Postal Mail Traffic.

An important responsibility of railways everywhere is the handling of postal mails of all kinds. In Britain, the L. M. & S. Railway carries the heaviest postal mail traffic, and to meet the needs of increasing business there have been constructed recently in this company's shops three new Post Office sorting cars of striking design. The length of the underframe is 60 ft., and length over all 63 ft. 8 1/2 in., the body being 60 ft. I in. long and 8 ft. 8 in. wide. The underframes and bogies are of steel. The latter are four-wheeled, with 9 ft. centres, and of welded construction. Teak framing forms the body, the outer sides being sheeted with steel panelling. The floor timbers are of jarrah, supporting galvanised steel sheeting carrying fireproof composition flooring. Inside, the new coaches are fitted with one registered letter desk, seven letter sets, two newspaper sets, drawers, etc. There is the usual pick-up and delivery apparatus for mail bags while travelling at speed, and the exterior of the new postal cars presents a very attractive appearance.