1951 Train Fire
On Sunday, December 23, 1951, a fire in the baggage car attached to the Toronto, London & Windsor C.N.R. train caused extensive damage to the mail. The letter shown below was salvaged from the fire.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-zMH5GgJ1yaIx3KudtzVprtIq8l8kVndtksAeYAmKzre4uLOXEaz88S59fgYTSuSanU9dZsq4AWyRFYsZ1BAF-wTAylCi2zSE_8KiQG6cGV22s3npUc46vYPPHjWL_Fo92Tp9YN2u9c/s640/GB+Delay+Train+4.jpg)
The surface letter was mailed from Battersea, England to Sarnia, Ontario, December 3, 1951.
Ambulance Envelope and Letter from District Postal Inspector
The damaged letter was enclosed in a Canada Post Office ambulance envelope, along with a note explaining the cause of the damage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVzr6tlrCkfS1UnFLe71NsvD20QXPrAnS_JL4kEyS0jSALtzeISYmfFgKoeNf_s_wd5w415Arrnq4Hxu_yyEvO8Vu6vCpjbRIa6zttHefeeK1UJcx1k8ppNYLwcZUDRl2V2od77O4YWo/s640/GB+Delay+Train+1.jpg)
The ambulance letter from the District Post Office Inspector, London (Ontario) to the addressee of the damaged letter was postmarked January 3, 1951
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvq31Kk6VZkdvE_SOUTnJ2S2K1LnH1oZx7v4kzSVBvKh4P1EeRZew6HmpdUD1v7EVYu_uzgCkTantKQO7Z9vrIpv9qA6tTr5zA3EZ2K-yq49d2Lb1quNzzp9tG1qDQzg-dDK6rUiyxsYo/s640/GB+Delay+Train+3.jpg)
Explanatory note from the District Post Office Inspector