Railex 1934-1980

This service was introduced to simplify the combination of the Express Delivery service with the Railway Letter service. This involved an express messenger taking the railway letter to a station, and another express messenger collecting it from the destination station to deliver it, the latter of which required that a separate telegram be sent to the nearest express office to instruct them to send one.

Originally, the sender was responsible for making all such arrangements as well as paying the fees, and this proved complicated and hard to understand – especially as they could not be expected to know which office to send the telegram to or exactly what the express fee would be.

"Railex" simplified all this by setting a flat fee and relieving the sender of any responsibility other than handing in their letter at an express delivery office and paying for it. The Post Office were responsible for arranging the messengers and liaising with the railway companies.

Only the postage and railway letter stamp appeared on the envelope itself, with the remaining charges being paid on the "E" form. Surviving examples of such forms are scarce, but can be found.