Railway Memorabilia

[captainkman]

I thought I would start a thread here where people can share and discuss interesting items of railway memorabilia that they have bought (or acquired through legitimate means). Things such as destination boards, number plates, and even bits of carriages or locomotives.

If I may start things off with two items from my personal collection:

This box was made in around 1944 by a gentleman who was working as a carpenter/woodworker at Queensland Railways' Ipswich carriage workshop. He took the wood from a railway carriage that was due to be cut up and sold for scrap (and firewood, considering it was probably a wooden-bodied carriage).

I now use it on weekends to take my model trains to the model train club.


A second item I have is a set of locomotive number boards. They are from a Queensland Rail 1600 class, number 1602. I have three of the original four; the fourth is probably with a private collector but I do hope to get my hands on it. The boards are currently being professionally restored.


This is the locomotive they came from. It is the only picture I've ever been able to find of it. I found it in a book and managed to track down the photographer (they were at an open day at the model train club, the same day I found the picture) and he e-mailed me a larger copy of the original photograph. It was taken on March 7th 1963.


I hope you all enjoy this thread.

Kieran.

 

[SharkNose]

Some of My Stuff

I guess I'm proudest of my Pennsylvania Railroad Playing Cards. They are unopened and I purchased them off that popular auction site a few years ago. You can even see an intact U.S. Internal Revenue stamp on the back!

Then there's my more recent acquisition retrieved from a nearby CSX scrap yard. I figure I can try and remove the rust, add a padded base so they won't scratch or tip over easily, paint them and use as bookends. From the pile of longer rails they were found by, I think they are code 130 rail, which I believe is quite heavy duty. My guess is these little ends were cut off as excess during turnout laying. They're about 3/4 of an inch (2 cm) thick and weigh about 3 lbs (1.3 kg).

Of course I have the obligatory rail spike. I used to have a couple of coal car truck springs and a KarTrack ACI sign, but they were lost over the years.

Good idea for a thread, Kieran! Boy, that wooden "suitcase" looks like a solid piece of work. They don't make them like that anymore.

Andrew

 

[judahGrice]

Don't have pics, but i do have a panel from a wrecked auto rack, and license plates from a truck that was hit by the train.

 

[flyboy559]

I have a few chunks of rail, several spikes, and an actual Southern Pacific 6-chime whistle from 2-8-0 #2704. No pictures though because the thing weighs a ton and is safely stored.

 

[PBY357]

I have various playing card decks, I have a hard hat and light from Norfolk Southern, A box commemorating like 20 years of NS service or something like that, PRR glassware and a candle holder, and various spikes, calendars.

 

[torino72]

Here are two aluminum 1940 "uncirculated" UP Lucky Pieces for the UP commemorating the new material (aluminum) that was being used by the Pullman Car Company in the construction of new UP passenger cars. I bought these two coins (they are stamped front and back with these two imprints) at a rail show in the 1990s. Sorry for the photo quality. One says "Serves All the West" & "Road of the Challengers" and the other "Road of the Streamliners". The "Streamliners" side says "Aluminum In These Famous Trains Furnished by Aluminum Company of America". It would be less than a year before aluminum production would be diverted from passenger car production to aircraft production for WWII. One of the ALCOA plants was located at Bauxite, AR about 10 miles from where I live. The plant was closed in the late 1970s.

 

[JCitron]

Tucked away in my safe place are some things from the old TP&W. I got them from the car salesman I purchased my then brand new Dodge Shelby Turbo from back in 1985. We were discussing details about the car when a train passed us on the M&L branch that ran by the fence in the back. I of course stopped the discussion to watch the train, and he did as well. Our discussion continued on about the car extras, warranties, etc., and when I came back to pick-up the key and registration plate, he handed me some stuff from the TP&W. It turned out he worked for them for many years as a freight conductor, and he gave me a lantern, rulebook, and timetable.

John

 

[gg14835]

Well here's some of my railroad stuff. Along with this I also have three containers full of mostly Delaware and Hudson date nails from upstate NY that I got from my grandfather.

Oh yea, I collect glass soda bottles too.

 

[captainkman]

Wow, what great items! I especially like the Union Pacific coins and Andrew, I think that making book-ends out of those bits of rail is a fantastic idea.

To add to my items above I also have a Queensland Rail 'Off Peak Wee' cap which was given to me by a classmate in Grade 3. Their father was working for QR at the time.

I also own a piece of rail that was found at a farm a few years ago. I found it by tripping over the end; it was sticking maybe half an inch out of the ground. I also have three spikes and a rail base plate.

When 1602's boards have finished being restored, I will post a picture of them.

Keep the pictures coming!

Kieran.

 

[davesnow]

I picked this up at a flea Market. It's a 1957 PRR calendar. It's approx. 29 inches wide x 28 inches tall. I have no idea of its value, but I paid about 20 bucks for it.

 

[captainkman]

That's a very nice piece!

Is there a chance we could have a close-up of the text in the top-left of the calendar? I would sure like to read it.

Kieran.

 

[pfx]

My own preference is for uniform. Here's my meagre collection.

The Irish Rail 'flying snail' cab badge.



Irish Rail 'broken wheel' cap badge (CIE - Córas IompaIr Éireann)



Dublin DART supervisor's badge.



Northern Ireland Railways cap badge.



British Rail railman's cap and guard's cap.



British Rail guard's bag.



EMD loco key/reverser.



British Rail platform starter from Stirling station.

 

[davesnow]

That's a very nice piece!

Is there a chance we could have a close-up of the text in the top-left of the calendar? I would sure like to read it.

Kieran.

 

[captainkman]

Thanks, Dave.

Kieran.

 

[LittleBondi]

Good Evening all,

First of all, I wish to say CaptainKman, What a great idea.

Here are SOME of my items. My most precious item would be an ex QR MT14 Fairmont Section car #607. I am currently restoring 607 to operation condition.

EX QR MT14 #607 in 2004

A photo I took on the weekend of 607, frame is together.

Other Railway Memorobilia Includes:


QR Guards Lantern


QR Crossing lantern


QR Porters hat

3 QR Manuals for a 1700, 1720 and 1270 Classes

I also own whistle signs, spikes, point locks, an old ganger shed and another Fairmont MT14 waiting to be restored.

-Cheers

 

[Torpedo423]

I have a couple small things, such as some sort of handbooks for the B&O and WM Railways, I have a B&O wallet, 2 pieces of rail (they make great door stops!), then I have a CSX signal manual an engineer gave me out in WV a few years ago. I think I also have a PRR glass ashtray somewhere. Since I just moved I'm not really sure where any of this stuff is right now so no pictures

But seeing this thread has inspired me, I think I'm gonna go try to find them so I can display them on the shelves i just put up.

Interesting collections everyone! I can say I'm rather jealous...

Edit Time: I found the PRR glass ashtray!

 

[captainkman]

LittleBondi,

I would really like to see No.607 restored; I hope you are able to find the money and time to do so.

And those manuals are definitely something special - sometimes things like that are not meant to leave the custody of the railway.

Torpedo423,

That's a very nice ashtray and it looks to be in a pretty good condition. Do you have any idea of what era it's from? If you can find your other items, please do post them here.

Kieran.

 

[LittleBondi]

LittleBondi,

I would really like to see No.607 restored; I hope you are able to find the money and time to do so.

And those manuals are definitely something special - sometimes things like that are not meant to leave the custody of the railway.

Torpedo423,

That's a very nice ashtray and it looks to be in a pretty good condition. Do you have any idea of what era it's from? If you can find your other items, please do post them here.

Kieran.

Thanks Kieran,

Well regarding 607, we finished the frame last weekend and as long as the weather persists to bring sun and no wind, we can continue to paint the parts for the deck and within a couple of weeks, have that done to. If you guys wish, I can post updates here of my progress.

Dylan

 

[captainkman]

Thanks Kieran,

Well regarding 607, we finished the frame last weekend and as long as the weather persists to bring sun and no wind, we can continue to paint the parts for the deck and within a couple of weeks, have that done to. If you guys wish, I can post updates here of my progress.

Dylan

Dylan,

I for one would be most interested in seeing the progress of your project.

Kieran.

 

[lego207]

I saw this at a little antique mall with my family and we picked it up for $15. My grandfather really liked the NYC, so this was a nice find... excuse the mess :hehe: iPhone camera doesn't do it justice...