Railway mail coach - Berlin 1419
Travelling post office
1888
Post offices on wheels
For almost 150 years, the railways were the primary means of transport for Germany's mail. They transported letters and parcels from their very beginning. Special mail carriages ran from as early as 1948, resembling miniature post offices on wheels. Mail was sorted during the journey, and letters could be posted when the train made station calls.
The oldest in Germany
"Berlin 1419" is the oldest of these mail coaches remaining today in Germany. It was built by railway equipment company Breslauer AG on behalf of the empire’s postal service in 1888. The coach's fittings included tables, shelves, pigeonholes, skylights, a coal-fired stove, a toilet, a wash basin and special vibration damping made from felt.
Location
Vehicle Hall I
Technical data
Year of construction
1888
Manufacturer
Breslauer AG für Eisenbahnbedarf
Length
11,630 mm
Service weight
15.4 t
