Jim, REA went into the long, slow decline after WWII under competition from truck lines doing LCL. The truck option was faster and did a better job with less handling and damage.
REA had it's own collection of trucks, railcars and such and the railroads dumped the company (I think in the 50's). On its own, it had the hidebound efficiency of a stage coach builder in a rubber tire and asphalt road environment.
REA ended up with agreements binding it to labor contracts and demands to use rail transport ("can't let them LCL fellers compete by runnin' trucks down the road 'longside our trains") for intercity movements. Pretty soon, Aunt Margaret discovered she could do better sending her homemade fruitcake with some upstart called UPS. Somehow they got it to Cousin Rhody before this Christmas 'stead of just before July 4th.
REA was still out there, at least until a few years ago--restructured, new paradigm, etc. Do they still do the waybills on a typewriter?
I'm gonna call that guy, just for the heck of it!
Oh, no! Here he comes!
Dang, John, ya caught me!
Ok, Ok! I'll walk over to the Greasy Spoon to continue any further stuff about the Railway Express Agency.
I'll do the pushups over there, too!
