Most railroadiana items can be classified into a number of standard categories -- lamps, lanterns, china, paper, etc. -- but some items are difficult to classify. Some are even difficult to identify. Basically any item that is marked with railroad initials and/or historically associated with railroad operations is considered a railroad artifact, and since most railroad companies marked many of their possessions, that covers a lot of stuff!
Shown below are some odd or unusual hardware items from the collection of Bob Niblick. Some of these may fit in familiar categories, but there is something uncommon about them. Click on any image for a larger version.
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| Above left to right. Brass Delaware & Hudson clip; close up of same; a Erie Railroad folding brush; close up of same. |
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| Above left to right. A tin cup from the Canadian National Railroad marked "LOCO" for use on a locomotive; close up of embossed marking;
a Pullman wall bracket for holding an electric fan, commonly found in a heavyweight Pullman car above the doorway at either end of the open-section area. These were possibly also used in Pullman dining and lounge cars based on photos. The Pullman bracket information is courtesy of Tim Hyde,
Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati. |
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| Above left to right.Two hooks (probably) from the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) and the PRR (Pennsylvania Railroad); close-ups of markings; [Update: email received 10/09:
"These are hooks for opening and closing windows. These items are still manufactured and used today. The hook would be placed on wooden poles between 2 and 5 ft. in length." Thanks to TT]; a snakebite kit from the company that operated the West Penn Railways interurban system. |
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| Above left to right. A hardware item of some kind from the Delaware & Hudson; close up of marking; calendar/notepad from the Delaware & Hudson; closer view. |
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| Above left to right. A commemorative tray from a trip operated by several railroads for the American Association of Traveling Passenger Agents in 1914; close up of marking; a reproduction Wells Fargo lock, and while there are many fake Wells Fargo locks, this one is explicitly marked as an authentic reproduction by the company. Bob notes that the lock is cast solid with the key mounted permanently. It came in a canvas money bag with a small booklet about company history. It was given to the Board of Directors so there weren't too many of them made. |
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| Above left to right. Three views of a an unusual ladle marked for the Pennsylvania Railroad; a first aid kit in the shape of a pill from the Burlington Northern Railroad. |
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| Above left to right. Some kitchen-oriented promotional items from the "Santa Fe" Railway; close-ups of the tops. |
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| Above left to right. Front and back views of a PRR (Pennsylvania Railroad) charm or token, back lettering unknown; two views of a Union Pacific watch used as a service award. |
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| Above left to right. A clock that was possibly a retirement gift to an employee for the NYC Transit agency -- note that the letters on the clock spell the name of the employee; a small cardstock pair of glasses for viewing movies from the Pennsylvania Railroad; two views of an unusual battery lantern embossed for the Pennsylvania Railroad. |
