Washington Park and Zoo Railway
Posted by: TheBeanTeam
N 45° 30.553 W 122° 42.959
10T E 522185 N 5039559
This unique mailbox is the mailing station for the Washington Park and Zoo Railway's outgoing mail. It is located beside the depot inside the zoo. To access this waymark you must pay for admission to the zoo.
Waymark Code: WM2FFR
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 10/25/2007
Views: 52
This unique mailbox has a unique history as well.
From the Oregon Zoo web site page, The Washington Park and Zoo Railway.
"Our Railway Postal Cancellation
Until the late 1970s, most mail in the United States was carried on trains. While in transit, mail was canceled on these trains using rubber stamps denoting the railroad.
In 1961, the Washington Park and Zoo Railway became one of the first recreation railroads to have its own cancellation stamp. With the demise of the Railway Post Office, the zoo railway is the last operating United States railroad with its own authorized railway postal cancellation to continuously offer mail service.
Mail deposited in mail boxes on the zoo grounds or on the locomotives is hand-canceled with the Washington Park and Zoo Railway stamp. It has become quite a collector’s item. Mail comes in from and goes out to all parts of the globe."
The Oregon Zoo is open every day of the year except for Christmas Day.