About Antique Railroad Lanterns

Railroad lanterns are basically a metal 'cage' with a translucent globe protecting a light source. They were used for relaying signals and inspecting trains at night. Collectors look for earlier lanterns that burned kerosene, signal oil, or other types of fuel. Most are 'trainmens lanterns' which were used by railroad crew members, but some are 'conductors lanterns' used in passenger service and 'inspectors lanterns' used for inspecting trains in terminals and yards. Any lantern or globe with a railroad marking is especially valued.


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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Antique Lamp Collector Dan Edminster

My grandparents were antique collectors all their lives, their whole house was furnished in antiques. They had a lo… [more]

Guest Column: An Overview of Railroadiana Collecting

Many people are fascinated by railroads. At one time, railroads were connected to most aspects of community and eco… [more]

An Interview With 1950s TV Lamp Collector Mark Stevens

What got me interested in TV lamps?  I’ve always had an interest in the tackier artifacts of the 1950s and 60s. The… [more]

An Interview with Railroadiana Collector and Auctioneer Sue Knous

My husband Bill always loved trains and my grandfather had been an executive with the Denver and Rio Grande here. W… [more]



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Tall Red Cast Or&n Railroad Lantern Globe Excellent +++$415.00 Ends in 16 hours 19 bids 63 watchers
Nyc & Stl Rr Lantern With Yellow Cast Nyc & Stl Globe$338.33 Ends Tuesday 11 bids 63 watchers
K. C. M. & O. Ry. Of Tex Handlan Railroad Lantern$237.50 Ends Tuesday 11 bids 47 watchers
Denver Rio Grande Railroad Lantern D & R.g. Great Cond.$217.50 Ends in 16 hours 16 bids 39 watchers
L&n Railroad Dining Or Presidential Car Lamp$209.50 Ends in 13 hours 3 bids 21 watchers
Antique Railroad Engine Lamp Lantern The Pyle-national$202.50 Ends Tuesday 17 bids 27 watchers
C&o Rr Lantern Tall Red Embossed Globe$127.50 Ends Wednesday 10 bids 13 watchers
Great Northern No.4 Railroad Switch Lamp Lantern Adlake$127.50 Ends Wednesday 4 bids 44 watchers
Handlan St. Louis Antique Railroad Lantern Nynh&h$125.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 14 watchers
Dl & Wrr Railroad Lantern With Flint Wheel$99.99 Ends in 15 hours 1 bid 25 watchers
Cms-p&p Railroad Blue Globe Railroad Lantern$82.82 Ends in 7 hours 11 bids 21 watchers
Railroad Pyle-national Company Vintage Lantern 600v$81.77 Ends Wednesday 8 bids 16 watchers
Chesapeake & Ohio Ry Kerosene Railroad Switch Lantern $78.77 Ends Sunday 9 bids 24 watchers
Erie Railroad Caboose Lamp Lantern Adlake Excellent $78.00 Ends Sunday 8 bids 30 watchers
Vintage Adlake Railroad Switch Lamp Lantern Signal $74.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 8 watchers
Tall 1912 Adlake Reliable Owrr&nco Railroad Lantern +++$68.09 Ends in 16 hours 7 bids 45 watchers
Antique Railroad Rr Caboose Lantern 4 Lenses So Pac Co$67.66 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 19 watchers
Adams & Westlake N&w Penna Lines Railroad Lantern$63.00 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 20 watchers
2 Dietz Vesta, New York Railroad Type Lanterns$60.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 1 watcher
Vintage Sante Fe Route Railroad Globe Lantern 1900s$56.85 Ends Sunday 2 bids 13 watchers
Vintage, Handlan B&o Railroad Locomotive, Heavy Lantern$56.00 Ends in 15 hours 4 bids 9 watchers
Adlake Vintage Railroad Lantern - Great Northern #4$55.55 Ends Monday 2 bids 24 watchers
L & N Railroad Lantern, With Orange Glass Globe$52.99 Ends Wednesday 7 bids 15 watchers
Old Reading Railroad Lantern Red Glass Globe$52.51 Ends Friday 3 bids 12 watchers
C.t. Ham Railroad Lantern- Erie R.r. On Dome$51.00 Ends Saturday 7 bids 20 watchers
Adlake Non Sweating Railroad Lamp No Reserve!$50.99 Ends Wednesday 7 bids 15 watchers
M&stl Rr Lantern W/matching Red Globe-in Quotes$49.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 2 watchers
Early M-k-t Katy Railroad Lantern W/red Globe Dressel$49.95 Ends in 14 hours 2 bids 9 watchers
3 Conrail Railroad Electric Lantern Collection 6 Volt$46.55 Ends in 8 hours 5 bids 16 watchers
Western Railroad Supply Cast Iron Semaphore Light$46.33 Ends Monday 4 bids 16 watchers
Railroad Northern Pacific Lantern$46.00 Ends Tuesday 7 bids 27 watchers
C M St P&p Railroad Amber Globe Railroad Lantern$45.00 Ends Tuesday 7 bids 14 watchers
Two 8 Inch Railroad Flashing Red Lights$45.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 16 watchers
Old Union Pacific Railroad Signal Lanterns Set 2 Adlake$41.00 Ends Saturday 4 bids 23 watchers
Original Aladdin Lox-on Railroad Lamp Bracket +parts Nr$40.89 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 17 watchers
Pair Of Railroad Caboose Marker Light Brackets Soo Line$39.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 10 watchers
L&n Rr Lantern Short Clear L&n Rr Embossed Globe$39.95 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 1 watcher
B & A Railroad Lantern Globe$39.01 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 35 watchers
Brass British Railroad Lantern$39.00 Ends in 10 hours 3 bids 9 watchers
Penn Central Railroad Lantern Adlake Kero W/kopp Globe$39.00 Ends in 12 hours 1 bid 7 watchers
Old Railroad Train Engine Signal Control Light Part$36.00 Ends in 14 hours 6 bids 29 watchers
Adlake Railroad Lantern Rr$35.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 4 watchers
Armspear N&w Railroad Lantern "1925" Red Globe$35.00 Ends in 15 hours 1 bid 20 watchers
Adlake N&w Railroad Lantern With Red Globe$35.00 Ends in 15 hours 1 bid 19 watchers
B & O Railroad Lantern$34.00 Ends in 7 hours 3 bids 13 watchers
G.t.r Railroad Lantern, 5 3/8 In.globe,$34.00 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 3 watchers
Old Railroad Train Lantern From Estate Sale ~~l@@k~~$32.78 Ends in 4 hours 6 bids 14 watchers
Railroad Adlake Switch Light Complete W/ All Lens Caps$31.99 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 14 watchers
Early Pennsylvania Railroad Etched Lamp Globe$31.00 Ends in 7 hours 2 bids 17 watchers
Unusual Antique Adlake Railroad Lantern Lamp~caboose?$31.00 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 33 watchers
Railroad Caboose Marker Light Holder Set Adlake Old !!!$31.00 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 9 watchers
Tall Embossed "b & O Rr Safety First" Lantern Globe$30.00 Ends Friday 1 bid 17 watchers
S.p. Co. Railroad Lantern, Dressel Mfg, 3 3/8 Globe$29.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 4 watchers
1925 Amspear B&o Rr New York Lantern --red Globe--$29.95 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 5 watchers
Old Cast Light Railroad?? Great Collector /display $29.95 Ends in 17 hours 1 bid 7 watchers
Vintage Elgin Red Kerosene Oil Lantern Railroad Barn$28.88 Ends in 10 hours 5 bids 5 watchers

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