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.
 Western
Maryland China. Even
a plain china pattern can take on significance if it is rare, and
especially if is from a particularly beloved railroad. The Western
Maryland  Railway
is one of those lines that has quite a following, so the dish shown
at right -- in the "Union Bridge" pattern -- is both rare
and very collectible. The Western Maryland had a rather small passenger
service so not much china was ever produced in this pattern. Click
on either image for a larger version. Photos by Jack Morgan, collection
of Daryl Witt. |
 Watchman's
Lantern. Shown
at right is a crossing watchman's lantern -- an uncommon variation
on the familiar Adams & Westlake "Kero" brakeman's
lantern. It has blinders and a thumb latch that is larger than the
usual latch found on Kero models. The blinders shielded the light
signal from being seen by an oncoming train crew, and the fresnel
lens amplified the light intensity to warn automobile traffic. More
can be found on "Crossing
Watchman's Lantern". Image is courtesy of Rob Hoffer. Click
on the image for a larger version. |
 Santa
Fe Sideboard. Many
different items can be found marked with railroad names or initials,
but furniture is rather unusual. And fancy furniture is very unusual.
The beautiful oak sideboard shown at right looks like domestic furniture,
but it is marked "Santa Fe RR", an official nickname of
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. The collector who sent
us these pictures wondered about its authenticity. If authentic,
perhaps it was used in the  office
or residence of a railroad official. Photos by permission. Click on the thumbnail images for larger
versions. |
 "Queen & Crescent
Route" Button. The
uniform button shown at right has the logo of the "Queen & Crescent
Route". It is a large, gold-colored, dome button manufactured
by Leon Godchaux N.O. -- Godchaux's was a large department store on Canal St. in New Orleans. It began in the late 19th C and provided uniforms of various kinds. The Queen & Crescent
Route was not a railroad company but a passenger route than traversed
several railroad lines: the Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific,
the Alabama Great Southern, and the New Orleans and Northeastern.
Photo and information by Steve Preston; additional information by
the rrdiana.shore list and MLV [Thanks!]. Click on the thumbnail image for a larger
version. |
 Galveston,
Harrisburg, & San Antonio Token. When
Thomas W. Peirce finally got his Galveston, Harrisburg, & San
Antonio Railway building westward from Columbus, TX toward San Antonio
in April of 1873, one of the more unusual problems faced by the management
was a shortage of "small change". The Coinage Act of 1873,
enacted February 12th of that year, embraced the gold standard and
de-monetized silver, and there was a temporary shortage of coins
during the transition. According to S.G. Reed in his 1941 History
of Texas Railroads " To meet this [need] General
Manager H. B. Andrews paid the men off partly in gutta percha tokens
about the size of a quarter of the value of 25 cents 'good for meals'
and which he agreed to redeem in full. These passed current at par
not only at boarding houses but in stores along the line until several
years after the road was completed. It was a common saying at the
time that Peirce was the only man who was smart enough to build a
railroad with meal tickets." These tokens represent the earliest
evidence in "hardware" (versus paper) of the use of the
Sunset Route phrase and logo. Info and photos by Ken Stavinoha. Click
on the thumbnail images for larger versions. |
 Southern
Railway Sign. Signs
from depots are especially interesting because they have a definite
location where they were used. Depots might have a couple of different
types of signs including place-name signboards and schedule or train
bulletin boards such as the example shown here. This one is from
Southern Railway's Manassas, Virginia depot. The station agent would
have chalked train arrival and departure times on the board, including
late arrivals or changes. Photo by Rob Hoffer. Click on the thumbnail
image for a larger version. |
 Chesapeake & Ohio
Railway Button. The
specific history of most railroadiana has been lost to time, so it's
great to see an item that has a known history. Shown at right is
a button from the uniform of Capt. Thomas J. Hopkins who was captain
of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway ferry S.S. Ironton. This ferry
crossed the Ohio River between Ironton, Ohio and Russell, Kentucky
from the late 1800's until a bridge was built in 1923. The button
was manufactured by S.M. Wanamaker & Co. of Philadelphia. The
image and information are courtesy of Steve Preston. Click on the
thumbnail image for a larger version. |
 New
York Central
Marine Lantern. Shown
at right is a "Hi-Hat" Vesta model
lantern made by Dietz for the New York Central (NYC) Railroad.  While
NYC Vesta lanterns are probably the most common railroad lantern
to be found, this one is unusual. Not only is it the higher, earlier
Vesta model, but it is marked "N.Y.C. R.R. - MAR. DPT." The
latter part of the marking stands for "Marine Department",
indicating use in NYC's extensive harbor operations, particularly
around New York City. Photos by permission. Click on either thumbnail
image for a larger version. |
 Santa
Fe Switchboard. Shown
at right is a great "cross-over" item that relates to both
railroad and telephone history. It is a Western Electric Model 550
Manual PBX or telephone switchboard. The dial is marked "SANTA
FE"; the side of the wooden frame is marked "PROPERTY OF
SANTA FE RR T- 1438". This PBX is reportedly from a Santa Fe
business office in East Texas. Photo by Ken Stavinoha. Click on thumbnail
image for a larger version. |
 New
York Central Award. Railroads
frequently gave plaques, ribbons and other awards to employees or
internal departments to commemorate events or accomplishments. The
award shown at right is a safety award from the New York Central
System. It reads: "Safety Program, Yard District Competition,
1958-1959, Permanent Winner, West End, Youngstown to Aliquippa".
Photo by Gary Moser. Click on thumbnail image for a larger version. |
 Locomotive
Bell. Bells
from locomotives can be beautiful, historical...and heavy. Usually
made of cast brass, they can weigh hundreds of pounds. Locomotive
bells are rarely marked for a railroad, so their documented provenance
is especially important. This particular example is from a Norfolk & Western
steam locomotive and was photographed at the 2004 Austintown, Ohio
railroadiana show. Photo by Rob Hoffer. Click on thumbnail
image for a larger version. |
