Clothing
+ Fashion
Jewelry +
Watches
Home +
Furniture
 Pottery 
+ Glass
Art +
 Photos 
Paper +
  Books  
Music +
Movies
Toys +
Games
Sports +
Outdoors
Ads +
  Signs  
Eras +
Themes

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 ...

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 - Share Your Stuff!

» See all railroadiana Show & Tells

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 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: Railroadiana

Other Great Reference Sites: Railroadiana

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 263 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Missouri Pacific Railroad Ball Hamilton 23 Jewel Pocket Watch Chain 10k Gold FobNathan Airchime K5la Train Horn Lifetime Warranty Free Ship Lower 48 RestoredCabside Numberplate: South African Railways Sar 12r Class 4-8-2 Loco No. 1874 BrPrr Pennsylvania Builders Plate Gg1 Electric 4821Steam WhistleHistoric Alaska Railroad Photo Lot, Warren G. Harding's Last Autograph? 19231949 Railroad D&rgw Fairbanks Morse Builders Tag Plate For Switcher Train ?Nathan Airchime K6 Train HornGwr Railway Hand Signal Lantern Lamp J & E Wright Tinplate/brass Huntingdon & Broad Top Mtn. Rr Tall Frame "adams" Lantern W/ Marked GlobeLeslie Rs3k Locomotive Train Air Horn Supertyfon Nathan Chime TampaVintage Antique Yellow Railroad Cateye Stop Sign (rail Road Cat Eye)Nathan Air Chime Train Horn 5 Trumpets * U.s.a. Lantern W/ Cast Blue/green U.s.a. Globe Very Rare & Very Nice! *Flask Antique, "success To The Railroad" With Eagle Pontil BottomHandsome Seaboard Ry. Casey W/ Extended Base Signal Green GlobeNathan Airchime K5la - Fix Up Job #3Parts For M3 Nathan Air Chime Railroad Locomotive Trans Air HornLeslie Rs3l Restored Train Horn NathanB&o Rr Indian Creek Large Oval Platter - Centenary PatternUnion Pacific Railroad Historical Dining Car Demitasse Cup Saucer China OverlandLamberton B&o Rr Centenary Dining Car China 10-1/2" Divided Plate, Cheat RiverVery Old Texas & Pacific Ry Police BadgeFranklin Mint Coca-cola Collector's Edition Ho-scale Train New In BoxAntique Very Large Locomotive Steam Engine Train Railroad Bell Cast Iron Bronze Leslie Rs3k Train Horn In Mirror Gloss Black Powder Coat NathanRailroad Train Order Signal Lamp - Western Pacific Rayo #39 Railroad Lantern With Extremely Rare Teal Rayo Embossed Globe Not DietzBaldwin Locomotive Works Narrow Gauge Railroad Builders Plate Extra Order #1083Antique Metal & Marble Reflectors Railroad Crossing Sign * All Original Ww2 German Bahn Schutz K98 Bayonet Railroad Protection Police Marked Frog C&nw Signed Bauscher China Demitasse Cup & Saucer 1928Southern Pacific Steam Engine No. 2476 NegativeVintage 1893 Colorado Midland Railway Ry Hagerman Pass Poster Sign AdvertisingLeslie Rs3l Railroad Locomotive Train Air Horn NathanRare Adams Westlake Conductors Presentation Silver Plated Railroad Lantern 1864Vintage Rare Three Chime Solid Brass Steam Railroad-train-ship Whistle No ReservB&o Railroad Steam Locomotive Classification Marker Light Handlan, Change LensesVintage Steam Traction Engine Gauge AshcroftVintage B & O Water Carafe / Pitcher From Dining Car Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Nathan Airchime K5la - Fix Up Job #1Norfolk & Western Keystone €Cabside Numberplate: South African Railways Sar 23 Class 4-8-2 Loco No. 3312 AluVintage Train HornLunkenheimer 3 200 Antique Brass Railroad Train Steam Whistle & Handle Rare Antique Adams & Westlake Solid Brass Railroad Oil Kerosene Wall Bracket LampUnion Pacific Railroad Historical Dining Car Dinner Plate China Overland MintDisneyland Piece Of Disney History Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Litho Signed LeVintage Steam Traction Engine Gauge AshcroftLot Of 300 Antique Railroad Spikes For Blacksmithing, Interior Design, ArtOriginal Slide Gacx Ross Industries 44704 Kodachrome 1980 Stockton CaOriginal French Touristic PyrThe Milwaukee Road Railroad Full Size 1950 100th Anniv. Wall Calendar CompleteCabside Numberplate: South African Railways Sar 6e1 3kv Ohle Loco No.e1393 BrassVtg 60s Metal Railway Inspecter Sign Staition Enamel Vintage Brass Locomotive Steam Train Whistle Acorn Top No. 28 - 171 And MountVintage Sunbeam Railroad Locomotive Headlight Head Lamp1960 Vulcan Foundry Loco 40066 Works Plate English Electric London 2788/d503Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company Lantern W/clear Cast GlobePennsylvania Railroad Tail Marker Lantern - Handlan - Four Lenses
»» Get our weekly Railroadiana email



Right now on eBay



Recent News: Railroadiana

Source: Google News

Travel back in time to Amish country
Illinois Times, May 24th

Located in the historic Illinois Central train depot built in 1885, the museum offers railroad memorabilia, a Raggedy Ann doll collection and antique brooms and brushes. Arcola also sports the World's One and Only Hippie Memorial. Want to know more?...Read more

Beer Tap Room to Open this Summer in Roseville
Patch.com, May 17th

When you walk into the new space, you'll find a bar area, televisions set to sports stations, a patio with about 6 tables and beer and railroad memorabilia lining the walls. The Final Gravity concept started a few years ago when the Ruthnicks lived in...Read more

North Iowa Today for Saturday, May 12
Mason City Globe Gazette, May 12th

CHARLES CITY — The Floyd County Museum and the Model Railroad Club will celebrate National Train Day with railroad memorabilia, films, lights and markers on display. The model railroad room will be open from 1 to 4 pm CHARLES CITY — The Charles City...Read more

Riding the Rails with EM Frimbo
New Yorker (blog), May 11th

In “Here at The New Yorker,” Gill recalls that Whitaker's office was flooded with “yellowing newspapers, magazines, and Penn Central timetables and other railroad memorabilia.” Gill called him “the foremost railroad buff in the country and perhaps the...Read more

John R. Pulliam: Let's take next step to make area a light on the prairie
Galesburg Register-Mail, May 6th

Yes, Sandburg items can be sold at the Sandburg State Historic Site, when it is open, and railroad memorabilia at the Galesburg Railroad Museum, but mixing some of it in a store selling everything Galesburg is a good idea...Read more

Commons train park would need amendment
Chicago Tribune, May 5th

The Spirit group wants to build a structure at the Commons site to provide winter storage, display railroad memorabilia and provide shelter, among other uses. The joint planning board would need to hold a public hearing and propose an amendment to the...Read more

Expanded hours at the Floyd County Museum
Mason City Globe Gazette, May 2nd

The museum is open Monday through Friday all year, from 9 am to 4:30 pm On Saturday, May 12, the Floyd County Museum and the Model Railroad Club will celebrate National Train Day. There will be railroad memorabilia, films, lights and markers on...Read more

Train Enthusiasts Gather In Livingston For Annual Tradition
NBC Montana, April 28th

Coordinators say the swap meet saw a great turnout and featured railroad antiques, memorabilia, books, photos and collectibles. Attendees also got a chance to check out several large scale model trains...exact replicas of the real thing...Read more