Railroadiana Items In Your Collection

In recognition of Sunset's announcement of an O scale model of GM's "Train of Tomorrow", here's a brochure issued by the company in 1947 to promote the new train.

Bob

In 1937, the New Haven took delivery of its I-5 Class of streamlined Hudsons. The New Haven, like many other roads, had placed a heavy emphasis on modernization and issued literature promoting the effort during this period. Pictured below is a brochure publicizing the I-5.

Bob

Bob,

Very neat brochures. Love the graphics. Thanks for sharing.

This railroad company property marker is not in my collection but I wish it was.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Thanks, Joe.

Here's a guide to Grand Central which was issued by the NYC during WWII:

Here's a mile marker I have from the Belvidere & Delaware Railroad, which was the predecessor of the PRR on the Bel-Del line. The marker is made of stone and probably dates from around 1860.

Joe:

That's a splendid piece. Approximately how much of it is buried in the ground?

Bob

Bob,

The whole thing is about 4' long, so it's approximately 2-1/2' in the ground. It's a heavy bugger and hard to grab onto.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Here's the Pennsylvania Railroad's 99th annual report celebrating one-hundred years of PRR service. It features the artwork of Mr. Grif Teller.

Bob 

Bob,

It was nice to meet you at the Greenberg show today.

Here's a recent addition - one of my co-workers gave it to me. His grandmother used it to go see his father before he shipped out.

Hi, Joe.

It was a pleasure to meet you as well. In this electronic world of ours, it's nice when you can match a live person to a post!

Following up on Mr. Butler's CB&Q timetable featuring a military service theme, here's a PRR Form 1 System Timetable effective November 14, 1943:

Some early paper items.

A 1890 receipt from Post & Company. They made lamps and lanterns.

A receipt from the Androscoggin Railroad dated Aug. 1, 1861

A few Jersey Central items.

Timetables from 1930 advertising The Blue Comet & The Bullet

1901 CRR of NJ railroad pass

Plate from Jersey Central drinking fountain

Reading-Jersey Central magazine from Feb. 1942

Wish I had this in my collection. Supposedly from Newark, NJ.

Hi, Joe.

Yes, I believe that is indeed CNJ's Newark Broad Street Station. Speaking of which, here's a Newark Branch timetable effective 2/9/42:

Bob

Here's a selection of Reading Form T.T. 22 timetables with service to New Hope. Of course, part of this route is now home to the well known shortline railroad New Hope & Ivyland and its tourist trains.

Bob

This is the model board out of KX Tower in Kankakee Illinois. I've worked to partially restore it, and get the lights functional again. Now I just need to find somewhere to hang it!

Hi, Derek.

Have you managed to get anything else done with the model board?

Bob

I have a few lanterns, locks, photos, and stock options from Western Maryland, Pennsylvania, C&O, and B&O.

Hey Bob, 

No I have not done much else, it has pretty much sat for the past five months. If I thought I'd ever get a chance to own it again, I'd let it go and make room for something else. That being said, it's one of a kind, so it's going to hang around for awhile longer. 

I picked these up for our local club and we pasted them on to people into the Frisco.

The checks have a date of 188___ on them.

I am glad that the OP posted this. I always wanted to know what railroadiana means and where the term comes from. I do have a crossbuck from the Wisconsin Central RR and a brass key about 8 inches in length by 1 1/2" by 1 1/2". I have no idea what it is. I'll take a picture it and post it one of these days.

I'm glad this thread has stared up again. Nice to see some more neat items.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I got this from my wife's son who is an engineer on the CN. He is also the one that got me a real crossbuck which is hanging in the layout room. Anyway, I took enough pictures I hope so that you might be able to tell me what it is. It's a key for something.

Paul,

That is a GM EMD locomotive reverser lever. It was used to change the direction of the engine. They were removable, like a key, so they could be taken out when an engine was parked so the engine could not be moved by someone not authorized to do so.

A matching set of builders plates off of Southern Pacific ALCO PA-1 602/6022

Here is a booklet issued by the New York Central in conjunction with its West Side Improvement project, the initial stage of which was dedicated in June of 1934. The remnants of this line which still exist are more popularly referred to in today's culture as the "High Line."

Bob 

There are many way cool items attached to this thread. Made me grab my camera and get some pics of the stuff I've acquired over the years. The RR Xing signs and the switch throw were Christmas gifts from my oldest. He missed out on a motorized inspection car by two weeks. The guy who owned it, gave it away!

Don

NJCJoe, Thanks for letting me know what that key was for.

The boiler pressure gauge from N&W Y6a #2164. It was given to my Grandfather as a retirement gift. The engine number is written in chalk on the back. It now resides in my train room. 

Gilly

Prior to 1933, if a bank met certain requirements of U.S. banking laws they could become a chartered bank and have the Bureau of Printing and Engraving print U.S. money with an ad for their bank on the front.  In addition to the ad, the bill included the banks charter number and the signatures of the key bank officers. Among paper money collectors this currency issue is known as "National Currency".  During the first quarter of the 20th Century a number of railroad brotherhoods opened banks which met the criteria for charter status.  Below is an example of the last National Bank Note series from one of these railroad brotherhood banks - The Engineers National Bank of Boston Massachusetts charter number 12540.

Here's a selection of annual reports not often seen. From top to bottom we have the 1917 report of the Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington Railroad along with the 1922 reports of the Third Avenue Railway Company and Ulster & Delaware Railroad.

Bob 

This is a great thread.  I believe there should be a separate forum for this.  there has been alot of interesting items shown.  Robert, you have a rare note there, really nice condition and a low serial number too.  Here is one of my favorite railroad signs, it would be on a station platform to warn people when trains pass.

Here is a little of what I have.

Thanks to all for continuing to share your wonderful items.

Here are a few more volumes from the pile of annual reports. From top to bottom we have the 1928 New York Central, 1941 NYC (note the image of the re-equipped Empire State Express equipment on the cover as it debuted on December 7th of that year), 1949 NYC, 1959 Reading, 1965 Reading and 1966 Morristown & Erie reports.

Bob 

Railroads vigorously promoted the attributes of points and attractions along their systems to increase passenger ridership. Not sparing any expense, they issued promotional materials which were quite elegant and of very high quality for their day. Thankfully, some of this literature is still with us for us to reflect upon and enjoy. Below we have examples of 1903 New York Central items highlighting the attributes of the Adirondack and Thousand Island regions along with a Delaware & Hudson 1915 brochure for Lake George.

Bob 

Here's a brochure issued by the American Locomotive Company publicizing the delivery of New Haven's DL-109 units to the railroad. While the DL-109 was ordered by several roads, it became synonymous with the New Haven as the NH truly maximized utilization of its units, assigning them to freight trains when not needed for passenger service.

Bob 

I have these former Adirondack logging items. The sign Is real. The caboose is not.

The Caboose is truckless on the former R.O.W. it would have run on. I built it myself based on Photos and a Keystone O-scale model of the caboose that ran on this RR blown up to full scale. My neighbor milled the wood for me. It took me about five summers to build. There are still some projects to work out.