Stories Based on Fact

Daily Reporter - June 20th  1881

The postal car built for the N.Y.L.E. & W.R.R. Co. to take the place of the one burned at Tioga Center, was run through this village during last week, on trains 3 and 12.  Built with the awful fate of the occupants of its predecessor in mind, it is arranged especially as a safety car. Whether the precautions will be continued in the future is a question, when time shall have blunted the recollections of that horror.  The car is described by the Dunkirk Advertiser as follows:

The car is 50 feet in length and nine feet in width inside measurements, and is divided into three apartments.  A storage room 9 x 11 feet in each end and a working room in the centre 9 x 28 feet.  The car is heated by an improved Baker heater, placed in one of the storage rooms with pipes running through the working room, giving an even heat in all parts of the car.  It is lighted by 10 lamps of the Smith & Hicks pattern, using sperm oil of a high test.  The working room is provided with a letter case of 310 boxes made in nests of 40 of 50 each and are reversible, giving a capacity of 620 boxes, and only taking the room of half that number. For paper distribution a case of 72 boxes, each holding a sack full of mail, and iron bag racks of improved pattern, with a capacity of 75 pouches, making in all 147 divisions, which is no more than is required.  It is ventilated by ventilators placed in the dome covered by wire screens to keep out cinders, also provided with tanks for ice water, clothes, water and oil closets.  It is provide with end and side doors, six in number, also has a scuttle in the top which can be used as a means of egress in case of accident.  Axes and saws are provided.  The car is painted a lemon color outside and finely finished in light wood inside.

The above article, "The New Postal Car" was discovered by researcher, Mary Rhodes and sent to me for my viewing.  I couldn't help digging until I found the second article which told the story preceding the need for the New Postal Car.....a tragic fire that cost many their lives, on the railroad.  Ron Taylor