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All Aboard for
All Aboard for

R Railroad Collecting
Railroad Collectingailroad Collecting

by Philip Johnson
Member of the Amherst Railway Society for over 45 years

ailroad items have been sought for many years by railfans and
non-railfans. Some folks are curious about the industry or had a
Rparent or grandparent who worked for a railroad and may
even have some items from their estate. There are dealers and sellers
who concentrate on this genre or even a subset of it such as lanterns
or tableware.
There is a strong demand for these items, but the market can prove
to be very concentrated to specific groups, such as rail buffs, train buffs,
or historians. However, there are elements of railroadiana that can be
what is termed as "crossover" collectibles – everything from patches,
postcards, tools, and photographs to mechanized parts of trains,
posters, and whistles are attractive to collectors who collect other genres
of railroad collectibles. Central of Georgia c. 1949 steel switch lock and brass key set selling for $215
Here are just a few of the many areas of collecting railroad at railrelicstoday.com, images have been lightened to show detail. The Central of
Georgia Railway started as the Central Rail Road & Canal Company in 1833.
As a way to better attract investment capital, the railroad changed its name to
Lanterns Central Rail Road & Banking Company of Georgia.

Railroads have used lanterns since the in sleeper cars. Keys are usually stamped with a code that describes what
1800s. Railroad lanterns were designed to be they open, the maker’s hallmark, and usually the railroad’s initials.
swung by workers while railroad lamps are Older style keys frequently have fancier serif stamped letters, and a
designed to be stationary. Lanterns were and tapered barrel and will bring higher prices.
continue to be used by the train crews to
signal the engineer in the locomotive to stop Timetables
or move forward and backward. Original
lanterns may have used whale oil but were Railroads have pub-
converted to kerosene. lished timetables for about
Newer ones were kerosene, 150 years. These show
and today's lanterns are what trains are running
battery-powered. and at what time.
The “standard” oil There are two types:
lantern was like the old Baltimore & Ohio Public, for passenger
hurricane or barn lanterns. Dietz railroad trains, and Employee, for
Most were marked on the lantern with use by employees. The
metal frame, with a cast Vulcan 39 New Employee timetables give
name or logo on the glass. York B&O.R.R. rules for safe operations as
Most were made by Adams & Westlake (Adlake) Macbeth Globe well as train speeds and
or Deitz & Company. selling for $365 distances between stations. The Virginia & Truckee Railroad line between
Style, manufacturer, markings, and condition on eBay Both types are quite Carson and Virginia was a single-track line in
will dictate prices. Most common lanterns with railroad markings on collectible. Many railroads 1870. In the Virginia and Truckee Railroad
lens and frame, in good condition, may bring approx. $75-$150. no longer exist, and any Time Table No. 1, Train Nos. 1 and 2 are
Other lanterns such as Inspector Lamps or a Conductor’s lantern from those are highly scheduled to meet and pass each other at 7 a.m.
tend to bring a premium when in excellent shape. Certain railroads can desirable. Prices may vary The first train to arrive will wait at the siding
also bring a higher price depending upon availability. Also, keep an eye for railroad name, age, and until the second arrives. Once both trains have
out for accessories such as lantern torches or gas fixtures. condition, etc. arrived, they use the siding to pass and proceed to
the next station. photo: railswest.org
Tools, Oil Cans, Switch Locks On May 23, 1830, the first railroad

Almost anything with railroad markings may be desirable to the timetable, for the Baltimore and
right collector. Officially, these tools were company property, but many Ohio Railroad, was published in the
made their way into home collections. Baltimore American newspaper. As
Many hand tools have railroad markings either the railroad name or railroad companies grew following
initials. Tools may be shovels, spike mauls, oil cans, etc. the Civil War, broadsides were
Switch locks were needed to prevent unauthorized persons from replaced by separate published
changing track switches and sending a train onto the wrong track. public and employee timetables.
Similar locks were used on electrical cabinets to prevent unauthorized
use. Switch locks were typically solid brass with heavy-duty keys. Keys Santa Fe Railroad timetables – lot of 17 El
were unique for each railroad, so there is a large variety of keys and Capitan, Texas Chief, San Francisco Chief,
locks around. Special keys were to lock or release upper berths or beds selling on eBay for $60

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