Railroadiana

About Railroadiana

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.

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Interviews & Articles

Guest Column: An Overview of Railroadiana Collecting

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

Collecting Iron Horses

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



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Railroadiana Videos



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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]


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Clubs & Associations: Railroadiana


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Top eBay Auctions  Help | Get weekly Railroadiana email

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W130 - 8" Ashton Steam Whistle W/2" Valve, 's' Manifold$1,525 Ends in 19 hours 6 bids 40 watchers
1928 Railroad & Slave Clocks From Union Station, Kc, Mo$1,000.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 29 watchers
Wig Wag Wrrs Autoflag Railroad Crossing Light Signal$910.00 Ends Monday 12 bids 66 watchers
Southern Railway Hooter Steam Whistle$750.00 Ends Friday 1 bid 14 watchers
19 1/2" X 6" Brass Lunkenheimer 3 Chime Steam Whistle$660.00 Ends in 18 hours 7 bids 64 watchers
E Howard # 70 Lunds' Sync Device Ny Elevated Rr Clock$565.00 Ends Friday 4 bids 65 watchers
Illinois Central Rr China Teapot Louisane No Reserve$510.00 Ends Thursday 8 bids 31 watchers
W82 - 4 1/4" South African Rr Step-top Steam Whistle$500.10 Ends in 19 hours 11 bids 36 watchers
Delaware & Northern Railroad Bellbottom Lantern *rare*$480.01 Ends in 18 hours 7 bids 33 watchers
Antique Elgin Pocket Watch Bw Raymond 10k Gf 23j 16s$405.00 Ends in 21 hours 9 bids 18 watchers
Great Northern Railway...railroad Marker Lantern Lamp$361.00 Ends in 18 hours 22 bids 31 watchers
Antique Railway Rr Signal O Fire Alarm Bell Gamewell ?$360.00 Ends Sunday 5 bids 46 watchers
Vnt The 400 Passenger Tr Plate Chicago North Western Ry$355.00 Ends in 20 hours 13 bids 22 watchers
1926 Baldwin Locomotive Works Photo C&o 2-8-8-2 H7 1572$355.00 Ends Tuesday 16 bids 22 watchers
Colorado & Southern Butter Pat-pueblo Pattern-rare$345.67 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 42 watchers
Vintage Steel Santa Fe Railroad Standard Clock Sign$300.00 Ends Monday 4 bids 29 watchers
Canadian Pacific Beaver Shield 17.5 X 12.5" Cpr$299.99 Ends in 18 hours 1 bid 28 watchers
Alaska Railroad - Demi Cup & Saucer - Mckinley - Mint$299.99 Ends in 17 hours 1 bid 27 watchers
1 1/2" Dia. Lunkenheimer 3 Chime Steam Engine Whistle $287.78 Ends in 17 hours 11 bids 45 watchers
General Electric Builder Plate-union Pacific 'big Blow'$285.00 Ends in 9 hours 7 bids 35 watchers
Nashville Chattanooga & St. Louis Rr Carafe & Stopper $255.99 Ends in 17 hours 22 bids 21 watchers
Original 1940s New York Central Railroad Travel Poster$255.00 Ends in 7 hours 10 bids 34 watchers
Santa Fe Railroad El Pasoan Drumhead A.t.& S.f.ry$252.48 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 32 watchers
Wabash Railroad Embossed Lantern Globe$203.50 Ends in 19 hours 10 bids 24 watchers
Brass Emd E-3a E3b O Scale$200.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 10 watchers
Northern Pacific "yellowstone Teapot" $199.95 Ends in 12 hours 1 bid 27 watchers
Brass Train$191.50 Ends in 17 hours 7 bids 13 watchers
Chicago & North-western,railroad,1890s,fond Du Lac,bowl$187.50 Ends Friday 12 bids 36 watchers
Northern Pacific Tall Globe Railroad Lantern$178.88 Ends Wednesday 41 bids 21 watchers
Santa Fe Railroad Golden Gate Drumhead A.t.& S.f.ry$178.50 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 27 watchers
Lima Locomotive Works Builders Plate No Reserve$172.50 Ends Wednesday 6 bids 49 watchers
Rare O.s.l. Railroad Lantern Red Cast Tall Globe Nr$171.43 Ends in 18 hours 15 bids 27 watchers
Grand Central Railway Gorton Tank 1861 Walking Stick $169.41 Ends Monday 10 bids 33 watchers
Ship Lamp/ Lantern Brass 18" / Nautical/ Maritime Decor$165.99 Ends Monday 8 bids 18 watchers
B&o Em-1 Front Marker Light!!!$165.82 Ends Saturday 4 bids 14 watchers
Men's Solid Gold Bucherer Wristwatch$162.50 Ends in 12 hours 26 bids 77 watchers
Hamilton 992 Gf 21 Jewel Railroad Pocket Watch$154.50 Ends in 13 hours 6 bids 18 watchers
Santa Fe Railroad Silverplate Condiment Holder B/stamp$152.50 Ends in 17 hours 9 bids 23 watchers
Santa Fe "a" (at&sf) Cast Globe Bellbottom Lantern$152.49 Ends in 18 hours 2 bids 34 watchers
Lionel Train Set$150.50 Ends Wednesday 7 bids 21 watchers
1880s Steam Whistle, Rr Loco Or Engine Shop Made?$150.00 Ends in 18 hours 1 bid 12 watchers
Southern Pacific Railroad Signal Standards Drawings $150.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 8 watchers
Lionel Conventional Classic Virginian Trainmaster Loco$149.99 Ends in 8 hours 1 bid 11 watchers
1800's Adams & Westlake Brass Railroad Oil Lamp Lantern$130.25 Ends in 19 hours 5 bids 39 watchers
Leslie Train Horn, Three Chime, Diesel, Air Powered$127.50 Ends Monday 5 bids 30 watchers
Santa Fe Railroad Silver Soup Tureen 3pc. N.r.$125.50 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 18 watchers
M&st L Rail Road Lantern Adams & Western Lake Co$125.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 15 watchers
Lionel Monopoly Train Set O27 Scale$122.51 Ends in 19 hours 5 bids 13 watchers
Fairmont Railway Motors Push Speeder Car Toolbox W Logo$112.50 Ends in 19 hours 11 bids 15 watchers
Lunkenheimer 9" Steam Engine Brass Antique Whistle$104.82 Ends Saturday 7 bids 17 watchers
Huge 38" Railroad Advertising Regulator Wall Clock, Nr$103.50 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 43 watchers
190 Loco's! Original Kodachrome Slides! ***trainutz***$102.85 Ends Monday 2 bids 13 watchers
Southern Pacific El Paso Div. No. 118$102.50 Ends in 15 hours 6 bids 12 watchers
C1900 Webb C Ball Watch Co. Oak Railway Regulator Clock$102.50 Ends Wednesday 6 bids 31 watchers
Dm&n Ry Railroad Lantern ~duluth,missabi & Northern$102.50 Ends in 17 hours 11 bids 40 watchers
Pennsylvania Railroad Gg1 Builders Plate Authentic$100.00 Ends Saturday 1 bid 3 watchers
Original Train Slides~ Lot Of 554~ Very Nice~collection$100.00 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 6 watchers
Railroad Lantern Stl&swrr Cotton Belt Handlan Rr Scarce$100.00 Ends in 18 hours 7 bids 43 watchers

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Recent News: Railroadiana

Source: Google News

Awesome Train Set, Mr. Buffett
New York Times, November 7th

You are also a railfan if you collect “railroadiana,” the memorabilia of trains: dining car china, or steam locomotive whistles, or railroad uniform buttons...Read more

North Carolina flea market reopens at State Fairgrounds after closing for ...
WTKR Your NewsChannel 3, November 7th

By AP RALEIGH, NC (AP) — A North Carolina flea market that annually closes for the state fair is reopening in Raleigh. The Raleigh Flea Market opens its...Read more

This weekend: British, steam and barbecues
Meridian Star, November 5th

A variety of railroad memorabilia will be on display along with an operational model railroad and Amtrak will display several pieces of working equipment...Read more

Cre8tive TZ/TraXside Cafe to open November 9th in Enderlin
Enderlin Independent, November 4th

The ladies hope to decorate the cafe with railroad memorabilia and ask everyone to share their railroad decorations with them for display...Read more

Wind through the back roads and visit 'the plain people'
Buffalo News, November 1st

A restored Victorian railroad station, its waiting and baggage rooms display railroad memorabilia, antiques, and Amish handicrafts...Read more

Where Clackety-Clack Is Lullaby of Choice
New York Times, October 29th

There is, indeed, a breakfast at this bed-and-breakfast, served family style at an expansive table in a dining room festooned with railroad memorabilia...Read more

Five Questions: Ernie Mann
Troy Record, October 19th

By Tom Caprood Ernie Mann is a Rensselaer resident and longtime railroad memorabilia collector who recently authored “Railroads of Rensselaer,” which was...Read more

60 years of the arts at Elgin Community College
Chicago Daily Herald, October 17th

Collectors of railroad memorabilia can buy and sell items used by railroads at the 17th Chicago Railroadiana Show and Sale. Look for items including steam...Read more

Railroadiana

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