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

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]



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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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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