This car was built by Pullman in 1914 as part of a series of purpose-built mail cars. It remained in service until December, 1968, shortly before railroads stopped carrying mail for the Postal Service. Carrying mail was one of the last profitable ventures for passenger trains, and its removal from railroads prompted Amtrak to take control of most passenger service in the country.
Working on a Rail Post Office car was very demanding and could be very dangerous. Workers had to memorize all of the zip codes on their train’s route, and know exactly which one they were in at all times. They were also common targets for robberies, and RPO workers were issued .38 caliber revolvers for protection.
