11-05-2008

Plymouth Railroad Services Coordinator, Jerry Thompson announces a significant historic event will be taking place in Plymouth, Wisconsin on Saturday December 13. “We have teamed up with the United States Postal Service and the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad to move mail received at the Santa Steam Train Event by rail.”  The USPS will be operating an official satellite Post Office the day of December 13 at the Santa Steam Train Event. The general public will be able to conduct official postal business at the site, including the mailing of regular mail.

This event marks the first time since 1977 that any official mail has moved by rail and been canceled on a train in route on any railroad in the entire United States! In fact this will be the first time in over half a century that official US mail has been transported by STEAM TRAIN! We have worked with artist Ken Bailey and the USPS to develop a commemorative cancelation which will be hand stamped on mail received December 13. Then those pieces of mail will be delivered to addresses listed on the envelopes. For historians and folks who are stamp collectors this special commemorative cancelation will be highly collectible, marking a Historic Event happening right here in Plymouth, Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin & Southern Railroad will be adding an additional baggage car to the Santa Steam Train in order to transport the mail. This official business train will then include a designated RPO (Railway Post Office) car. Postal Officials will be manning this car on Sunday December 14 as the mail moves from Plymouth to Hartford, Wisconsin.

We are encouraging all people young and old to come to the railroad station on December 13 and witness history in the making. Come view the train, drop off your mail, enjoy the choirs singing and view the live nativity scene. Children will be able to visit with Santa in his restored Milwaukee Road caboose. Also, make sure you pick up your pre-ordered Christmas trees which will be delivered to Plymouth by the Santa Steam Train!