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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000002230-06-000030.txt : 20060428
<SEC-HEADER>0000002230-06-000030.hdr.sgml : 20060428
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060428123606
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000002230-06-000030
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060427
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060428
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060428

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ADAMS EXPRESS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000002230
		IRS NUMBER:				134912740
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SEVEN ST PAUL ST STE 1140
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4107525900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7 ST PAUL STREET SUITE 1140
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCGAHRAN KATHLEEN T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001267416

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-00248
		FILM NUMBER:		06788277

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ADAMS EXPRESS CO
		STREET 2:		7 ST PAUL STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4107525900
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-04-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000002230</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ADAMS EXPRESS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ADX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001267416</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCGAHRAN KATHLEEN T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7 ST. PAUL STREET, SUITE 1140</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BALTIMORE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>448</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2804</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">In addition to the shares purchased on April 27, 2006, described in Table I, shares include: a) 6 shares acquired on 3/1/2006 as a result of dividend reinvestment; b) 750 shares granted as restricted stock units on 4/27/2005 which vested on 4/27/2006; and c) 48 shares that represent the dividend equivalents which accumulated on the restricted stock units discussed above and which vested on 4/27/2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kathleen T. McGahran</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-04-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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