Night Mail
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Description
The Post Office distributed mail using the British railway system between 1830 and 1971. The number of mail bag exchange points situated across the country in small provincial stations reached a peak in 1913, with 245 stations providing this service every day. Most bags of mail were transferred on and off trains at local station platforms, but some used a system of large nets hung from the side of trains which would snatch pouches of mail suspended from trackside apparatus, at the same time depositing bags of mail into trackside nets, all without the train having to come to a halt. This system proved too dangerous as train speeds increased, and was gradually phased out, the last transfer being made on the morning of 4 October 1971 as an express train from London Euston to Carlisle, neared the end of its journey. ( Thanks to Jeff Wharton for photo of re enactor family, background photo details from Bing Images ) -
Owner
saudekjan -
Source
Flickr (Flickr) -
License
What does this mean? Public Domain Mark
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Further information
Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/156515782@N02/52495574992/
Resource type: Image
Added by: Simon Cotterill
Last modified: 3 months ago
Viewed: 32 times
Picture Taken: 2022-11-13T00:19:45 -
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