• Large numbers of military men were transported by rail throughout the United States during the First World War (1917-1919)
• They often mailed cards and letters while onboard the trains
• Some items are canceled by Railway Post Office (RPO) markings
• The content of these postal items can be of great interest
• These are only a small subset of such covers and cards

• The men were not allowed off the train (a rare exception: time for exercise drill)
• Generally, they were not informed of their destination
• Sometimes letters were handed to Red Cross women at train stations for mailing (some even provided a stamp for the soldier's mailed item)
• Otherwise, letters would have to be placed in the RPO slot on the train, or handed to a helpful civilian

Cover from Soldier, posted in Green River, Wyoming, written on train

• Mailed in Green River, Wyoming
• Letter indicates 'written on train'
• (Appears to have been mailed by civilian 'Hugo' after letter handed to them by the soldier 'Edward')

Postcard from Wounded Returning Soldier in a special hospital car

Back of Card

• Government Postal Card (GPC) mailed by wounded returning soldier, 1919
• He writes that he is going to General Hospital #32, in a special hospital car
• Canceled by RPO handstamp on train (Pittsburg & Chicago RPO)
• Back of card follows:

Back of GPC from Wounded Returning Soldier in a special hospital car

The previous slide image shows the written message on the back of the postcard.

Little Rock, Arkansas, Transit Clerk Handstamp

• Soldier writes 'going to Houston' (October 1917)
• Canceled by 'Transit Clerk' handstamp for Little Rock (Tr. Clerk office was usually located in a train station)

En Route Card with RPO Handstamp

• Written message: 'we are on our way to somewhere'
• Canceled by St. Louis & Parsons RPO handstamp (applied on board train in RPO car)

En Route Card with RPO Handstamp

• Sailor writes: 'am standing a 2 hr watch now on train'
• Uncommon to find 'en route' items from navy personnel
• Canceled by International machine from main Columbus, Ohio, post office

Examples from the collection of Bob Swanson

Mini-Presentation updated 14 March 2020

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Table of Contents

Title Page
About This Presentation
Troop Train 'Ground Rules'
Cover and Letter Posted in Wyoming
Postcard from Wounded Soldier in a Hospital Car
Back of Postcard from Wounded Soldier in a Hospital Car
Little Rock, Arkansas 'En Route'
'En Route' With RPO Handstamp
Sailor 'En Route' From Great Lakes
Acknowledgements
Instructions for Reading Presentation

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