All,
I believe the term was "Storage Mail" not "Mail Storage". That small
distinction does a better job of implying what Pieter said about them being
mail cars that were not "worked" enroute. The book "Moving Mail and Express by
Rail" by Ed DeRouin says that AAR class MR was a Postal Storage Car. "For
United Stated Mail Service, suitable to carry the mail in bulk, without
appliances for sorting or classifying, fitted with side doors and stanchions,
and with or without end doors and windows.
Jamie Bothwell
Bethlehem, PA
On Feb 24, 2012, at 1:31 PM, Bill Nielsen wrote:
> Wow, that's incredible! They actually had cars lettered for "mail storage",
> boldly advertising the fact that the mail wasn't kept moving, but was just
> stuffed in some boxcar in order to get it out of the way?
>
> Bill in FL
>
> --- In [email protected], "Bill Lane" <bill@...> wrote:
> >
> > David,
> >
> >
> >
> > In short the PRR Merchandise Service just a fancier paint job promoting LCL
> > service. It was a freight car in everyday use - not (normally) run in
> > passenger service. You should never say "never" with the PRR! The cars that
> > had steam and signal lines were X29 lettered for REA Service. There was also
> > a group of 10) X42 lettered for Mail Storage service.
> >
> >
> >
> > Thank You,
> > Bill Lane
>
