Railway Post Office cars
Special postal cars allowed clerks to sort mail while trains were moving, turning travel time into productive sorting time and speeding distribution.
Express business
Express companies used passenger trains to move parcels, valuables, and time-sensitive goods. Baggage and express cars were important working parts of many passenger trains.
News and communication
Railroads helped newspapers and printed material reach distant communities quickly, strengthening the flow of information across the country.
Decline of the service
Air transportation, highways, trucks, and changes in postal logistics gradually reduced the railroad's traditional mail and express role.