National Museum of Transportation near Kirkwood in St. Louis County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
#1942
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
— 1922 —
The mail was picked up, sorted and delivered in this 70' car. Mail destined for this train was placed in a large pouch and attached to a crane (hook) located alongside the track. On each side of the mail car is a steel V-shaped catcher arm. Without stopping the train, a clerk in this car looks through a wind shield and aims the catcher arm at the mail pouch. The catcher arm then picks the mail pouch from the crane. At the same time the clerk kicks off a pouch containing any mail for this station. At the height of Railway Post Office service in the 1950's the railroads carried 90% of the intercity mail in the U.S. This RPO car was donated in 1969 by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.Erected by Museum of Transportation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.
Location. 38° 34.291′ N, 90° 27.772′ W. Marker is near Kirkwood, Missouri, in St. Louis County. It is in National Museum of Transportation. Marker can be reached from Barrett Station
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. UTLX #3882 (here, next to this marker); ACFX #26640 (a few steps from this marker); #50 (a few steps from this marker); UTLX #14387 (a few steps from this marker); #2003 (a few steps from this marker); Pitman Arms from S.S. Admiral (a few steps from this marker); #96500 (a few steps from this marker); #9908 "Silver Charger" (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kirkwood.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 92 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
