Railroadiana Information

 Here are a few examples of what can be stored in the Railroadiana file for 
modelers to tap for information. 

 A good item for collecting are time tables of name trains and the towns that
they operated between. This would let a modeler know how he could incorporate
that information into his scheduling of his trains on the layout for passenger
trains. Also a price can be included as to what one might expect to pay for
such an item at a railroadiana meet or swap meet. The inclusion of the price
would be quite helpful since there are some unscrupulous people at these meets.

 Another example would be railroad system maps. Since small feeder lines are
fast disappearing from tats number one railroads, following the line may be
difficult a few years down the road. Also if you need to find what towns or
how the railroad got from one location to the next and your railroad ran back
in 1930's or 40's, a system map of that railroad would be very helpful. I have
a system map of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. It shows 5 states and all of the
railroads in each state.There is no date on the map, but it's quite obvious
that the map has to date back to about the 50's from the railroads that are on
the map. The information this map has is priceless. It will help me in 
determining the route of my fictitious railroad, the New York, Vermont & Northern
, and the real railroads that it will interchange with. Now if you needed info
on a certain railroad say in Pa. I could look it up for you and give you a
precise location as to town and other railroads that interchanged with the line
and what towns the interchange took place. This particular map cost me $10.00
and is worth every penny. Now this gives you an idea of how much you would pay
for a map and who you can contact for further information.

 Railroad way bills are another collectable item. These can tell you what
commodities the railroad hauled, when it hauled them, from were, what rail-
roads were involved in bringing the product to the on line industry. All this
info will help you in your attempt to duplicate the model railroad and give it
a feel that it's doing  something useful.

 The above is a small example of what information is available as collectable
items that may help you formulate how your fictitious railroad will operate or
how close you can make your model to the prototype railroad you are modeling.

 Other items of collection interest are railroad artifacts such as lanterns,
a bell from a steam loco, a head light off an engine, or some other item of
interest. Switch locks and keys are also great items of collection interest.
Basically any thing that had to do with the railroad that had the railroads
emblem on it are of interest and has some history behind it are of interest.

 Now I'll give you several examples of what I have collected in information
and collectibles.

 The first item of information was given to me by Paul Cooledge. He is a Lehigh
Valley Railroad fan. He has collected quite an impressive amount to information
on this railroad from brass switch keys to linen drawings of tracks and 
buildings of the L.V. R.R. Plus alot of hard work on his own gathering info 
from field trips. The following is a short description of the history behind a
brass key that was purchased by Paul for $150.00.

               The Pennsylvania & New York Canal and Railroad Company

The Commonwealth of Pennsyliaina constructed several transportation canals
between the years of 1828 and 1856. Several branches of this state operated
Pennsylvania Canal System never became profitable because of the high operating
expenses due to poor initial workmanship, and other factors. The North Branch
Division was among those sold off to other investors. A portion of this branch
, running from Wilkes-Barre to the New York State Line, was sold in 1858 to a
group of investors represented by Colonel Charles Welles, Jr., of Athens, Pa.,
with the intent of marking a profitable enterprise. Unfortunately, a severe
flood in March of 1865 seriously damaged the canal, and the fledgling North
Branch Canal Company fell dormant.
 At this time, Asa Packer of the Lehigh Valley Railroad approached Col. Welles
with a purchase offer. Interested only in the nearly gradeless right of way the
canal provided, Packer secured stock control of the North Branch Canal Co.,
solely for the purpose of building a rail line to connect the L.V. at Willes-
Barre to the New York and Erie Railroad at Waverly, N.Y., 105 miles distant.
This new connection would provide new markets for the LV anthracite to the 
north.
 On March 20, 1865, the corporate name of the North Branch Canal Co. was
changed to Pennsylvania and New York Canal and Railroad Company, and Col. 
Welles was made president. The new rail line became operational in 1868 and
was completed between Wiles-Barre and Waverly on August 24, 1869. Due to
provisions in the company charter, the Pa. & NY was unable to close the 
unwanted North Branch Canal until April 2, 1872, after which it was extensively
filled in to room for a second track for the expanding railroad business.
 On December 1, 1888, the Pennsylvania and New York Railroad, which had grown
to include shops and offices in Sayre, Pa., and many branch lines into the
anthracite fields of Pennsylvania, was leased for 99 years by the Lehigh Valley
Railroad, and all locomotives and rolling stock were purchased out right.

The key was probably issued between 1868 and 1872,as the initials reflect the
original corporate name P & NY C & RR. The key is 2 1/2" long. The barrel is
about .400" in diameter and about 1" long. The top of the key is round, about
1" in diameter with a hole of about .400" in diameter with the initials 
stamped or engraved on the round upper portion. The key was purchased for 
$150.00 and is the only one Paul has seen since he has been collecting rail-
roadiana.


Another example is two items I purchased at a railroad swap meet in Niagara 
Falls. I have an interest in the East Broad Top R.R. and have recently acquired
an interest in collectibles. I purchased a switch lock and key for $50.00 and a
folder that used to hold, as the folder states, " East Broad Top Railroad & C.
Co. WEEKLY SETTLEMENT STATEMENTS WEEK ENDING  April 14, 1939 " with the date 
written in by hand for $1.00.

 The lock and key probably have some very interesting history behind them. All
I can provide now is a description of the lock and the lettering.

 The lock is heart shaped with the initials of the lock company cast into the
front of the lock, W P. The hasp has the initials EBTRR & COAL stamped or 
engraved in it. The key is 1.500" long. The barrel is .200" in diameter and 
about 1.900 " long. The top part is round, .600" in diameter with a hole of 
over .200" in diameter with the key makers name and location on one side and 
the serial number on the other. The key makers name is Eagle Lock Co., 
Terryville, Conn. USA. The serial number on the other side is 40110. Obviously 
this is not the original key. The one that was issued with the lock was
probably lost. Although the key does open the lock.


 This would be the kind of information that could be stored here for people
to use and exchange information on items that are left of our railroad
heritage. It would help the prototype modeler build a better and more 
interesting layout. It would help the free lancer make his or her railroad more
like the prototype with the information available. 

                              *-|Markers|-*
                                  Bernd

Bernd Fanghanel, 72347,1044