The train letter from World War II

On September 18, 2012, the first part about train letters and railway stamps appeared on the Postzegelblog. Due to the Second World War, the phenomenon of the 'train letter' was no longer possible from 1943 onwards. But after the war, in 1951, this service was resumed. A Service Order issued by the PTT on September 19, 1951, announced that, as of October 7 of that year, it would once again be possible to transport so-called 'baggage bureau letters' with the Dutch Railways (NS). This transport was also possible via bus services operated by the NS. However, the letters to be transported could not weigh more than 500 grams and had to have a domestic destination. The NS transported these items at a rate of 15 cents. This was accounted for using a train stamp affixed to the back of the envelope. The term 'treinbrief' (train letter) was used for the first time in 1955. This occurred in a Service Order dated March 24, 1955. The intention was to put an end to the multitude of terms used for this service by using just one term. Thus, names such as 'baggage bureau letters' (as they were originally called), 'press parcels', 'letters with railway stamps', and 'railway letters' were used. It was also arranged that press and editorial agencies could collect the train letters intended for them at the station. However, they were required to present identification. Then, in 1970, a major reorganization took place at the NS, during which the transport of train letters was drastically changed. This was announced in a Service Order dated May 14, 1970. A distinction was made between train letters and press train letters. From that date onwards, train letters were only permitted to be presented at the ticket counters of a small number of stations. In addition to the mandatory franking with a standard postage stamp at the then-current rate, an NS stamp had to be affixed. The rate for this was 45 cents. Press train letters intended for editorial offices also had to be provided with a bright red sticker on which the name of the station had to be filled in. However, the train letter would not last long. A Service Order of April 18, 1979, announced that the transport of train letters and press train letters was discontinued effective May 1, 1979. Consequently, it is quite difficult to obtain fine examples of press train letters, such as the example above from 1971.