GM&O cars in MP passenger trains

[benjamintickell53]

Yahoo Mopac Group – February 2015

There are several Photos of GM&O baggage on MP trains. Someone told me those carried printed material from Chicago. When did they run on the MP? And what publications/cargo?
Thomas McLae
DeSoto, TX

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From Chicago might have been Sears catalogs, once a very big deal. But they were not necessarily printed in Chicago.
Charles Weston
San Antonio

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I seem to remember a circa 2005 TRRA historical society publication on the mail and express operations on the GM&O out of Chicago. In addition, I was told there was also a very large printing facility on the GM&O which printed all sorts of materials such as catalogs, color newspaper circulars, and magazines that went south and southwest for distribution.
Jim Ogden

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At one time the largest printers, if not the largest, in the country was located in Sparta, Illinois. Sparta was on the main line of the GM&O about an hour southeast of St. Louis. All the comic books you may have read were at that time published then. I have no idea where they now published now. The bulk shipments may have been broken down at other places after sorted further in St. Louis.
Charles

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This TRRA-HS issue, maybe, although mail interchange gets mentioned every so often in other articles:
http://trra-hts.railfan.net/issue4950.html

The above back issue is still available for order at:
http://trra-hts.railfan.net/bkissues.html
Rich Zellich

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I was only able to make one visit the little rock station during the MP passenger era, and it was probably about 1963 or 64. During the 30 minute visit, I saw no MP activity, but did note a heavyweight GM&O baggage car spotted by itself next to the station. I assume it was there for unloading mail or periodicals, but it was possibly bad ordered while enroute further west. Maybe some of the Little Rock members have more information. During the mid 60s, M P. Baggage cars were almost a daily occurrence on GM&O passenger trains.
dhallfsm

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