<< Previous Next >>

The Only Postmark Train


The Only Postmark Train
Photo Information
Copyright: Samir Lakhouiri (youssoufia) (18)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08-06
Categories: Transportation
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-01-30 4:22
Viewed: 628
Points: 2
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Zooliner
This diesel-powered streamliner was built in 1958. A replica of General Motors’ "Aerotrain," the engine’s 165 horsepower is transmitted to eight driving wheels through a hydraulic-type torque converter transmission and spiral gears. Safety features include a "dead man control" to ease the train to a halt in an emergency. A governor holds the train to a 12-mile-per-hour maximum. A conventional automatic air brake system provides safe train handling.
The railway carries more than 350,000 passengers annually. It is the last railroad in the United States that has continually offered U.S. mail service. Letters deposited on the zoo railway receive a special hand-cancellation.

Until the late 1970s, most mail in the United States was carried on trains. While in transit, mail was canceled on these trains using rubber stamps denoting the railroad.

In 1961, the Washington Park and Zoo Railway became one of the first recreation railroads to have its own cancellation stamp. With the demise of the Railway Post Office, the zoo railway is the last operating United States railroad with its own authorized railway postal cancellation to continuously offer mail service.

Mail deposited in mail boxes on the zoo grounds or on the locomotives is hand-canceled with the Washington Park and Zoo Railway stamp. It has become quite a collector’s item. Mail comes in from and goes out to all parts of the globe.
bemawu has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekLens members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekLens members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Samir, nice capture. Like the movement and composition. Technical quality not so good, but it seems you are using a low res camera. Nothing wrong with that, as photography should be fun.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF