The railroads built America: up through WW2 they were the dominant form of transportation, with hundreds of major ‘roads’ hauling passengers and freight. Most railroad lines were large enterprises requiring vast amounts of material and equipment to operate. Much of this material survives today and is sought after by collectors.
Railroadiana collectors will often focus on items from a specific region or railroad (New York Central, Southern Pacific, Baltimore and Ohio, Pennsylvania Central, Santa Fe, Norfolk and Western, Denver and Rio Grande, etc.), or on a specific type of item.
Some of the more popular collectible railroadiana categories include lanterns, calendars, postcards, posters, photos, passes, caps, china, silver and holloware, locks, badges, pocket watches and signs.
There are also railroadiana collectors who focus on baggage tags, bells, builders plates, buttons, marbles, spittoons, uniforms, ashtrays, and railroad-related postal and telegraph items.
Many people are fascinated by railroads. At one time, railroads were connected to most aspects of community a… [more]
If you've ever wondered how to tell real from fake railroad china, or how brass baggage tags originated, this extre… [more]
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Gloucester Daily Times, USA -
Tomorrow, he will be selling dozens of items of railroad memorabilia during the annual Christmas Fair-by-the-Sea in Manchester. Terrill has worked on the ...
Edge, FL -
... like magazines, newspapers, post cards, theatre reviews, first generation photographs, dated maps, autographed paper, Railroadiana, folk art, ...
News & Observer (registration), NC -
Roland Waggoner, secretary of the Neuse River Valley Model Railroad Club, prepares to switch engines on the layout at the Train & Railroadiana Show at the ...
Indianapolis Star, United States -
For collectors, it all gets lumped under the heading of Railroadiana. There are so many possibilities for the rail enthusiast that most collectors ...
Mendota Reporter, IL -
This is for the pure joy of the hobby of railroad memorabilia or railroad modeling." It was clear at the morning and afternoon swap and sale that IC ...
Cherry Hill Courier Post, NJ -
Food, beverages, test track door prizes and railroad memorabilia and supplies for sale. Vendors are welcome. $5 adults. ...
East Tennessean Online Edition (subscription), TN -
The museum is described as a "working museum that has exhibits of both prototypical railroad memorabilia, principally the railroads that served this area ...
Monroe News Star, LA -
A restored 1899 Rock Island Depot, featuring railroad memorabilia and artifacts from local history. 10 am-noon and 1-3 pm weekdays, or by appointment. ...
Benton Evening News, IL -
“I have been collecting railroad memorabilia for years,” Odom said. “I take a lot of railroad photos myself and am working on a model train landscape ...
Corvallis Gazette Times, OR -
Toledo Historic Museum, 208 Main St. Collection of early sawmill, logging and railroad memorabilia. Hours: noon-5 pm Wednesday-Sunday. ...