Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad Baggage-Postal Car No. 35

Built by M&P RR shop, 1906. Rebuilt 1942.

Typical of equipment used on short lines and branches into the 1950's, this atmospheric "head end" car was turned out by the Maryland and Pennsylvania's Baltimore shop early in the new century. The M&P--universally called the "Ma & Pa"--operated a twisting, hilly, scenic, roundabout route between Baltimore and York, Pennsylvania.

Always a rural railroad, the "Ma & Pa" ram leisurely local trains geared to its many small wayside communities. Cars like No. 35 were essential on every run, carrying milk, mail, newspapers, express, packages, and baggage. Its short 50 1/2 foot length was dictated by the railroads continuous succession of sharp curves--called by one writer, "the route of the screaming flanges."

N0. 35 was built as a full baggage car; in 1942 a Railway Post Office compartment was installed at one end to sort and distribute mail en route. Already an antique then, the car worked another 12 years before the little railroad gave up its passenger service.

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