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 former N&W Railway station at Boyce, Virginia

Presentation Overview I. Overview of the Railway Mail Service II. Functions of a Railway Post Office III. “Linking 13 Great States With The Nation” via the Washington, DC, Gateway

I. Overview of the Railway Mail Service RMS “Eagle” badge introduced in 1899

Railway Mail Service Experimental route in 1862 between Hannibal and St. Joseph, Missouri Experimental route in 1862 between Hannibal and St. Joseph, Missouri First permanent route established on August 28, 1864 between Chicago, Illinois, and Clinton, Iowa First permanent route established on August 28, 1864 between Chicago, Illinois, and Clinton, Iowa Final run on June 30, 1977, between New York, New York, and Washington, DC Final run on June 30, 1977, between New York, New York, and Washington, DC

Railway Mail Service Railway Mail Service (RMS) was renamed Postal Transportation Service in Railway Mail Service (RMS) was renamed Postal Transportation Service in The Postal Transportation Service (PTS) changed to the Bureau of Transportation in The Postal Transportation Service (PTS) changed to the Bureau of Transportation in During most of the 20 th Century, there were 15 RMS/PTS divisions. B&O RPO routes were in the 2 nd, 3 rd, 5 th, 6 th, and 15 th Divisions. This presentation focuses upon the Third Division. During most of the 20 th Century, there were 15 RMS/PTS divisions. B&O RPO routes were in the 2 nd, 3 rd, 5 th, 6 th, and 15 th Divisions. This presentation focuses upon the Third Division.

II. Functions of a Railway Post Office A 1944 magazine advertisement depicting the New York & Chicago ED/MD/WD RPO trains 25 and 26. B&O 60-feet RPOs had nearly identical interiors and performed the same functions.

Railway Post Office Functions A Railway Post Office (RPO) enabled en route distribution of several mail classes: first (letters), second (newspapers), and fourth (parcel post) which had special handling or special delivery. A Railway Post Office (RPO) enabled en route distribution of several mail classes: first (letters), second (newspapers), and fourth (parcel post) which had special handling or special delivery. Air mail was frequently diverted to RPOs during inclement weather. Air mail was frequently diverted to RPOs during inclement weather. Registered mail, a service of first class, was under the care of one clerk. Registered mail, a service of first class, was under the care of one clerk.

Crews of Railway Mail Clerks staffed RPOs and were Post Office Department employees. Crews of Railway Mail Clerks staffed RPOs and were Post Office Department employees. The average trip length for a 60-feet RPO crew was 300 miles. The longest RPO routes over the B&O were between Washington and Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh and Chicago, and Wheeling and Chicago. The average trip length for a 60-feet RPO crew was 300 miles. The longest RPO routes over the B&O were between Washington and Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh and Chicago, and Wheeling and Chicago. Many crews had an additional two to four hours of “advance time” before departure from the initial terminal. Many crews had an additional two to four hours of “advance time” before departure from the initial terminal. Railway Post Office Functions

III. “Linking 13 Great States With The Nation” via the Washington, DC, Gateway Cincinnati & St. Louis RPO departing St. Louis, which will run east to Washington, DC

Mail Transportation on the B&O Service was performed in three ways: RPO space, storage mail space, and Terminal/Transfer Offices Service was performed in three ways: RPO space, storage mail space, and Terminal/Transfer Offices Railroads rented space on trains in RPOs and storage mail cars on the basis of capacity and mileage to the RMS/PTS. Term/TO facilities were leased to the RMS/PTS. Railroads rented space on trains in RPOs and storage mail cars on the basis of capacity and mileage to the RMS/PTS. Term/TO facilities were leased to the RMS/PTS. RPOs didn’t just serve post offices located along a railroad’s route. An illustration of connections at Washington, DC, depicts how the routes over the B&O were integrated into the national RMS/PTS network. RPOs didn’t just serve post offices located along a railroad’s route. An illustration of connections at Washington, DC, depicts how the routes over the B&O were integrated into the national RMS/PTS network.

Mail Transportation on the B&O Several slides illustrate how RPO routes over the B&O connected with others radiating from Washington. A substantial amount of mail to and from each train connected with the Terminal RPO located within the city post office adjacent to Washington Union Station. Selected pages from these primary source documents are provided with this presentation slide handout: Washington Terminal Employee Timetable #, 218 4/6/46 Washington Terminal Employee Timetable #, 218 4/6/46 RMS Schedule of Mail Routes RMS Schedule of Mail Routes Second Division # 471, 01/14/46 Second Division # 471, 01/14/46 Third Division # 555, 04/30/46 Third Division # 555, 04/30/46 Fifteenth Division # 175, 02/20/46 Fifteenth Division # 175, 02/20/46 B&O Passenger Consist Book # 6, 8/1/46 B&O Passenger Consist Book # 6, 8/1/46

RPO Routes Terminating at Washington, DC, : Washington & Chicago East Division. Washington & Chicago East Division. Washington & Grafton (also called the Washington & St. Louis East Division) Washington & Grafton (also called the Washington & St. Louis East Division) New York, Baltimore and Washington. New York, Baltimore and Washington. Mail Transportation on the B&O

Washington & Chicago East Division Eastbound trains 8, 10, 20, 22, and 34 Eastbound trains 8, 10, 20, 22, and 34 Westbound trains 7, 11, 15, and 25 Westbound trains 7, 11, 15, and 25 Connections to and from these trains: Buffalo & Washington Buffalo & Washington New York & Washington New York & Washington New York, Baltimore & Washington New York, Baltimore & Washington Washington & Bluemont Washington & Bluemont Washington & Bristol Washington & Bristol Washington & Charlotte Washington & Charlotte Washington & Cincinnati East Division Washington & Cincinnati East Division Washington & Florence Washington & Florence Washington & Grafton Washington & Grafton Washington & Hamlet Washington & Hamlet Washington & Harrisonburg Highway Post Office Washington & Harrisonburg Highway Post Office Mail Transportation on the B&O

Washington & Grafton Eastbound trains 4 and 12 Eastbound trains 4 and 12 Westbound trains 1, 11, and 23 Westbound trains 1, 11, and 23 Connections to and from these trains: Connections to and from these trains: Buffalo & Washington Buffalo & Washington New York & Washington New York & Washington New York, Baltimore & Washington New York, Baltimore & Washington Washington & Bristol Washington & Bristol Washington & Charlotte Washington & Charlotte Washington & Chicago East Division Washington & Chicago East Division Washington & Cincinnati East Division Washington & Cincinnati East Division Washington & Florence Washington & Florence Washington & Hamlet Washington & Hamlet Mail Transportation on the B&O

New York, Baltimore and Washington Northbound trains 2 and 6 Northbound trains 2 and 6 Southbound trains 1 and 511 Southbound trains 1 and 511 Connections to and from these trains: Buffalo & Washington Buffalo & Washington New York & Washington New York & Washington Washington & Bristol Washington & Bristol Washington & Charlotte Washington & Charlotte Washington & Chicago East Division Washington & Chicago East Division Washington & Cincinnati East Division Washington & Cincinnati East Division Washington & Florence Washington & Florence Washington & Grafton Washington & Grafton Washington & Hamlet Washington & Hamlet Mail Transportation on the B&O

Summary: Mail connections at Washington were made two ways: Mail connections at Washington were made two ways: Direct pouch between trains handled through the Washington, DC, transfer office Direct pouch between trains handled through the Washington, DC, transfer office Mail dispatched to the Terminal that was distributed and sent to a specific train. Mail dispatched to the Terminal that was distributed and sent to a specific train. Similar inter-route connections existed at all major B&O terminals as well as junction points. Similar inter-route connections existed at all major B&O terminals as well as junction points. Mail Transportation on the B&O

Questions? 1880s Mail Crane with Catcher Pouch

Thank you! Watch for the Owney stamp to be issued on July 26, Owney traveled on RPOs between 1888 and 1897 and was considered the mascot of the RMS. Owney at Pittsfield, Massachusetts

For more information: Frank R. Scheer, Railway Mail Service Library 117 East Main Street Boyce, VA