Browse all categories
96 Show & Tell Posts Today

Collectors Weekly

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, 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.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Show & Tell

Brass Railroad Keys - Railroadianaby senor_t…
in Railroadiana
2 years ago
TRAIN WHISTLES 45'S - Railroadianaby rlbarne…
in Railroadiana
3 years ago
PRR GG-1 #4877, in New Jersey - Railroadianaby Ted_Str…
in Railroadiana
1 month ago
See all railroadiana posts

Interviews & Articles

An Overview of Railroadiana Collecting

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

Railroadiana Collectors Preserve the Days of Train Travel

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

Collecting Iron Horses

In the final analysis, collecting of old locomotives is not essentially different from the collecting of early carriages, clocks, … [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Railroadiana Online

Railroadiana Online

If you've ever wondered how to tell real from fake railroad china, or how brass baggage tags originated, this extre… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations

Other Great Reference Sites

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 277 by  highest bid • most watched • completed
Southern Pacific Rr Prairie Mt Wildflower~bauscher China~mission Santa BarbaraNathan K6la Train Horn + Graham White Air ValveVintage Steam Locomotive Brass Bell, Railroad, Railway, Train In Bonnieville, KyAntique 1914 Ansonia Oak Gallery Railroad Wall Clock 23 1/2" Dia. Rare 30 DayOriginal Baldwin Locomotive Works Builders Plate Q 4 B #56110 March 1923Nathan Airchime K5la Railroad Locomotive Air Chime HornNathan Air Chime K5 5-chime Train Horn. The Real Deal. Extremly Loud! Aga Signal Service Corp 4 Way Traffic Signal Rare 1930's Model Bap 37Rare Brass Fairbanks Morse Locomotive Builders Plate, Excellent Cond. H10-44Family Lines Rr Caboose (railroad Car)Gsm Northern Ireland & Operational Service Medal Afghanistan To The R.r.fLeslie Rs-3l Locomotive Train Horn 3 Chime Sf Up Milw Soo Mkt Kcs El Reading E-lDtd - Railroad Lantern Dietz Vesta Br & Pry Clear GlobePennsylvania Lines Tall Globe Lantern With Cast Signal Green GlobeWestern Pacific Feather River Porcelain Railroad Sign Heavy Original PorcelainElgin 18s 23j Veritas, Gr 214 Lvrr Vet. Documentd! J17Huge Lonergan 3 Chime Brass Steam Whistle For Locomotive, Traction Engine, Ship1890 Sessions Calendar Railroad Advertising RegulatorVintage Midland Route Large Platter, Syracuse ChinaVintage Railroad Cart, 1925 Baggage CartOriginal Lima Locomotive Works Builders Plate S-i #6722 March 1924Vintage Hornby Series O Gauge Railway Locomatives / Rolling StockHamilton 10k Gold Filled 950b 23 Jew Railway Special Railroad Pocket Watch Chain50+ Ble Bessemer & Lake Erie Freight Cars Railroad Slides. From The 601912 Rppc Post Mortem Sanderson Texas Southern Pacific Train Robbers Dead PhotoHamilton 16s Torpedo Boat Grade 974 Very Rare! J16Norfolk & Western 50 Year Service Pin- Very RareLamberton Scammell Norfolk & Western Railway 1838 1938 Century Of Service Plate Illinois 16s Ball Loaner Cased Bunn From Chris Bauer Rr Insp. J14Very Nice Pennsylvania Railroad Adlake Non Sweat Switch Stand Lamp, 2 Grn,2 Red Vintage Metal & Porcelain Railroad Crossing Sign, 48" W/cats EyesEmd Brass Locomotive BellNathan Airchime P3 Train HornRare Large Antique Locomotive Train Steam Whistle Hand Operated Solid Brass LookAlco Loco Builders Plate From Illinois Central 2-8-2 #1533 Blt1923 SchenectadyVintage Rutland Railroad Bennington Station Company Wax Seal Brass Stamp Mint 1938 Sun Valley Idaho Union Pacific Railroad Ski Trail Map Willmarth MintAntique 20thc Edwardian Oak & Brass Railway Coal Wagon Cigar Box C.1900Builders Plate From Wabash Baldwin S-12 #309 Blt 1953 Antique Cabinet Card Photo San Jose Los Gatos Interurban Railway Co. Train Car#20 Soo Line Railway Railroad Red & Green Glass Oil Lamp Lantern Post Mount ??Vintage Brass Steam Railroad Train Whistle Tugboat Oriental Ltd Pennsylvania Railroad 1938 Broadway LtdHamilton 992b 21 Jewel 16 Size Train On Back 20 Yr G.f.case All Runs And Xcell !Antique Early Buhl No 100 Searchlight / Reflector Rr Railroad Lantern Red GlobeToy Steam EngineVintage C.1950 Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Train Boxcar 30" Metal Sign~neat!Elkington 1892 Ner Station Hotel Newcastle Silver Plated Sm Meat Dome 8.7x6.3inVintage Railroad Warning Red Light Stop Signal Rochester Ny Train Engine Rr SignBeautiful 1926 Illinois 60hr Bunn Special Pocket Watch In A 10kk Golded CaseVintage Buddy Lee Railroad Engineer Doll 13" Complete With Red Scarf!Vintage New York Central Railroad Train Stepping StoolGreat Northern Railway Co. Dining Car Dept. Wax Sealer A-24Signed Limited Edition Sugar Trains Pictorial Jesse Conde Hawaii RailroadingAntique Railroad N.y.c.s Name Plate Adlake Non Sweating Lamp Lantern Chicago Adlake Railroad Marker Lamp/lantern- ElectricAdlake Railroad Switch Lantern - At&sf Ry.-adams & Westlake Company Pat. 1800s Bachmann Model Railways Lms Railway 'super D' G2a Class Loco Mib Antique Railroad Lantern Central Vermont Railroad Brass Top 1889 Lettered GlobeRailroad Lantern D&h Delaware & Hudson Ct Ham Bell Bottom W Emerald Globe

Recent News: Railroadiana

Source: Google News

What's more powerful than a locomotive?
Dailyrecord.com, June 13th

This weekend, visitors will also be invited to view the museum's assortment of train artifacts, including indoor and outdoor operating model trains, historic railroad memorabilia, equipment, and Civil War and Titanic displays, which include a display...Read more

Sunday picks: Your choice: Loggins, Baez or Pitbull
Chicago Daily Herald, June 9th

Model train fans can find a variety of pieces for their collections at the Kane County Railroadiana and Model Train Show and Sale at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. The show features model trains and operating layouts...Read more

Three presented with Heritage Award in Clallam
Peninsula Daily, June 3rd

displays railroad memorabilia and history dating back to when tracks passed through the area, as well as photos and artifacts of Port Crescent, Gettysburg, Disque, Twin, Piedmont, Fort Hayden at Tongue Point, Lake Crescent, Sol Duc and, of course...Read more

Sinking Spring proud to share two milestones
Reading Eagle, June 2nd

The buildings date from the 1800s and house local historical and railroad memorabilia. Hoffa said he knows of people in their 90s who have lived in Sinking Spring all their lives, and it's interesting to hear about the borough's history from them...Read more

Three Clallam residents to receive awards for preservation
Peninsula Daily, May 29th

The museum, one block east of the Joyce General Store in the community west of Port Angeles on state Highway 112, displays railroad memorabilia and history, as well as photos and artifacts of Port Crescent, Gettysburg, Disque, Twin, Piedmont, Fort...Read more