IRM RPO Days – June 13 and 14
June 13 and 14 (Saturday and Sunday) will feature former RPO (Railway Post Office) clerks at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM). Eight or more former clerks are expected to be on site with most on Saturday. Many of these men will be making their first catches from a moving RPO for the first time in over 40 years.
An additional highlight will be the Union, Illinois Post Office canceling mail with a special cancellation remembering the adjacent UP (former C&NW) rail line where the Chicago & Freeport RPO once operated. IRM will be selling cachets with the special postal cancellation as a fundraiser to repaint the RPO car (former CB&Q 1923).
Without the assistance of numerous volunteers at IRM, this event could not take place. The Passenger Car Department is preparing CB&Q 1923 (combination baggage and RPO) for this event. The Operating Department is altering the normal operation of the diesel coach train to allow two mail catches on each run. Thank you all at IRM for recreating the RPO operation.
RPO catches began at IRM with the donation of a mail crane three years ago. In September 2007, N.J. Shacklette and John Rothwell arranged for Andy Koval, a former RPO clerk dying of cancer to make one more catch. A year later, in September 2008, with the encouragement of Shacklette and Rothwell, I arranged for both Frank Scheer, curator of the Railway Mail Service Library in Boyce, Virginia, and Ed DeRouin, author of Moving Mail and Express by Rail (2007), to come to IRM and tell the story of the RPO. The 2008 event brought four former clerks to IRM to each make anther catch. One of last year's participants was so excited that he is bringing five other former clerks to the Museum on June 13 and 14.
Unlike 2008, there are no formal talks planned. Instead, the RPO clerks will do the talking. This year's RPO days at IRM does two things. First, this event brings together 8 or more former clerks to share their experiences with visitors and to have the opportunity to make another catch. Second, this event allows these former clerks to share their stories of working on the rails with the public.
Come on out to IRM on June 13 and 14 to meet these former clerks. The website for IRM is www.irm.org.
I thank all at IRM who are making this event possible and for the former clerks traveling to IRM to share their stories.
Jon Habegger
Comments
Sun, 05-19-2013 22:13
Hello again. I had an idea that was (somewhat rudely, mid-sentence) dismissed in talking to a museum volunteer a few years back, but here it goes [...]
Thu, 05-16-2013 21:52
Looking good Bob! I hope to come out soon once I'm done with school.
Wed, 05-15-2013 21:28
I was not around at the time. General discussion suggests that it was "pretty marginal" in a number of areas. Nigel
Mon, 05-13-2013 11:08
"THUMBS UP!"
Fri, 05-10-2013 02:15
No, it will not be necessary to hold any of the work waiting for the plow to be turned, end for end. Weather will be the major factor, but there will [...]
Thu, 05-09-2013 19:54
The CGW X-38 plow is really coming to life. Bob Kutella and Vic and crew need to be very proud of your collective efforts. I am very appreciative of [...]
Thu, 05-09-2013 15:20
The snowplow looks great! Are you going to apply the door and upper windows befor it is turned to continue work?
Thu, 05-09-2013 09:09
Max, Is there any progress to report yet, in regards to the installation of the poles and overhead wires? Have a good day, sir.
Wed, 05-08-2013 18:40
Thanks for the update! I still don't understand why Commonwealth #5 was removed from service. Do you know why?
Tue, 05-07-2013 09:28
Mr. Kolanowski.....I was just wondering if the Spaulding webcam will be up and running soon for us stay-at-homes. Thanks!2FP
Mon, 05-06-2013 23:04
Max, Has work begun yet on the construction phase of erecting the poles and putting up the wire? Wish I could be there to watch it happen.
Mon, 05-06-2013 23:02
Keep up the good work, Bob. Wish I could be there to help!!!!!!!