WWW.JEFFPYLENZ.COM

RAILWAY TRAVELLNG POST OFFICE

CHRISTCHURCH NORTH

This mail-sorting carriage was built by the Railways Department for the Post Office, at the end of 1900 and was brought into use on the Christchurch – Culverden line on 17^th October 1900. It was found that by using such a carriage it was possible to speed up the sorting of the mail so that it would reach its destination more quickly. Generally one postal sorter occupied the Postal Van and picked up sorted and delivered mail bags en route.

All mail brought down the Oxford – Rangiora, Bennetts – Kaiapoi, and Waipara –Domett lines by ordinary trains were timed to connect with the mail-sorting carriage which was part of the normal mixed, passenger and goods Culverden – Christchurch train. The train left Christchurch at 7.35pm arriving at Culverden at 12.10pm. It then left Culverden at 3.05pm arriving at Christchurch at 7.25pm.

Mail could also be posted in the Van itself. These required a late fee rate; i.e. 1d for New Zealand letters 2d for Australia and Pacific letters and 21/2d for anywhere else. Mail posted in the Van at intermediate stations and was delivered to those stations further along the line.

The datestamp was one of Type H and usually bore the mail number 1 on mail from Christchurch or the number 2 on mail from Culverden. As was the normal custom, under the Postal Regulations of the time, all mail sorted on the postal van was required to have the R.P.O datestamp impressed on the envelope during resorting.