Here's IRM's RPO catching mail.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P2qWzJ5XXY

Phil Mulligan

For a contrast, this film shows the Mail demonstration on the GCR.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stIh4RweYns&t=3s

The UK equipment certainly looks more substantial in construction than its US equivalent!

Yes, the UK equipment is much heavier than the US equipment. The US RPO catches a much lighter pouch (can handle only one) and the clerk kicks the pouch being delivered out the door with enough oomph that it falls clear of the wheels.

Phil Mulligan

At the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo, CA, ATSF RPO#74 was restored 20 years ago. On completion of the restoration, one day we added it to the consist of our popular "Ticket to Tecate" (Mexico) excurisions. On board were postal clerks from both the US and Mexican postal services. They prepared unique US/Mexican RPO calcellations that we sold as fund raisers. We have occasionally done "catching" demonstrations with it, but it is now used strictly as a display item in our exhibit hall.

For more information on the car see https://www.psrm.org/trains/passenger/atsf-74/

Here are a couple of videos from 2002: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8HC0qlqKPs

and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_ae2e5ygpQ