Baltimore & Ohio Railway Post Offices Presented at the B&O Historical Society Founder’s Day Banquet March 19, 2011 Railway Mail Service Library in the

Baltimore & OhioBaltimore & Ohio

Railway Post OfficesRailway Post Offices

Presented at the B&O Historical SocietyPresented at the B&O Historical Society

Founder’s Day BanquetFounder’s Day Banquet

March 19, 2011March 19, 2011

Railway Mail Service LibraryRailway Mail Service Libraryin the former N&W Railway station at in the former N&W Railway station at

Boyce, Virginia Boyce, Virginia

Presentation Presentation OverviewOverview

I.I. Overview of the Railway Mail Overview of the Railway Mail ServiceService

II.II. Functions of a Railway Post Functions of a Railway Post OfficeOffice

III.III. ““Linking 13 Great States With Linking 13 Great States With The Nation” via the Washington, The Nation” via the Washington, DC, GatewayDC, Gateway

I.I.

Overview of the Railway Mail Overview of the Railway Mail ServiceService

RMS “Eagle” RMS “Eagle” badge badge

introduced in introduced in 18991899

Railway Mail ServiceRailway Mail Service

Experimental route in 1862 between Experimental route in 1862 between

Hannibal and St. Joseph, MissouriHannibal and St. Joseph, Missouri

First permanent route established on First permanent route established on

August 28, 1864 between Chicago, August 28, 1864 between Chicago,

Illinois, and Clinton, IowaIllinois, and Clinton, Iowa

Final run on June 30, 1977, between Final run on June 30, 1977, between

New York, New York, and Washington, New York, New York, and Washington,

DC DC

Railway Mail ServiceRailway Mail Service Railway Mail Service (RMS) was renamed Railway Mail Service (RMS) was renamed

Postal Transportation Service in 1949.Postal Transportation Service in 1949.

The Postal Transportation Service (PTS) The Postal Transportation Service (PTS)

changed to the Bureau of Transportation in changed to the Bureau of Transportation in

1960.1960.

During most of the 20During most of the 20thth Century, there were Century, there were

15 RMS/PTS divisions. B&O RPO routes were 15 RMS/PTS divisions. B&O RPO routes were

in the 2in the 2ndnd, 3, 3rdrd, 5, 5thth, 6, 6th, th, and 15and 15thth Divisions. This Divisions. This

presentation focuses upon the Third Division.presentation focuses upon the Third Division.

II.II.Functions of a Functions of a

Railway Post Railway Post OfficeOffice

A 1944 magazine A 1944 magazine advertisement depicting advertisement depicting the New York & Chicago the New York & Chicago ED/MD/WD RPO trains ED/MD/WD RPO trains

25 and 26. B&O 60-feet 25 and 26. B&O 60-feet RPOs had nearly RPOs had nearly

identical interiors and identical interiors and performed the same performed the same

functions.functions.

Railway Post Office Railway Post Office FunctionsFunctions

A Railway Post Office (RPO) enabled en A Railway Post Office (RPO) enabled en

route distribution of several mail classes: route distribution of several mail classes:

first (letters), second (newspapers), and first (letters), second (newspapers), and

fourth (parcel post) which had special fourth (parcel post) which had special

handling or special delivery.handling or special delivery.

Air mail was frequently diverted to RPOs Air mail was frequently diverted to RPOs

during inclement weather.during inclement weather.

Registered mail, a service of first class, Registered mail, a service of first class,

was under the care of one clerk. was under the care of one clerk.

Crews of Railway Mail Clerks staffed RPOs and Crews of Railway Mail Clerks staffed RPOs and

were Post Office Department employees.were Post Office Department employees.

The average trip length for a 60-feet RPO crew The average trip length for a 60-feet RPO crew

was 300 miles. The longest RPO routes over the was 300 miles. The longest RPO routes over the

B&O were between Washington and Pittsburgh, B&O were between Washington and Pittsburgh,

Pittsburgh and Chicago, and Wheeling and Chicago.Pittsburgh and Chicago, and Wheeling and Chicago.

Many crews had an additional two to four hours Many crews had an additional two to four hours

of “advance time” before departure from the initial of “advance time” before departure from the initial

terminal. terminal.

Railway Post Office Railway Post Office FunctionsFunctions

III. III. ““Linking 13 Great States With The Linking 13 Great States With The

Nation” via the Washington, DC, Nation” via the Washington, DC, GatewayGateway

Cincinnati & St. Louis RPO Cincinnati & St. Louis RPO departing St. Louis, which will run departing St. Louis, which will run

east to Washington, DCeast to Washington, DC

Mail Transportation on Mail Transportation on the B&Othe B&O

Service was performed in three waysService was performed in three ways: RPO space, : RPO space,

storage mail space, and Terminal/Transfer Officesstorage mail space, and Terminal/Transfer Offices

Railroads rented space on trainsRailroads rented space on trains in RPOs and in RPOs and

storage mail cars on the basis of capacity and mileage storage mail cars on the basis of capacity and mileage

to the RMS/PTS. Term/TO facilities were leased to the to the RMS/PTS. Term/TO facilities were leased to the

RMS/PTS. RMS/PTS.

RPOs didn’t just serve post offices located along RPOs didn’t just serve post offices located along

a railroad’s routea railroad’s route.. An illustration of connections at An illustration of connections at

Washington, DC, depicts how the routes over the B&O Washington, DC, depicts how the routes over the B&O

were integrated into the national RMS/PTS network.were integrated into the national RMS/PTS network.

Mail Transportation on Mail Transportation on the B&Othe B&OSeveral slides illustrate how RPO routes over the B&O Several slides illustrate how RPO routes over the B&O

connected with others radiating from Washington. A connected with others radiating from Washington. A

substantial amount of mail to and from each train connected substantial amount of mail to and from each train connected

with the Terminal RPO located within the city post office with the Terminal RPO located within the city post office

adjacent to Washington Union Station.adjacent to Washington Union Station.

Selected pages from these primary source documents are Selected pages from these primary source documents are

provided with this presentation slide handout:provided with this presentation slide handout:

Washington Terminal Employee Timetable # , 218 Washington Terminal Employee Timetable # , 218

4/6/464/6/46

RMS Schedule of Mail Routes RMS Schedule of Mail Routes Second Division # 471, 01/14/46Second Division # 471, 01/14/46

Third Division # 555, 04/30/46Third Division # 555, 04/30/46

Fifteenth Division # 175, 02/20/46Fifteenth Division # 175, 02/20/46

B&O Passenger Consist Book # 6, 8/1/46B&O Passenger Consist Book # 6, 8/1/46

RPO Routes Terminating at Washington, RPO Routes Terminating at Washington,

DC, :DC, :

Washington & Chicago East Division.Washington & Chicago East Division.

Washington & Grafton (also called the Washington & Grafton (also called the

Washington & St. Louis East Division)Washington & St. Louis East Division)

New York, Baltimore and Washington.New York, Baltimore and Washington.


Washington & Chicago East DivisionWashington & Chicago East Division Eastbound trains 8, 10, 20, 22, and 34Eastbound trains 8, 10, 20, 22, and 34 Westbound trains 7, 11, 15, and 25Westbound trains 7, 11, 15, and 25

Connections to and from these trains:Connections to and from these trains: Buffalo & WashingtonBuffalo & Washington New York & WashingtonNew York & Washington New York, Baltimore & WashingtonNew York, Baltimore & Washington Washington & BluemontWashington & Bluemont Washington & BristolWashington & Bristol Washington & CharlotteWashington & Charlotte Washington & Cincinnati East DivisionWashington & Cincinnati East Division Washington & FlorenceWashington & Florence Washington & GraftonWashington & Grafton Washington & HamletWashington & Hamlet Washington & Harrisonburg Highway Post Washington & Harrisonburg Highway Post

OfficeOffice


Washington & GraftonWashington & Grafton Eastbound trains 4 and 12Eastbound trains 4 and 12 Westbound trains 1, 11, and 23Westbound trains 1, 11, and 23

Connections to and from these trains:Connections to and from these trains: Buffalo & WashingtonBuffalo & Washington New York & WashingtonNew York & Washington New York, Baltimore & WashingtonNew York, Baltimore & Washington Washington & BristolWashington & Bristol Washington & CharlotteWashington & Charlotte Washington & Chicago East DivisionWashington & Chicago East Division Washington & Cincinnati East DivisionWashington & Cincinnati East Division Washington & FlorenceWashington & Florence Washington & HamletWashington & Hamlet


New York, Baltimore and WashingtonNew York, Baltimore and Washington Northbound trains 2 and 6Northbound trains 2 and 6 Southbound trains 1 and 511Southbound trains 1 and 511

Connections to and from these trains:Connections to and from these trains: Buffalo & WashingtonBuffalo & Washington New York & WashingtonNew York & Washington Washington & BristolWashington & Bristol Washington & CharlotteWashington & Charlotte Washington & Chicago East DivisionWashington & Chicago East Division Washington & Cincinnati East DivisionWashington & Cincinnati East Division Washington & FlorenceWashington & Florence Washington & GraftonWashington & Grafton Washington & HamletWashington & Hamlet


Summary:Summary:

Mail connections at Washington were Mail connections at Washington were

made two ways:made two ways:

Direct pouch between trains handled Direct pouch between trains handled

through the Washington, DC, transfer through the Washington, DC, transfer

officeoffice

Mail dispatched to the Terminal that was Mail dispatched to the Terminal that was

distributed and sent to a specific train.distributed and sent to a specific train.

Similar inter-route connections Similar inter-route connections

existed at all major B&O terminals as existed at all major B&O terminals as

well as junction pointswell as junction points..


Questions?

1880s Mail Crane with 1880s Mail Crane with Catcher PouchCatcher Pouch

Thank you!Thank you!Watch for the Owney Watch for the Owney

stamp to be issued stamp to be issued on July 26, 2011. on July 26, 2011. Owney traveled on Owney traveled on RPOs between 1888 RPOs between 1888 and 1897 and was and 1897 and was considered the considered the mascot of the RMS.mascot of the RMS.

Owney at Owney at Pittsfield, Pittsfield,

MassachusettsMassachusetts

For more For more information:information:

Frank R. Scheer, Frank R. Scheer, Railway Mail Service LibraryRailway Mail Service Library

[email protected] East Main Street117 East Main Street

Boyce, VA 22620-9639Boyce, VA 22620-9639

Documents

Baltimore & Ohio Railway Post Offices Presented at the B&O Historical Society Founder’s Day Banquet March 19, 2011 Railway Mail Service Library in the