This page shows railroadiana items of unusual interest. These images
were sent in by collectors for others to enjoy; the items are not
for sale. As images are replaced on the "front page" of
the website, they will be archived here. See links to other pages
of Featured Items at the bottom of the page. A special thanks
to those who have sent in images.
 Pin. Most
of the larger railroads had veterans associations, and often these
associations issued pins of various kinds. Some of these pins were
quite well-made and attractive. Many railroadiana collectors specialize
in collecting such pins, sometimes extending their interest to pins
from such associations as the railroad unions and brotherhoods. Shown
at right is a beautiful pin from the New York, Ontario & Western
Railway Veterans Association, dated 1924. Collection of Clyde Conrow,
photo by Tom Stranko. Click on image for larger version. |
 Lamp. Lamps
such as the one shown at right were sometimes called "Office
Lamps" or "Stationmaster Lamps" and were most likely
used in quantity in various railroad operations. However, their use
was probably limited to stationary facilities such as depots rather
than rolling stock because they would not be especially stable in
response to movement. Not many are found marked for a railroad, but
this one has a brass tag indicating that it was owned and used by
the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. Click on the image for
a larger version. Photo courtesy of David Budd. |
 Promotional
Item. The idea of giving away promotional items to advertise
a service or product has been around for a long time. In the heyday
of railroad passenger service, railroads did this to publicize
their services to the general public, and today this practice still
occurs with freight shippers. Collectors can find all sorts of
interesting and odd items marked for a railroad. The colorful item
at right is the back of a small mirror. It was given away as a
promotional item by the Oregon, Washington Railroad & Navigation
Company, a part of the Union Pacific System. The date is unknown
but probably the 'teens or 1920's. Click on image for larger version.
The photographer wishes to credit the collection of the late Sigrid
Clark. |
 Lock. This
is a Christian Rave lock marked with the Nevada County Narrow Gauge
Railroad initials on the hasp. It is an all brass lock that is quite
a bit larger than a standard brass switch lock and may be one-of-a-kind
bearing the "NCNG RR" initials. This particular lock is
thought to date back to the 1880's or earlier and was thought to
have been used on the baggage stall gate at the NCNG RR Grass Valley
Depot in Northern California. Photo and information courtesy of George
Tsai. Click on image for larger version. |
 Tobacco. Today,
railroads are largely absent from popular perceptions. For the most
part, railroads do not advertise to the general public, and most
people are aware of railroads only as a train that holds them up
at a grade crossing. At one time however, railroads were an integral
part of public life and had a strong hold on the public imagination.
Various products capitalized on this appeal, as evidenced by the
pouch of tobacco shown at right. The "D&H" brand alluded
to the Delaware & Hudson Railroad, and the portrait of the engineer
in his locomotive cab added to this association. Presumably this
brand was independent of the actual railroad company. Photo courtesy
of Bob Niblick. Click on image for larger version. |
 Logo. From
early on, railroad companies tried to achieve an identity that set
them apart from other lines and that would be remembered by the traveling
public and freight shippers. An important part of this identity was
the railroad "logo". Often ornate and beautifully designed,
the logo was displayed on timetables, rolling stock, buildings, and
virtually anything else associated with the company. The use of such
logos pioneered modern principles of advertising that continue to
be practiced to this day. Shown at right is a cast-iron logo sign
from the "Big 4" -- the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St.
Louis
Railway Company, which was part of the New
York Central System. It is 11" x 11" and was attached to
a freight house in Marion, Ohio. Photo courtesy of George Tsai. {Click
on image for larger version} |
 Trophy. In
the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many railroads sponsored
agricultural innovations and development in an effort to encourage
farmers to settle sparsely populated territory along their lines.
This included giving awards at fairs. At right is shown an impressive
trophy which is engraved, "Presented by the Great Northern Railway
for the best and largest 36 potatoes, King County Fair, Kent Washington".
Click on image for larger version. Photo by Bill Kajdzik. |
 Sign. This
Lackawanna Railroad sign is from the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
Railroad, a line that ran from the New York/New Jersey area through
eastern Pennsylvania to upstate New York. It is approximately twelve
feet long and came off a building or perhaps a boat. The DL&W
had extensive marine operations in the New York area. Photo by Tom
Stranko. Click on the image for a large version. |
 Lantern. The
lantern at right is usually associated with construction or road
maintenance rather than railroads, but this one is marked "W.P.
Ry. Co. for West Penn Railways. It is made by Dietz and is called
an 8-day lantern because its large fuel font can burn for many days.
There is also a similar lantern reported marked for the Pennsylvania
Railroad. Photo by Tom Stranko. Click on image for larger version. |
 Button. Sometimes
overlooked because of their small size and humble function, uniform
buttons often show amazing detail and craftsmanship. The example
at right is from the Scranton & Binghamton, an interurban line
that ran in the Scranton, PA area. Click on image for a larger view;
use your [BACK] button to get back. Photo by Tom Stranko. |
 Baggage
Tag. Shown at right is an exceptionally beautiful baggage
tag marked "B.& O. R.R." for the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad and ""LOCAL" designating a short-distance
passenger run. Baggage tags were affixed to luggage to identify
railroad routing. Click on image for a larger view; use your [BACK]
button to get back. Photo by Ken Andrews; collection of the late
Chuck Richardson. More images
can be found on a page on this topic. |
|
Locks. Shown at right are two fancy "castback" locks,
likely dating from the late 1900's. At far left is a lock from
the Cincinnati, Washington & Baltimore Railroad; at immediate
left is a lock from the Lehigh Valley Railroad. Click on images
for larger views; use your [BACK] button to get back. Photos by
Tom Stranko. |
