W&A / NC&StL Ticket Case

Here is an interesting ticket case brought to our attention by one of our website visitors:

"I bought this item at an estate sale of a retired L&N trainman last year. I did not know what it was at the time, but later found out through research that it is a case for holding railway tickets, patented by Thomas Edmondson's family in 1854. Thomas Edmondson invented a machine to print railway tickets in batches complete with serial numbers and patented it, made a fortune, and died in 1851 a wealthy man thanks to the rail ticket.

I think this item was bought by the State of Georgia for the Western and Atlantic Railroad which was state owned and was also used by the NC&StL Railroad for many years. All stations are listed between and including Atlanta and Chattanooga, except Marietta. I believe it was used at the Marietta Station. Big Shanty is also listed on this case but it is listed in pencil. The case was locked when I bought it but over the years someone knocked the front center out of it to see what was inside it, I assume. Are there more of these cases around? You would think so as every station had to have a ticket case." -Frank Griffin frank.griffin@att.net

Thanks to Frank for sending these photos! Click on any thumbnail for a larger version.