it was one of thirteen vehicles being taken by locomotive number 67022 as 5Z23 07:30 from Bristol Barton Hill Depot to Exeter Riverside Yard for open storage. (TOPS report).
Having lost the contract with Royal Mail, EWS run their last mail train. Large numbers of mail vans are stored around the country and the company eventually start selling them off for scrap/preservation.
Having sat in the open at Exeter Riverside Yard for over two years 94148 was finally moved on the 28th December 2005. Class 66 loco no 66174 took 94148 and 94442 from the yard up to Bishops Lydeard on the West Somerset Railway where they entered preservation. The train ran as 5F81 15:09 Exeter Riverside to Bishops Lydeard.
94148 is moved by road from the West Somerset Railway to Trevarno.