During the first World War, the Government took control over the railroads and later established the American Railway Express Inc., to protect and enhance the movement of parcels through the US. These assets were transferred to the Railway Express Agency in 1929 becoming a consolidated shipping agency that acted as one company though it was owned by 86 railroads in proportion to the express traffic on their lines. For reasons too elaborate to discuss here, the company eventually failed, though lasted through till November of 1975.