This historic picture postcard was prepared for the 1933 Century of Progress Exhibition in Chicago.

It shows two interesting images. On the left a car like this on July 28,1862, en route from West Quincy to St. Joseph, Missouri, over what is now a part of the Burlington main line from Chicago to Kansas City and St. Joseph, United States Mail was sorted while in transit. The purpose was to speed the departure of the overland coach from St. Joseph to California.

At the right is the modern standard railway post Office, in several of which the California and other western mail is now sorted nightly on the Burlington fast mail trains between Chicago and Omaha.

The mail cars formed part of the Burlington’s exhibit at the Century of Progress Exhibition.