Cambria & Indiana Railroad
Item: 2-C Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. post 1918
Forged by the E.T. Fraim Co.
Superb stamp marks and copper-like patina.
History
The Cambria and Indiana Railroad (C&I) (reporting mark CI) is a railway company that is located in the southeastern part of Indiana County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Incorporated in 1904 and built in 1910 with the intention of carrying lumber, coal was discovered in the area soon after its construction, and C&I's fortunes subsequently became closely intertwined with the coal industry.
C&I became the "richest railroad in the country," generating the most revenue per mile of track, during the 1930s and 1940s. The increasing use of electricity for heating purposes, however, dealt a severe blow to C&I and in 1995, C&I divested almost all its assets. The decision by the International Steel Group (ISG) of Cleveland to reopen a mine (Mine 33) near Ebensburg primarily to produce coke for steel-making may yet give renewed hopes for C&I after a long hiatus.
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Canadian National Railway
Item: 5-C Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by Mitchell of Canada.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
Given the moniker, "Certainly No Rush"
History
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I freight railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, which serves Canada and the Midwestern and Southern United States
The Canadian National Railways (CNR) was incorporated on June 6, 1919, comprising several railways that had become bankrupt and fallen into Government of Canada hands, along with some railways already owned by the government. Primarily a freight railway, CN also operated passenger services until 1978, when they were assumed by Via Rail.
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Canadian National Railway
Item: 6-C Price: $50.00
Remarks: ca. late 1900s
Newer CNR keys like the one shown here,
do not work with older steel and brass CNR locks.
History - continued from above
Following CN's purchase of Illinois Central (IC) in 1998, and a number of smaller US railways, it also has extensive trackage in the central United States along the Mississippi River valley from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Today, CN owns about 20,400 route miles.
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Canadian National Railway
Item: 7-C Price: $95.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by Mitchell of Canada.
Nice stamp marks and bright gold patina.
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Canadian National Railway
Item: 8-C Price: $100.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
Rare front & back 'Mitchell' stamp.
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Canadian National Railway
Item: 9-C coach/caboose keys Price: $95.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by Mitchell of Canada.
Very nice stamp marks and gold/silver patina.
Nice brass and steel set!
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Canadian Northern Railway
Item: 10-C New Listing Price: $125.00
Remarks: Operated 1899-1923
Superb stamp marks and dark patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History
The Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) is a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its demise in 1923, when it was merged into the Canadian National Railway the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.
CNoR had its start in the independent branchlines that were being constructed in Manitoba in the 1880s and 1890s as a response to the monopoly exercised by Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). Many of these branchlines were built with the sponsorship of the provincial government, which sought to subsidize local competition to the federally subsidized CPR; however, significant competition was also provided by the encroaching Northern Pacific Railway (NPR) from the south.
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Canadian Northern Railway
Item: 11-C Price: $145.00
Remarks: Operated 1899-1923
Nice stamp marks and caramel patina.
100 year + centenarian!
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Canada Southern Railway
Item: 12-C New Listing Price: $175.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and caramel patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History
The Canada Southern Railway (reporting mark CASO), also known as CSR, was a railway in southwestern Ontario, Canada, founded on February 28, 1868 as the Erie & Niagara Extension Railway. Its name was changed to Canada Southern Railway on December 24, 1869. The 1868 Act specified that it was to be constructed at a broad gauge of 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm), but that requirement was repealed in the 1869 Act, thus allowing construction at the standard gauge of 4 ft 8 1/2 in (1,435 mm).
The railway was leased to the Michigan Central Railroad (MCR) for 99 years; in 1929 it was subleased to the New York Central Railroad (NYC). Its successors Penn Central (formed 1968) and Conrail (formed 1976) later exercised control before being sold to CN/CP in 1985.
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Canadian Pacific Railroad
Item: 13-C Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by Mitchell of Canada.
Superb stamp marks and caramel patina.
Given the moniker, "Can't Please"
A nice 1!
History
The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) (reporting marks CP, CPAA, MILW, SOO), known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996 and simply Canadian Pacific, is a historic Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001.
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Canadian Pacific Railroad
Item: 14-C Price: 95.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by Mitchell of Canada.
Superb stamp marks and bright gold patina.
History
The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) (reporting marks CP, CPAA, MILW, SOO), known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996 and simply Canadian Pacific, is a historic Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001.
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Canadian Pacific Railroad
Item: 15-C Price: $50.00
Remarks: ca. mid-late 1900s
Newer CPR keys like the one shown here,
do not work well, if at all, with
older steel and brass CPR locks.
History - continued from above
Chartered in 1881 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, it owns approximately 14,000 miles of track all across Canada and into the United States, stretching from Montreal to Vancouver, and as far north as Edmonton. Its rail network also serves major cities in the United States, such as Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit, Chicago, and New York City.
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Canadian Pacific Railroad
Item: 16-C Price: $45.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Nice copper patina.
History - continued from above
The railway was originally built between Eastern Canada and British Columbia between 1881 and 1885 (connecting with Ottawa Valley and Georgian Bay area lines built earlier), fulfilling a promise extended to British Columbia when it entered Confederation in 1871. It was Canada's first transcontinental railway, but currently does not reach the Atlantic coast. Primarily a freight railway, the CPR was for decades the only practical means of long-distance passenger transport in most regions of Canada, and was instrumental in the settlement and development of Western Canada. The CP is now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited.
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Canadian Pacific Railroad
Item: 17-C tool house key Price: $100.00
Remarks: ca. early-mid 1900s
Forged by Mitchell of Canada.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
History - continued from above
Many thousands of navvies (UK unskilled laborers) worked on the railway. Many were European immigrants. In British Columbia, government contractors hired workers from China, known as "coolies." A navvy received between $1 and $2.50 per day, but had to pay for his own food, clothing, transport to the job site, mail and medical care. After 2 1/2 months of hard labour, they could net as little as $16. Chinese labourers in British Columbia made only between 75 cents and $1.25 a day, paid in rice mats, and not including expenses, leaving barely anything to send home.
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Canadian Pacific Railroad
Item: 18-C call box key Price: $60.00
Remarks: ca. early-mid 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Mitchell keys sometimes have a #6 stamped on the key.
History
The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) (reporting marks CP, CPAA, MILW, SOO), known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996 and simply Canadian Pacific, is a historic Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001.
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Canadian Pacific Railway
Item: 19-C caboose/coach keys Price: $55.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Most likey forged by Mitchell of Canada.
Nice pocket worn set of oldies.
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Canadian Pacific Railway
Item: 20-C caboose/coach key Price: $55.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Most likey forged by Mitchell of Canada.
Great gold patina and pocket ware.
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Cedar River Railroad
Item: 21-C Price: $95.00
Remarks: ca. late 1900s
Keyline forged.
Nice stamp marks and patina.
History
The Cedar River Railroad (reporting mark CEDR) is a shortline subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway that operates on former Illinois Central Gulf Railroad trackage. In 1991, the railroad was formed as a reorganization of the bankrupt Cedar Valley Railroad, which had begun operations in 1984. It was owned by the Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad, itself an ICG spin-off that was reacquired by the successor Illinois Central Railroad in 1996.
The railroad has connections with the Union Pacific Railroad in Glenville, Minnesota, Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad in Charles City, Iowa and Lyle, Minnesota, and Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad at Waterloo, Iowa.
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Central Vermont Railway
Item: 22-C Price: $65.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Superb stamp marks gold patina.
History
The Central Vermont Railway (reporting mark CV) was a railroad that operated in the U.S. states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, as well as the Canadian province of Quebec.
It connected Montreal, Quebec, with New London, Connecticut, using a route along the shores of Lake Champlain, through the Green Mountains and along the Connecticut River valley, as well as Montreal to Boston, Massachusetts, through a connection with the Boston and Maine Railroad at White River Junction, Vermont.
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Central Vermont Railway
Item: 23-C Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
History - continued from above
The Central Vermont Railroad traces it's roots way back to October 31, 1843, when the Vermont Central Railroad was chartered. Through the CV's early years the railroad aquired other roads like the Stanstead-Shefford & Chambly Railroad, Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain Railroad to name a few. Also, in the CV's early years, the Consolidated Railway was formed on June 30, 1884, to consolidate the Central Vermont and Vermont & Canada and to settle litigation between the two companies. A new Central Vermont Railroad was formed on July 1, 1884 to take over from the Consolidated Railway.
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Central Vermont Railway
Item: 24-C Price: $55.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
History - continued from above
On January 1, 1871, the Vermont Central leased the Rutland Railroad system, giving it routes from Burlington to Bellows Falls and Chatham, New York. The New London Northern Railroad was leased on December 1, 1871. On November 2, 1872 the name was changed to the Central Vermont Railroad.
Under the Grand Trunk and later the Canadian National, the Central Vermont system saw many of its unprofitable branch lines abandoned. The CN continued to operate the CV as a modestly successful system; however, in the process leading up to the privatization of the CN, which took place on November 28, 1995, several non-core routes were identified for sale, one of then being the CV.
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Central Vermont Railway
Item: 25-C Price: $145.00
Remarks: ca. 1879-1917
Forged by the E.T. Fraim Co.
Great serif stamp marks and caramel patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
On February 3, 1995, the CN sold the CV mainline from New London, Connecticut, to East Alburg, Vermont, to shortline operating company RailTex, which renamed the property the New England Central Railroad. RailTex was merged into RailAmerica in 2000. Genesee & Wyoming acquired RailAmerica at the end of 2012. Operations have continued as before.
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Central Vermont Railway
Item: 26-C Price: $45.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Shop cut?
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Central Vermont Railway
Item: 27-C Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. pre-1927
Forged by the Wilson Bohannan Co.
Nice stamp marks and bright gold patina.
Most likely belongs to a brass CV lock.
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Central New England Railroad
Item: 28-C Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Superb stamp marks and rustic patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History
The Central New England Railway (reporting mark CNE) was a railroad from Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts west across northern Connecticut and across the Hudson River on the Poughkeepsie Bridge to Maybrook, New York. It was part of the Poughkeepsie Bridge Route, an alliance between railroads for a passenger route from Washington to Boston, and was acquired by the New York- New Haven & Hartford Railroad in 1904.
On January 1, 1927 CNE was finally merged into NH. The New Haven ended all passenger service on the CNE lines that year, with the exception of the segment running from Copake, New York, southwest to Stanfordville, Pleasant Valley and Poughkeepsie, which ran at least to January, 1932.
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Central Railroad CO. of New Jersey
Item: 29-C Price: $115.00
Remarks: ca. pre-1927
Forged by the Wilson Bohannan Co.
Excellent stamp marks and gold patina.
Nice barrel accent ring!
100 year + centenarian!
History
The Central Railroad of New Jersey, also known as the Jersey Central or Jersey Central Lines (reporting mark CNJ), was a Class I railroad with origins in the 1830s. It was absorbed into Conrail in April 1976 along with several other prominent bankrupt railroads of the Northeastern United States.
The Somerville and Easton Railroad was chartered on February 26, 1847, to continue the line west to Easton, Pennsylvania. The first extension, to Whitehouse, opened in 1848 and was leased to the Elizabethtown and Somerville Railroad. On February 11, 1849, the Elizabethtown and Somerville Railroad bought the Somerville and Easton Railroad, and on February 26 the two companies were consolidated as the Central Railroad of New Jersey.
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Central Railroad CO. of New Jersey
Item: 30-C Price: $95.00
Remarks: ca. post 1930
Forged by S. Slaymaker Co.
Superb stamp marks and dark patina.
A nice 1!
History - continued from above
In 1929, CNJ inaugurated the Blue Comet, a deluxe coach train operating twice daily between Jersey City and Atlantic City. It was painted blue from the pilot of its 4-6-2 to the rear bulkhead of its observation car, and its refurbished cars offered a level of comfort much higher than the usual day coach of the era. The train was the forerunner of the coach streamliners that blossomed nationwide in the late 1930s and the 1940s.
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Central Railroad CO. of New Jersey
Item: 31-C Price: $125.00 $115.00
Remarks: ca. post 1918
Forged by the E.T. Fraim Co.
Superb stamp marks and
coppercaramel patina.
100 year + centenarian!
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Central of Georgia Railroad
Item: 33-C Price: Price: $110.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and two-tone patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History
The Central of Georgia Railway started as the Central Rail Road & Canal Company in 1833. As a way to better attract investment capital, the railroad changed its name to Central Rail Road & Banking Company of Georgia. This railroad was constructed to join the Macon & Western Railroad at Macon, Georgia, and run to Savannah. This created a rail link from Chattanooga, on the Tennessee River, to seaports on the Atlantic Ocean. It took from 1837 to 1843 to build the railroad from Savannah to the eastern bank of the Ocmulgee River at Macon; a bridge into the city was not built until 1851. During the Savannah Campaign of the American Civil War, conducted during November and December 1864, Federal troops tore up the rails and converted them into
Sherman's neckties.
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Central of Georgia Railroad
Item: 34-C Price: $115.00
Remarks: ca. early-mid 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
History - continued from above
Today the Central of Georgia exists only as a paper railroad within the Norfolk Southern Railway group. 42 miles (68 km) of the CofG's former mainline are currently leased by the Chattooga and Chickamauga Railway from the State of Georgia.
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Central of Georgia Railroad
Item: 35-C Price: $115.00
Remarks: ca. early-mid 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
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Central of Georgia Railroad
Item: 36-C Price: $45.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Nice pocket worn stamp marks.
Great looking gold patina.
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Charleston & Gauley Railway
Item: 38-C Price: $55.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
same style bit as a C&O key
Most likely used on the C&O's Greendale (Gauley) Branch
History
The Charleston & Gauley Railway (C&G) was incorporated in 1887 with the premise of constructing a coal-hauling railroad between Charleston and coal mines along the Gauley River.
By the time of its acquisition by the Kanawha & Michigan Railroad (K&M), seven miles of the C&G had been completed from Charleston southeast to Malden. The remaining 30 miles to Gauley Bridge, including a crossing of the Gauley River, was finished by the K&M in 1893, giving the railroad a connection with the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad’s Greendale (Gauley) Branch.
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Chattahoochee Valley Railway Co.
Item: 40-C Price: $115.00 $95.00
Remarks: Operated 1900-1992
Nice stamp marks and caramel patina.
History
The Chattahoochee Valley Railway was a shortline railroad linking a number of textile mills between West Point, Georgia and McGinty, Alabama for a total distance of 9.5 miles. As a subsidiary of West Point Pepperell, the entire railroad was abandoned in 1992.
Originally the line was constructed by the Chattahoochee Valley Railroad on July 2, 1895 from Langdale to Lanett, and was extended to Riverview by 1897. In 1900, the railroad was reorganized to become the Chattahoochee Valley Railway.
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Chattahoochee Valley Railway Co.
Item: 42-C Price: $115.00 $95.00
Remarks: Operated 1900-1992
Nice pocket worn block lettering and dark patina.
Same style as CV key above.
Note of Interest
HV 2-8-0 steam locomotive No. 21, built in 1924 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works
is now on display at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, Georgia.
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Chicago & Alton Railroad
Item: 45-C Price: $175.00
Remarks: ca. 1800s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Early A&W hex stamp = 1st series.
Superb stamp marks and dark patina.
125 year + centenarian!
History
The Alton & Sangamon Railroad was chartered on February 27, 1847 to build a railroad connecting the agricultural area centered on Springfield, Illinois, with Alton, on the east bank of the Mississippi River 20 miles north of St. Louis. The railroad opened in 1851. During the ensuing decade it was extended north through Bloomington to Joliet and was renamed the St. Louis-Alton & Chicago Railroad. The Chicago & Alton Railroad was organized in 1861 to purchase the Kansas City-St. Louis & Chicago Railroad.
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Chicago & Alton Railroad
Item: 46-C Price: $115.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad purchased the C&A at a foreclosure sale in 1929. B&O incorporated the Alton Railroad on January 7, 1931, and on July 18 of that year the Alton purchased the property of the C&A Railroad. For 12 years the Alton Railroad was operated as part of the B&O, but on March 10, 1943, B&O restored its independence (Alton had filed for reorganization on November 25, 1942. Several midwestern railroads considered purchasing the Alton but declined; the Gulf-Mobile & Ohio Railroad (GM&O) offered merger. In 1945 GM&O paid B&O approximately $1.2 million for all its claims against the Alton and all its Alton stock. The effective date of the merger was May 31, 1947.
Main lines included Chicago to St. Louis and a branch to Kansas City. The former is now part of Union Pacific, with Metra Heritage Corridor commuter rail service north of Joliet (owned by the Canadian National Railway but used by UP). Today, the Kansas City line is part of the Kansas City Southern Railway system.
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Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Item: 49-C Price: $175.00 $160.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Early A&W hex stamp = 1st series.
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
125 year + centenarian!
History
The Chicago-Burlington & Quincy Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Wyoming, and New Mexico and Texas via subsidiary railroads. Its primary connections included Chicago, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, St. Louis, Kansas City and Denver. Because of this extensive trackage in the midwestern and mountain states, the railroad used the advertising slogans Everywhere West, Way of the Zephyrs and The Way West.
In 1970 the "Q," as it was known to railroaders, merged with three
other railroads to become the "Burlington Northern Railroad."
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< --- past & present --- >
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Item: 50-C coach/cab key Price: $95.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s. Adlake forged.
History - continued from above
The creation of BNSF started with the formation of a holding company on September 22, 1995. This new holding company purchased the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (often called the "Santa Fe") and Burlington Northern Railroad, and formally merged the railways into the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway on December 31, 1996. On January 24, 2005, the railroad's name was officially changed to BNSF Railway Company using the initials of its original name.
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Chicago Central Pacific Railroad
Item: 51-C Price: $85.00
Remarks: ca. late 1900s
Keyline forged. IC bit style.
Nice stamp marks and dark patina.
CNR owned.
History
The Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad is part of the Illinois Central Railroad owned by Canadian National Railway through the Grand Trunk Corporation. Operationally, the Chicago Central & Pacific is designated as the Iowa Zone of CN's Southern Region.
With entrepreneur Jack Haley as president and CEO, the Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad was formed by a spin-off from the by-then-named Illinois Central Gulf. Distinct operations began on December 24, 1985.
The IC repurchased the railroad in 1996 and operated it as a subsidiary until the IC itself was purchased by CN three years later. The operation continues as a subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Corporation.
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Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad
aka "the Big Four"
Item: 53-C Price: $65.00
Remarks: ca. post 1918-1930
Forged by the E.T. Fraim Co.
Superb stamp marks and dark patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History
The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway, also known as the Big Four Railroad and commonly abbreviated CCC&StL, was a railroad company in the Midwestern United States. It operated in affiliation with the New York Central system. Its primary routes were in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. At the end of 1925 it reported 2,391 route-miles and 4,608 track-miles; that year it carried 8180 million net ton-miles of revenue freight and 488 million passenger-miles.
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Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad
aka "the Big Four"
Item: 54-C Price: $125.00 $115.00
Remarks: ca. 1800s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Early A&W hex stamp = 1st series.
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
This key stamped "RR" + key
below stamped "RY" = nice set!
125 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
The railroad was formed on June 30, 1889, by the merger of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railway, the Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Chicago Railway and the Indianapolis and St. Louis Railway. The following year, the company gained control of the former Indiana, Bloomington and Western Railway (through the foreclosed Ohio, Indiana and Western Railway and through an operating agreement with the Peoria and Eastern Railway).
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Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad
aka "the Big Four"
Item: 55-C Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Superb stamp marks and two-tone patina.
Rare "RY" stamp, other keys do not have.
This key stamped "RY" + key
above stamped "RR" = nice set!
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
In 1906 the Big Four was acquired by the New York Central Railroad, which operated it as a separate entity until around 1930. The Big Four's lines were later incorporated into Penn Central in 1968 with the merger of New York Central and the Pennsylvania Railroad. Penn Central declared bankruptcy in 1970, and in 1976 many of Big Four's lines were included in the government-sponsored Conrail. Conrail was privatized in 1987 and in 1997 was jointly acquired by CSX and Norfolk Southern.
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Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad
aka "the Big Four"
Item: 56-C Price: $65.00
Remarks: ca. post 1918-1930
Forged by the E.T. Fraim Co.
Superb stamp marks and caramel patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
The railroad was headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the Chesapeake Building at 105 South Meridian Street. The building was constructed for the railroad in 1929 and was also known as the Big Four Building. In 1996, this multi-story structure became a Hampton Inn hotel.
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 Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad
aka "the Big Four"
Item: 57-C Price: $65.00
Remarks: ca. post 1918-1930
Forged by the E.T. Fraim Co.
Superb stamp marks and caramel patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
The railroad operated a terminal at Bellefontaine, Ohio, that included the largest roundhouse in use at that time between New York City and St. Louis, Missouri. Conrail closed the Bellefontaine terminal in 1983, and its roundhouse was dismantled.
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Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad
aka "the Big Four"
Item: 58-C Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Ex-large serif stamp marks and superb patina!
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
In 1895, the railroad acquired what became known as the Big Four Bridge across the Ohio River at Louisville, Kentucky, thereby giving it access to that city. Use of the bridge for railroad purposes ceased by 1968, and it sat abandoned until work began by 2006 to convert it to use by pedestrians and bicyclists.
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Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad
aka "the Big Four"
Item: 59-C Price: $50.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Very nice serif stamp marks and gold patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
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Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad
Item: 64-C Price: $100.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Adams & Westlake Co. steel forged key.
Superb stamp marks and silver patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History
The Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad was a Class I railroad that linked Chicago to southern Illinois, St. Louis, and Evansville. Founded in 1877, it grew aggressively and stayed relatively strong throughout the Great Depression and two World Wars before being purchased by the Missouri Pacific Railroad (MP or MoPac) and the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (L&N). MoPac merged the C&EI corporate entity in 1976 and was later acquired itself by the Union Pacific Railroad.
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Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad
Item: 65-C Price: $100.00 $85.00
Remarks: Operated from 1877-1976
A grand 99 year old line.
Superb serif stamp marks and caramel patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
The Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad was organized in 1877 as a consolidation of three others: the Chicago, Danville and Vincennes Railroad (Chicago-Danville, November 1871), the Evansville, Terre Haute and Chicago Railroad (Danville-Terre Haute, October 1871) and the Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad (Terre Haute-Evansville, November 1854). Intended to merge or purchase railroads that had built lines between the southern suburbs of Chicago and Terre Haute, Indiana through Danville, Illinois, the C&EI constructed a new line from Chicago to a Mississippi River connection in extreme southern Illinois at Thebes.
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Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad
Item: 66-C Price: $30.00
Remarks: Shop cut.
History - continued from above
The Missouri Pacific Railroad began to quietly purchase C&EI stock in 1961. After approval was gained from the Interstate Commerce Commission, Mopac assumed control of the C&EI in May 1967. One of the stipulations of the merger required sale of part of the railroad to the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The line directly south of Chicago to near Danville was actually purchased by both railroads (and continues to be owned and operated jointly by MoPac and L&N's successors, Union Pacific Railroad and CSX Transportation). The C&EI was maintained as a separate subsidiary for a few years, but Missouri Pacific merged it in 1976.
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Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad
Item: 67-C Price: $100.00 $85.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Superb serif stamp marks and gold patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
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Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad
Item: 68-C Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Very nice pocket wear and gold patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
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Chicago Great Western Railway
Item: 70-C Price: $65.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Great gold patina.
Given the moniker, "the Corn Belt Route."
History
The Chicago Great Western Railroad was a Class I railroad that linked Chicago, Minneapolis, Omaha, and Kansas City. Through mergers and new construction, the railroad, named Chicago Great Western after 1892, quickly became a multi-state carrier. One of the last Class I railroads to be built, it competed against several other more well-established railroads in the same territory, and developed a corporate culture of innovation and efficiency to survive.
Nicknamed the "Corn Belt Route" because of its operating area in the midwestern United States, the railroad was sometimes called the "Lucky Strike Road," due to the similarity in design between the herald of the CGW and the logo used for Lucky Strike cigarettes. On July 1st 1968 it merged with the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW), which abandoned most of CGW's trackage.
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Chicago Junction Railway
Item: 74-C Price: $100.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History
The Chicago Junction Railway operated a switching and terminal railroad in Chicago, connecting the Union Stock Yards with most other railroads in the city. It also briefly operated an outer belt, which became the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad in 1907. The New York Central Railroad acquired control of the company in 1922 and leased it to subsidiary Chicago River & Indiana Railroad. The line is now owned and operated by the Norfolk Southern Railway.
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Chicago Junction Railway
Item: 75-C Price: $100.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
100 year + centenarian!
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Chicago & Grand Trunk Railroad
Item: 77-C New Listing Price: $145.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Early A&W hex stamp = 1st series.
Very nice stamp marks and gold patina.
A one-time subsidary of the GT Railroad.
History
The 335.27 mile Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway (later part of the Grand Trunk Western Railway), a subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada, runs from Chicago to the Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan, where it connects with the Grand Trunk Railway to Toronto and Montreal. There were additional lines between Port Huron and Detroit and between Port Huron and Toledo - one of these, running 60 miles from Port Huron to Detroit, was the first part of the system to open in October 1860.
When the line first opened the youthful Thomas Edison of Port Huron obtained permission to sell newspapers and confectionery on the trains, and he soon built up a profitable business that provided the funds to launch his career as an inventor. At first the Grand Trunk Railway relied partly on other companies' lines for through service to Chicago, and it was only in 1880 that they had a complete main line from Port Huron to Chicago.
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Chicago Lakeshore & Eastern Railroad
Item: 79-C Price: $135.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Nice pocket worn lettering and gold patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History
The Eastern is the successor of the Calumet & Blue Island Railway Company, which was incorporated in Illinois on September 20, 1889. By agreement dated February 17, 1897, entered into by and between the Calumet & Blue Island and the Chicago-Lake Shore & Eastern Railway Company, incorporated in Indiana on April 9, 1895, the franchise rights and other property of the latter were transferred to the former, and by the terms of the same agreement the name of the Calumet & Blue Island was changed to Chicago-Lake Shore & Eastern Railway Company. This agreement was filed in the office of the Secretary of State of Illinois on Febrauary 20, 1897, and in the office of the Secretary of State of Indiana on February 25, 1897.
The line thus acquired by the Calumet & Blue Island extended from the Illinois-Indiana State line to Pine Junction, Ind., a distance of about 8 miles, but in 1908 the portion of this line between Indiana Harbor and Pine Junction, about 3 miles, was abandoned. On August 18, 1890, the Calumet & Blue Island purchased from the Illinois Steel Company.
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Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 82-C Price: $85.00
Remarks: post-1928
Very nice stamp marks and copper patina.
History
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad; often referred to as the Milwaukee Road; was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until 1986. The company experienced financial difficulty through the 1970s and 1980s, including bankruptcy 1977.
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Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 83-C Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. 1928-30
Forged by the FS/Hdw Co.
Superb serif stamp marks and gold patina.
Semi-rare Fraim/Slaymaker stamped key.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
The railroad that became the Milwaukee Road began as the Milwaukee and Waukesha Railroad in Wisconsin, whose goal was to link the developing Lake Michigan port city of Milwaukee with the Mississippi River. The company incorporated in 1847, but changed its name to the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad in 1850 before construction began.
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Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 84-C Price: $50.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Keyline forged.
Nice deep stamp marks and patina.
History - continued from above
In 1874, the name was changed to Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul after absorbing the Chicago & Pacific Railroad Company, the railroad that built the Bloomingdale Line (now The 606) as part of the 36-mile Elgin Subdivision from Halsted Street (Chicago) to the suburb of Elgin, Illinois. By 1887, the railroad had lines running through Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The corporate headquarters were moved from Milwaukee to the Rand McNally Building in Chicago, America's first all-steel framed skyscraper, in 1889 and 1890, with the car and locomotive shops staying in Milwaukee. The company's General Offices were later located in Chicago's Railway Exchange building (built 1904) until 1924, at which time they moved to Chicago Union Station.
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Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 85-C New Listing Price: $115.00
Remarks: ca. post 1930
Semi-rare Fraim stamped key.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
The battle over control of the Northern Pacific Railway and the Chicago-Burlington & Quincy Railroad in 1901 made the Milwaukee Road aware that without its own route to the Pacific it would be at its competitors' mercy. The boom in the Pacific Northwest ended around 1910, and the Panama Canal opened in 1914. Traffic on the Milwaukee Road's route to the Pacific came nowhere near the projections but the debt incurred in building it remained. The route choice was questionable; it bypassed several major population centers and passed through areas with limited local traffic potential. In addition, most of the line paralleled that of the Northern Pacific.
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Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 86-C Price: $45.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
History - continued from above
The two main mountain ranges that had to be crossed, the Rockies and the Cascades, required major civil engineering works and additional locomotive power. The completion of 2,300 miles (3,700 km) of railroad through some of the most varied topography in the nation in only three years was a major feat.
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Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 87-C New Listing Price: $85.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Very nice stamp marks and caramel patina.
History - continued from above
The corporate headquarters were moved from Milwaukee to the Rand McNally Building in Chicago, America's first all-steel framed skyscraper, in 1889 and 1890, with the car and locomotive shops staying in Milwaukee. The company's general offices were later located in Chicago's Railway Exchange building (built 1904) until 1924, at which time they moved to Chicago Union Station.
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Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 88-C Baggage Cellar Car Price: $135.00
Remarks: ca. post-1928
Superb stamp marks and copper patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
The Chicago, Milwaukee, and Puget Sound Railway was absorbed by the parent company on January 1, 1913. The Pacific Extension, including subsequent electrification, cost the Milwaukee Road $257 million, over four times the original estimate of $60 million.
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Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 89-C New baggage cellar car key Listing Price: $135.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Forged by the Loeffelholz Co. of Milwaukee
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
In 1970, the president of Chicago and North Western offered to sell the railroad to the Milwaukee Road outright. President William John Quinn refused, stating that it now believed only a merger with a larger system, not a slightly smaller one, could save the railroad. Almost immediately, the railroad filed unsuccessfully with the ICC to be included in the Union Pacific merger with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad.
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Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 90-C Price: $95.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Forged by the Loeffelholz Co. of Milwaukee
Nice tapered barrel and caramel patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
Between 1974 and 1977, the Milwaukee Road lost $100 million, and the company filed for its third bankruptcy in 42 years on December 19, 1977. Judge Thomas R. McMillen presided over the bankruptcy until the Milwaukee Road's sale in 1985. The railroad's primary problem was that it possessed too much physical plant for the revenue it generated.
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Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 91-C Price: $100.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Forged by the Loeffelholz Co. of Milwaukee
Deep stamp marks and copper patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
Between 1974 and 1977, the Milwaukee Road lost $100 million, and the company filed for its third bankruptcy in 42 years on December 19, 1977. Judge Thomas R. McMillen presided over the bankruptcy until the Milwaukee Road's sale in 1985. The railroad's primary problem was that it possessed too much physical plant for the revenue it generated.
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Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 92-C repair track key Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. post-1928
Nice stamp marks and copper patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
The company experienced financial difficulty through the 1970s and 1980s, including bankruptcy in 1977 (though it filed for bankruptcy twice in 1925 and 1935, respectively). In 1980, it abandoned its Pacific Extension, which included track in the states of Montana, Idaho, and Washington. The remaining system was merged into the Soo Line Railroad (reporting mark SOO), a subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (reporting mark CPKC), on January 1, 1986. Much of its historical trackage remains in use by other railroads. The company brand is commemorated by buildings like the historic Milwaukee Road Depot in Minneapolis and preserved locomotives such as Milwaukee Road 261 which operates excursion trains.
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Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 93-C repair track key Price: $115.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Forged by the Loeffelholz Co. of Milwaukee
Superb stamp marks and patina.
100 year + centenarian!
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Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 94-C repair track key Price: $45.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Nice deep stamp marks and dark patina.
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Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad
aka "the Milwaukee Road"
Item: 95-C repair track key Price: $50.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Forged by the Loeffelholz Co. of Milwaukee
Shortened barrel wear but still useable.
100 year + centenarian!
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Chicago North Shore & St. Paul Railroad
Item: 96-C Price: $40.00
Remarks: ca. 1900s
Possible predecessor style key
Waukegan & North Shore Rapid Transit Co.
History
Chartered in 1916, the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad, often called the North Shore Line, was an interurban railroad line that operated between Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, until its abandonment in 1963.
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Chicago & North Western Railroad
Item: 99-C Price: $65.00
Remarks: ca. pre-1927
Forged by the Wilson Bohannan Co.
Nice stamp marks and caramel patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History
The Chicago and North Western Transportation Company (reporting mark CNW) was a Class I railroad in the Midwestern United States. It was also known as the North Western. The railroad operated more than 5,000 miles of track as of the turn of the 20th century, and over 12,000 miles of track in seven states before retrenchment in the late 1970s. Until 1972, when the employees purchased the company, it was named the Chicago and North Western Railway (or Chicago and North Western Railway Company).
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< --- past & present --- >
Chicago & North Western Railroad
Item: 100-C Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. pre-1927
Forged by the Wilson Bohannan Co.
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
The Chicago & North Western Railway was chartered on June 7, 1859. It had purchased the assets of the bankrupt Chicago-St. Paul & Fond du Lac Railroad five days earlier. On February 15, 1865, it officially merged with the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, which had been chartered on January 16, 1836. Since the Galena & Chicago Union started operating in December 1848, and the Fond du Lac railroad started in March, 1855, the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad is considered to be the origin of the North Western railroad system. The Winona & St. Peter Railroad was added to the network in 1867.
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Chicago & North Western Railroad
Item: 101-C Price: $45.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Superb serif stamp marks and dark patina.
History - continued from above
The North Western acquired several important short railroads during its later years. It finalized acquisition of the Litchfield and Madison Railway on January 1, 1958. The Litchfield and Madison railroad was a 44-mile bridge road from East St. Louis to Litchfield, Illinois. On July 30, 1968, the North Western acquired two former interurbans - the 36-mile Des Moines and Central Iowa Railway (DM&CI), and the 110-mile Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Southern Railway (FDDM&S). The DM&CI gave access to the Firestone plant in Des Moines, Iowa, and the FDDM&S provided access to gypsum mills in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
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< --- Postcard - Photo --- >
Chicago & North Western Railroad
Item: 102-C Price: $35.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Nice stamp marks and copper patina.
History - continued from above
The North Western had owned a majority of the stock of the Chicago-St. Paul-Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (Omaha Road) since 1882. On January 1, 1957 it leased the company, and merged it into the North Western in 1972. The Omaha Road's main line ran from an interchange with the North Western at Elroy, Wisconsin, to the Twin Cities, down to Sioux City, Iowa, and then finally to Omaha, Nebraska.
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Chicago & North Western Railroad
Item: 103-C New Listing Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
History - continued from above
On November 1, 1960, the North Western acquired the rail properties of the 1,500-mile (2,400 km) Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway. In spite of its name, it ran only from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Peoria, Illinois. This acquisition provided traffic and modern rolling stock, and eliminated competition.
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Chicago & North Western Railway
Item: 106-C Price: $60.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
History - continued from above
In 1985, the CNW Corporation was formed to take over the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company; the employee-owned stock of the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company was transferred to the new CNW Corporation.
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Chicago & North Western Railway
Item: 108-C Price: $85.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Excellent stamp marks and gold patina.
100 year centenarian!
History - continued from above
Union Pacific purchased the North Western in April 1995 and integrated it with its own operation.
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Chicago & North Western Railroad
Item: 109-C Price: $25.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
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Chicago & North Western Railroad
Item: 110-C Price: $45.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
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< --- past & present --- >
Chicago & North Western Railroad
Item: 111-C Price: $45.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
Likely Slaymaker forged.
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Chicago & North Western Railroad
 Signal Dept. Key
Item: 112-C New Listing Price: $135.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Superb stamp marks and caramel patina.
Rare signal key!
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Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
Item: 116-C Price: $95.00
Remarks: ca. 1879-1917
Forged by the E.T. Fraim Co.
Superb serif stamp marks and patina.
125 year + centenarian!
History
The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869. Led by industrialist C. P. Huntington, it reached from Virginia's capital city of Richmond to the Ohio River by 1873, where the railroad town (and later city) of Huntington, West Virginia was named for him.
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Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
Item: 117-C Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. 1921-30
Forged by Fraim/Slaymaker Co.
Superb serif stamp marks and patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
Tapping the coal reserves of West Virginia, the C&O's Peninsula Extension to new coal piers at the harbor of Hampton Roads resulted in the creation of the new City of Newport News. Coal revenues also led the forging of a rail link to the Midwest, eventually reaching Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo in Ohio and Chicago, Illinois.
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Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
Item: 118-C Price: $95.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Attractive pocket worn serif lettering
and superb gold patina. Nice oldie!
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
From 1900 to 1920 most of the C&O's lines tapping the rich bituminous coal fields of southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky were built, and the C&O as it was known throughout the rest of the 20th Century was essentially in place.
In 1910 C&O merged the Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad into its system. This line had been built diagonally across the state of Indiana from Cincinnati to Hammond in the preceding decade. This gave the C&O a direct line from Cincinnati to the great railroad hub of Chicago.
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Chesapeake & Ohio Railway
Item: 119-C Price: $65.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
History - continued from above
By the early 1960s the C&O was headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1972, under the leadership of Cyrus Eaton, it became part of the Chessie System, along with the Baltimore & Ohio and Western Maryland Railway. The Chessie System was later combined with the Seaboard Coast Line and Louisville and Nashville, both the primary components of the Family Lines System, to become a key portion of CSX Transportation in the 1980s. A substantial portion of Conrail was added in 1999.
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 121-C Price: $175.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Early A&W hex stamp = 1st series.
Superb stamp marks and caramel patina.
Key listed in the
"American Railway's Switch Key Directory."
Rarer of the 2 styles of Rock switch keys!
"125 year + centenarian!
History
The Chicago-Rock Island & Pacific Railroad was a prominent Class I railroad in the midwestern United States, commonly known as the "Rock Island." In 1854 when the line connected the Mississippi to Chicago and the East Coast, the event was marked by a large promotional voyage called the Grand Excursion. In 1856, the line crossed the Government Bridge, the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi, connecting farms in Iowa and beyond to Chicago. By 1900 it was playing a major role in the Midwestern agrarian economy, serving 1700 grain elevators in hundreds of small communities. After 1920, however, it was harder and harder to compete with trucks on newly paved highways in a region that was oversupplied with rail lines.
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 122-C New Listing Price: $175.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Early A&W hex stamp = 1st series.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
Same cut as key above.
"125 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
In 1847 the Rock Island & La Salle Railroad Company was chartered to build between Rock Island, Illinois, on the Mississippi River, and La Salle, where connections would be made with the Illinois & Michigan Canal to Chicago. Contractor Henry Farnam persuaded the organizers to extend the railroad as far as Chicago to connect with other railroads. The charter was so amended, and the railroad was renamed the Chicago & Rock Island (C&RI). Construction began on October 1851. The first train ran southwest from Chicago to Joliet, 40 miles, on October 10, 1852 powered by 4-4-0 Rocket.
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 123-C Price: $275.00
Remarks: ca. 1800s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Early A&W hex stamp = 1st series.
Very nice stamp marks and caramel patina.
Possible legacy style cut of the former
Rock Island & La Salle Railroad.
125 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
In 1857, Abraham Lincoln represented the Rock Island in an important lawsuit regarding bridges over navigable rivers. The suit had been brought by the owner of a steamboat which was destroyed by fire after running into the Mississippi river bridge. Lincoln argued that not only was the steamboat at fault in striking the bridge but that bridges across navigable rivers were to the advantage of the country.
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(Chicago) Rock Island Railroad
Item: 124-C Price: $50.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Later Rock key.
History - continued from above
The Rock Island also operated an extensive commuter train service in the Chicago area. The primary route ran from LaSalle Street Station to Joliet along the main line, and a spur line, known as the "Suburban Line" to Blue Island. The main line trains supplanted the long-distance services that did not stop at the numerous stations on that route. The Suburban Line served the Beverly Hills area of Chicago as a branch leaving the main line at Gresham and heading due west, paralleling the Baltimore and Ohio Chicago Terminal Railroad passenger line before turning south. The Suburban Line made stops every four blocks along the way before rejoining the Main Line at Western Avenue Junction in Blue Island.
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 125-C Price: $115.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and patina.
Given the moniker, "The Rock"
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
In common with most American railroad companies, the Rock Island once operated an extensive passenger service. The primary routes served were: Chicago-Los Angeles, Chicago-Denver, Memphis-Little Rock-Oklahoma City-Tucumcari, and Minneapolis-Dallas. The Rock Island ran both limited and local service on those routes as well as locals on many other lines on its system. In 1937, the Rock Island introduced Diesel power to its passenger service, with the purchase of six lightweight Rocket streamliners.
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 126-C Price: $55.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
History - continued from above
The Rock Island was known as "one railroad too many" in the plains states, basically serving the same territory as the Burlington, only over a longer route. The Midwest rail network had been built in the late 19th century to serve that era's traffic.
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway
Item: 127-C Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and patina.
Rare 'RY' stamp!
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
The only option for the Rock Island to grow revenues and absorb costs was to merge with another, perhaps more prosperous railroad. Overtures were made from fellow Midwest granger line C&NW, as well as the granger turned transcon Milwaukee Road. Both of these never advanced much beyond the data gathering and initial study phases. In 1964, its last profitable year, the Rock Island agreed to pursue a merger plan with the UP, which would form one large "super" railroad stretching from Chicago to the West Coast.
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 128-C New Listing Price: $115.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
During most of the ensuing merger process, Rock Island operated at a financial loss. In 1965, Rock Island earned its last profit. With the merger with Union Pacific seemingly so close, the Rock Island cut expenses to conserve cash. Expenditures on track maintenance were cut, passenger service was reduced as fast as the ICC would allow, and locomotives received only basic maintenance to keep them running.
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway
Item: 129-C New Listing Price: $115.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Very nice stamp marks and gold patina.
Rare 'RY' stamp!
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
During most of the ensuing merger process, Rock Island operated at a financial loss. In 1965, Rock Island earned its last profit. With the merger with Union Pacific seemingly so close, the Rock Island cut expenses to conserve cash. Expenditures on track maintenance were cut, passenger service was reduced as fast as the ICC would allow, and locomotives received only basic maintenance to keep them running.
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 133-C repair track key Price: $115.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Early A&W hex stamp = 1st series.
Very nice block lettering and gold patina.
Key bit has the exact same style as CNO&TP key.
125 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
As a result, by 1974, the Rock Island was no longer the attractive prospect it had once been in the 1950s. The cost-cutting measures enacted to conserve cash for the merger left the Rock Island property in such a state that the Union Pacific viewed the expense of bringing it back to viable operating condition to be severely prohibitive. Additionally, the ICC attached conditions for both labor and operating concessions that the UP deemed too excessive for their tastes. These factors led the Union Pacific to walk away from the deal later in 1974.
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 135 scale key Price: $150.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Nice stamp marks and bright gold patina.
History - continued from above
In 1976, the entire Chicago commuter rail system began to receive financial support from the state of Illinois through the Regional Transportation Authority. Operating funds were disbursed to all commuter operators, and the Rock Island was to be provided with new equipment to replace the tired 2700 series and Capone cars.
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 137-C pump house key Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Nice stamp marks and caramel patina.
One of the rarest of the Rock switch keys.
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
In 2017, thirty-seven years after the Rock Island folded, a new startup company that owns the rights to the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific name began operating in the southern United States. The new Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad LLC is primarily a shortline holding company, while also providing numerous other railroad services, such as switching, railroad management, railcar fleet management, railcar storage, and locomotive maintenance.
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 139-C hand car key Price: $55.00
Remarks: ca. early-mid 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
History - continued from above
The line's abandonment in 1980 ranks as the longest and most complicated in U.S. railroad history. The company was originally founded in Rock Island, Illinois, and the railroad was popularized in the song "Rock Island Line."
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 140-C hand car key Price: $145.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Great stamp marks and patina.
100 year + centenarian!
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 141-C New hand car key Listing Price: $145.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and patina.
100 year + centenarian!
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Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Item: 142-C Price: $65.00
Remarks: ca. early-mid 1900s
Key possibly used for small heart shaped brass locks.
Example: Southern Pacific Lock
Running on Train Orders
Stumbled on by accident, I discovered Rock Island locomotive #3019 pictured here, would, in the foreseeable future, be involved in a head-on collison. The old Interstate Commerce Commission's Summary is excellent reading. When five man crews were still utilized, the summary goes on to explain what precautions the #3019 crew should've initiated to prevent the head-end collison from happening. These were still the days railroad men used fusees, color flags and torpedoes to protect their train. Also, when a flagman would be protecting both the rear AND head end of their train. Before railroad Block Signals, Automatic Braking, engine and hand-held radio's, the summary (11 pages total), gives an insightful view of how railroader's of yesterday, performed their duties.
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Chicago Transit Authority Railroad
Item: 144-C switch key Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. post 1947
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Legacy style cut = South Side Elevated Key
Also, CRT predecessor.
History
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs, including the trains of the Chicago 'L' and CTA bus service. The CTA is an Illinois independent governmental agency that started operations on October 1, 1947 upon the purchase and combination of the transportation assets of the Chicago Rapid Transit Company and the Chicago Surface Lines streetcar system. In 1952, CTA purchased the assets of the Chicago Motor Coach Company, which was under the control of Yellow Cab Company founder John D. Hertz, resulting in a fully unified system. Today, the CTA is one of the three service boards financially supported by the Regional Transportation Authority.
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Chicago Rapid Transit Railroad
Item: 145-C switch key Price: $95.00
Remarks: ca. 1924-1947
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Legacy style cut = South Side Elevated Key
80 year + octogenarian!
History
The Chicago Rapid Transit Company (CRT) was a privately owned firm providing rapid transit rail service in Chicago, Illinois and several adjacent communities between the years 1924 and 1947. The CRT is one of the predecessors of the Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago's present mass transit operator.
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Chicago Rapid Transit Railroad
Item: 146-C switch key Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. 1924-1947
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Legacy style cut = South Side Elevated Key
Nice stamp marks and copper patina.
Short barrel works the same as key style above.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
The Chicago Rapid Transit Company (CRT) was a privately owned firm providing rapid transit rail service in Chicago, Illinois and several adjacent communities between the years 1924 and 1947. The CRT is one of the predecessors of the Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago's present mass transit operator.
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Chicago & Rapid Transit Co.
Item: 147-C switch key Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. 1924-1947
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Legacy style cut = South Side Elevated Key
Nice stamp marks and copper patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
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Chicago & Rapid Transit Co.
Item: 148-C car key Price: $95.00
Remarks: ca. 1924-1947
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Legacy style cut - same as a SSE-car key
Nice pocket worn lettering and gold patina.
Key is an anomaly. Legacy style keys for "SSE"
were usualy stamped CRT - No ampersand.
(see CRT keys above).
80 year + octogenarian!
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Chicago Surface Lines & Chicago Transit Authority
Item: 151-C coach keys Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
CSL/CTA keys with great copper patina.
A nice Chicago interurban key set!
80 year + octogenarian!
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Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
aka "the Omaha Road"
Item: 155-C Omaha style Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Early A&W hex stamp = 1st series.
Nice stamp marks and two-tone patina.
125 year + centenarian!
History
The Chicago-St. Paul Minneapolis & Omaha Railway or Omaha Road was a railroad in the U.S. states of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota. It was incorporated in 1880 as a consolidation of the Chicago-St. Paul & Minneapolis Railway and the North Wisconsin Railway. The Chicago & North Western Railway gained control in 1882. The C&NW leased the Omaha Road in 1957 and merged the company into itself in 1972.
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Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad
aka "the Omaha Road"
Item: 156-C Eastern Division Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. pre-1927
Forged by the Wilson Bohannan Co.
Nice serif stamp marks and gold patina.
One of the "Granger Lines"
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
The North Wisconsin Railway was merged along with Chicago, St. Paul and Minneapolis Railway to become the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway in 1880. The C. St. P. M. & O. then purchased the St. Paul and Sioux City in 1881. The route was a bow shape between Le Mars, Iowa, to the Twin Cities, to Elroy, Wisconsin. The Omaha would go on to acquire the Menomonie Railway, the Sault Ste Marie and Southwestern Railway, the Superior Short Line Railway, the Watonwan Valley Railway, the Des Moines Valley Railway, the Chippewa Valley and Northwestern Railway, and Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, and Northeastern Railway.
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Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad
aka "the Omaha Road"
Item: 157-C Western Division Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Superb serif stamp marks and patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
Although the CMO had long been absorbed by the C&NW before that railroad was purchased by the Union Pacific, the UP still uses the CMO reporting mark on cars.
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Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad
aka "the Omaha Road"
Item: 158-C Western Division Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s.
Superb serif stamp marks and patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
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Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad
Item: 161-C Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. early-mid 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Nice stamp marks and yellow-gold patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History
The predecessor of the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee was founded in 1891 as the Waukegan & North Shore Rapid Transit Company, a street railway line in Waukegan, Illinois. As the company grew and made plans for expansion, it became the Chicago & Milwaukee Electric Railroad.
The Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad (reporting mark CNSM), also known as the North Shore Line, was an interurban railroad that operated passenger and freight service over an 88.9-mile route between the Chicago Loop and downtown Milwaukee, as well as an 8.6-mile branch line between the villages of Lake Bluff and Mundelein, Illinois. The North Shore Line also provided streetcar, city bus and motor coach services along its interurban route.The Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad, often called the North Shore Line, was an interurban railroad line that operated between Chicago, Illinois, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, until its abandonment in 1963.
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Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad
Item: 162-C Price: $100.00
Remarks: ca. early-mid 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
In February 1961, the railroad requested expedited action by the ICC on its abandonment petition, citing its mounting losses. On May 17, 1962, the request was approved under the condition that no buyer stepped forward within 35 days. Both the Illinois regulators and an association of commuters opposed the action, the association offering to buy the railroad at salvage value but ultimately failing to raise sufficient funds to buy the property. That November, the state of Illinois ruled in favor of the ICC, and prevented the commuters association from having the abandonment postponed any further. The last full day of service came on January 20, 1963, with the final trains reaching their destination in the early hours of the following morning. Sporadic freight movements continued into the next week, as the remaining cars on the line were collected from various points on the system.
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Chicago Terminal Transfer Railroad
Item: 164-C Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
In 1910, the B&O (B&O-CT key) absorbed this line
and continued to use the CTT's key style.
Merged into CSXT in 1986
100 year + centenarian!
History
In May of 1887, a new company, the Chicago Terminal Transfer merged the Chicago & Calumet Terminal. In June, a subsidiary of the Northern Pacific Railroad. the Chicago & Calumet Terminal Railway (C&CT) consolidated several terminal railroads in the Chicago area with lines running between the Atchison-Topeka & Santa Fe Railway at McCook, Illinois to the south and south-east to Hammond, Indiana and a connection with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
On January 6, 1910 the Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal Railroad was created to purchase the CTT at foreclosure, giving the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the B&OCT, control of both the terminal railway systems, the CTT and C&CT, as well as Grand Central Station.
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Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad
Item: 166-C Price: $175.00
Remarks: ca. 1879
Very early style cut. Super low serial number.
Outstanding serif stamp marks and gold patina.
The standard or common key style (see C&WI keys below)
mimicked the Chicago Belt key. Also, I believe
that this key was used at Dearborn Station.
One of a kind anomaly!
125 year + centenarian!
History
The Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad was the owner of Dearborn Station in Chicago and the trackage leading to it. It was owned equally by five of the railroads using it to reach the terminal, and kept those companies from needing their own lines into the city. It is now a subsidiary of the Union Pacific Corporation.
The C&WI was chartered June 5, 1879, and soon opened a line in May 1880, from Dolton, where the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad merged with the Columbus, Chicago & Indiana Central Railway, north to Dearborn Station on the south side of the Chicago Loop. The alignment ran north from Dolton to the crossing of the Illinois Central Railroad just south of its junction with the Michigan Central Railroad at Kensington, then continued northwest and north, eventually coming along the west side of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway (PRR) at 47th Street. Then it continued north to cross the PFW&C and head northeast at Alton Junction, crossing the St. Charles Air Line Railroad and Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway before turning back north the rest of the way to Dearborn Station.
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Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad
Item: 167-C Price: $75.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Outstanding stamp marks and yellow-gold patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
Soon after, the Chicago & Western Indiana Belt Railway and South Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad were merged into the C&WI on January 26, 1882. Several more lines were built using their charters; a branch from the main line at 74th Street, west and north to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway at Cragin, a branch from 87th Street east to various connections at South Chicago, and a branch of that line from Pullman Junction south and southeast, parallel to and east of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railway (NKP), to just shy of State Line Junction in Hammond, Indiana. At Hammond two more connections were made; the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railway (Monon) and the Chicago & Atlantic Railway (Erie). Those two companies also acquired shares in the C&WI, bringing the total to five. The State Line & Indiana City Railroad later gave the Wabash-St. Louis & Pacific Railway a second access point to the C&WI at Hammond, and a sixth railroad; the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway used Dearborn Station, but used its own line on the east side of the C&EI from Alton Junction to the station.
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Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad
Item: 168-C Price: $45.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Great stamp marks and gold patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History - continued from above
Centralized traffic control was introduced in 1973, combining 40th Street and 47th Street, later 59th Street and 74th Street, a four-tower combination was operated by the train dispatcher located at 47th Street tower after their relocation from Dearborn station. The C&WI also had their own police department, and their officers were designated special agents and police-certified through the Illinois Department of Law Enforcement. The C&WI RR sold all their locomotives, and were one of the first railroads in the late 1940s to completely use diesel engines, and later their work force was reduced to approximately 130 employees throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
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Chicago-West Pullman & Southern Railroad
Item: 171-C Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Handsome stamp marks and caramel patina
History
Now part of the Chicago Rail Link, Chicago West Pullman traces its history to the 1880's and the growth of Chicago industry. Cyrus McCormick, having founded International Harvester, wanted to grow his business by also controlling his suppliers. High grade Steel was vital to the production of the "reaper," Harvester's primary product.
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Cincinnati-Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad
Item: 173-C Price: $345.00 $325.00
Remarks: Operated 1868-1890
Handsome short tapered barrel.
Superb serif stamp marks and two-tone patina.
Love the serial #111 - 125 year + centenarian!
History
The name of the corporation changed to Sandusky & Cincinnati Railroad in May 1866. In October of the same year, the company leased its road for 99 years, renewable forever, but by mutual agreement to Cincinnati, Dayton & Eastern Railroad.
From 1877 to 1880 the Line was in receivership. The Indiana, Bloomington & Western Railroad signed a perpetual lease of Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad . A receiver for the IB&W was appointed July 1, 1886 and the road name was changed to Ohio, Indiana & Western Railroad. When the ownership reverted to the previous owners of the termination of the IB&W receivership, it became Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad again.
On November 1, 1890, the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway, commonly known as the "Big Four" acquired Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad and the Columbus, Springfield and Cincinnati Railroad.
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Cincinnati Hamilton & Dayton Railroad
Item: 175-C Price: $150.00
Remarks: ca. 1800s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Early A&W hex stamp = 1st series.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
Three digit serial number.
125 year + centenarian!
History
The Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad (CH&D) was a railroad based in the U.S. state of Ohio that existed between its incorporation on March 2, 1846, and its acquisition by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in December 1917. This railroad should not be confused with the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway, an Ohio interurban of exactly the same name. See CH&D key below.
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Cincinnati Hamilton & Dayton Railway
Item: 176-C Interurban Price: $100.00 $85.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Bold stamp marks and nice caramel patina.
Given the moniker,
"Charge High and Damn Rough Ride"
History
The Cincinnati & Dayton Traction Company was an electric interurban railway that existed between 1926 and 1930 in the U.S. state of Ohio. It was absorbed in 1930 into the new Cincinnati & Lake Erie interurban railway. In typical interurban fashion, in open country it had its own right of way, although this was often adjacent and parallel to a road. In cities and towns it operated on city streets. This included two and three car freight/express trains as well as passenger cars.
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Cincinnati Hamilton & Dayton Railway Co.
Item: 177-C Interurban Price: $100.00 $90.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Great stamp marks and dark patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
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Cincinnati Northern Railroad
Item: 179-C Price: $95.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Cincinnati short line.
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
Dent is smaller than picture shows.
100 year + centenarian!
History
The Cincinnati Northern Railroad was a railroad that stretched from Franklin, Ohio (near Cincinnati) north to Jackson, Michigan, a distance of about 186 miles. It was acquired by the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway (aka the Big Four) in 1901 and the New York Central Railroad several years later. Most of the line has since been abandoned.
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Cincinnati Northern Railroad
Item: 180-C Price: $145.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Early A&W hex stamp = 1st series.
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
125 year + centenarian!
History
The Cincinnati Northern Railroad was a railroad that stretched from Franklin, Ohio (near Cincinnati) north to Jackson, Michigan, a distance of about 186 miles. It was acquired by the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway (aka the Big Four) in 1901 and the New York Central Railroad several years later. Most of the line has since been abandoned.
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Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific Railroad
Item: 182-C Price: $145.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and caramel patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History
The Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific Railway (CNO&TP); is a railroad that runs from Cincinnati, Ohio, south to Chattanooga, Tennessee, forming part of the Norfolk Southern Railway system. The rail line that it operates, the Cincinnati Southern Railway, constructed to Chattanooga in 1880, is owned by the City of Cincinnati and is leased to the CNO&TP under a long-term agreement. It is the only such long-distance railway owned by a municipality in the United States. The CNO&TP's lease of the Cincinnati Southern Railway is currently set to expire in 2026, with an option for a 25-year renewal. The agreement is governed by the Trustees of the Cincinnati Southern Railway, who are appointed by the Mayor of the City of Cincinnati.
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Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific Railroad
Item: 183-C Price: $195.00 $175.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and dark patina.
Different style cut then CNO&TP key above.
Key bit is exact same style as CRI&P RT key.
100 year + centenarian!
One of my favorites!
History - continued from above
The construction of the railway was spurred by a shift of Ohio River shipping, at the time an important economic engine in Cincinnati, to the nascent railroad industry. Fearful of losing further shipping traffic (and its commensurate employment and tax revenue), the City recognized the need to remain competitive by developing its own railroad infrastructure. Forbidden by the Ohio Constitution from forming a partnership with a stock corporation in such an endeavor, the City took upon itself the building of the railway, and city voters approved $10 million in municipal bonds in 1869 to begin construction.
The Cincinnati-New Orleans & Texas Pacific is operated by Norfolk Southern as part of the Central Division. Between Cincinnati and Somerset the line is under control of the North End Dispatcher, Knoxville, Tennessee. More than 50 trains a day can be seen on the CNO&TP, with the heaviest concentration between Danville and Harriman, Tennessee. Quite a bit of the traffic is intermodal and automotive. General manifests, local freights, grain, coal, and other bulk commodities make up the rest of the traffic.
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Cleveland, Southwestern & Columbus Railway
Item: 185-C New Listing Price: $175.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adams & Westlake Co.
Ohio trolley line.
Given the moniker, "the Green Line"
Nice stamp marks and gold patina.
100 year + centenarian!
History
The Cleveland, Southwestern & Columbus Railway was at one time the 2nd-largest interurban in the state. The line connected Cleveland with Columbus to the south and Norwalk to the west. It originally was chartered in 1876 as a horsecar line known as the Cleveland and Berea Street Railway.
The CS&C went into receivership in 1922. Although it returned a profit in 1923 after abandoning its Norwalk-Oberlin run, continued losses led to further abandonments in 1926 and the replacement of rail service with buses. After that, the line became known as the Southwestern.
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Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad
Item: 187-C Price: $145.00 $125.00
Remarks: Operated from 1868-89
Forged by the Wilson Bohannan Co.
Nice pocket worn lettering & two-tone patina.
Picked up by the "Big 4"
125 year old relic!
History
The CC&C was chartered in 1836. In the 1840s, construction from Cleveland through Galion and Delaware to Columbus was begun. The road entered Columbus from the north, running east and parallel to Fourth Street, then swinging southwestward to enter the passenger depot of the Columbus & Xenia Railroad. On February 21, 1851 a grand excursion train with 425 passengers took members of the state and city government to Cleveland, returning them to Columbus after a day's layover. Regular traffic was begun in April 1851, a full year after service began on the C&X. In 1868 the CC&C was merged with the Bellefountaine Railroad to form the Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway. At that time the railroad still hadn't reached Cincinnati, and it was up to the CCC&I to finish the job.
The Cleveland-Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad was the second railroad to enter Columbus, Ohio. It eventually became a part of the New York Central Railroad.
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Clinchfield Railroad
aka "the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway"
Item: 189-C New Listing Price: $115.00
Remarks: ca. mid-1900s
Deep stamp marks and gold patina.
History
The Clinchfield Railroad was an operating and holding company for the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway (reporting mark CCO). The line ran from the coalfields of Virginia and Elkhorn City, Kentucky, to the textile mills of South Carolina. The 35-mile segment from Dante, Virginia, to Elkhorn City, opening up the coal lands north of Sandy Ridge Mountains and forming a connection with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway at Elkhorn City, was completed in 1915.
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Clinchfield Railroad
aka "the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway"
Item: 190-C New Listing Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. 1921-30
Forged by Fraim/Slaymaker Co.
Superb stamp marks and gold patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
For many years the Clinchfield Railroad was leased jointly by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and Louisville & Nashville Railroad. When the L&N merged with the ACL's successor, the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, effective January 1, 1983, forming the Seaboard System Railroad, the separate operating company was unnecessary and was merged into the Seaboard. The line is now owned and operated by CSX Transportation as their Blue Ridge Subdivision (Spartanburg to Erwin, Tennessee) and Kingsport Subdivision (Erwin to Elkhorn City).
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Clinchfield Railroad
aka "the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway"
Item: 191-C New Listing Price: $145.00
Remarks: ca. pre-1927
Forged by the Wilson Bohannan Co.
Superb carmel patina. Key listed in the
"American Railways Switch Key Directory."
Rarer of the two Clinchfield switch key styles.
100 year + centenarian!
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Columbia Iron & Metal Co.
Item: 195-C Price: $55.00
Remarks: ca. early-mid 1900s
Nice stamp marks and copper patina.
History
The more I searched for information on this short line, the more I discovered that very little existed. What I did discover, was the Columbia Iron & Metal was a short line that was located in Girard, Ohio.
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Columbia, Newberry & Laurens Railroad
Item: 197-C Price: $115.00 $95.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Superb stamp marks and dark patina.
Different style cut than CN&L key below.
80 year + octogenarian!
History
The Columbia, Newberry & Laurens Railroad was a 75-mile railroad line between Columbia and Laurens.
The first locomotive of the CN&L was built in 1887 and sold in 1922. The CN&L ran daily passenger trains from Union Station in Columbia to Laurens, always pulled by steam until discontinued in 1952. Not surprisingly, the railroad saw to the creation of towns along its line. Towns such as Irmo, Chapin, Little Mountain, Prosperity and Joanna owe their existence in part to their locations along the CN&L. In 1924 the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad acquired control of the line. It became part of the CSX Transportation system in 1984.
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Columbia, Newberry & Laurens Railroad
Item: 198-C Price: $115.00 $95.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Superb stamp marks and caramel patina.
Different style cut than CN&L key above.
80 year + octogenarian!
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Cornwall & Lebanon Railroad
Item: 201-C Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Nice pocket worn serif lettering and carmel patina.
Unique cone-style tapered ring barrel.
A young 135 years old!
History
The Cornwall & Lebanon Railroad opened in 1883 and directly competed for ore traffic with the Cornwall Railroad. It ran from Lebanon, Pa through Cornwall and Mount Gretna down to Conewago. This little line was eventually acquired by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1918. It was abandoned by Penn Central in 1972 after Hurricane Agnes badly damaged the track and not enough freight revenue warranted its rebuilding.
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Colorado & Southern Railroad
Item: 203-C Price: $115.00 $95.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Nice stamp marks and patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History
The Colorado & Southern Railway (C&S, CS) was an American Class I railroad in the western United States that operated independently from 1898 to 1908, then as part of the Chicago-Burlington & Quincy Railroad until it was absorbed into the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1981.
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Colorado & Southern Railroad
Item: 204-C Price: $115.00 $95.00
Remarks: ca. early 1900s
Forged by the Adlake Co.
Nice stamp marks and patina.
80 year + octogenarian!
History - continued from above
The railway began as the consolidation of bankrupt railroads on 1898. The Colorado Central Railroad and Cheyenne & Northern Railway were brought together to form the Union Pacific-Denver & Gulf Railway in 1890. When Union Pacific went bankrupt in 1893 they were separated from the Union Pacific and united with the Denver-Leadville & Gunnison Railway and others, by Frank Trumbull to form the Colorado & Southern Railroad in 1898. In 1908 the Chicago-Burlington & Quincy Railroad bought control of the C&S. It would later merge into the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1981.
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Conestoga Transportation Company
Item: 207-C Price: $125.00
Remarks: ca. pre-1918
Operated 1899-1946
Forged by the E.T. Fraim Co.
Nice serif stamp marks and caramel patina.
Pennsylvania trolley line.
125 year + centenarian!
History
Conestoga Traction, later Conestoga Transportation Company, was a classic country interurban that operated seven routes radiating spoke-like from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to numerous neighboring towns and farm villages. It ran side-of-road trolleys through Amish farm country east to Coatesville and Strasburg/Quarryville, south to Pequea, west to Columbia/Marietta and Elizabethtown, north to Manheim/Lititz, and northeast to Ephrata/Adamstown/Terre Hill. CT also transported farm freight, such as milk and produce, in its little cars.
Most interurbans like Conestoga Traction did not survive improved highways with the related increased purchase and use of automobiles, or the negative business impact of the Great Depression. Conestoga Traction abandoned most of its lines in 1932. The Lancaster-Ephrata line was still running in 1946 having been ordered by the Federal Government to do so because of World War II transportation needs. Lancaster's Birney Car street car operation continued until 1947. Neighbor Hershey Transit survived until 1946.
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Cornwall Railroad
Item: 209-C Price: $165.00 $145.00
Remarks: ca. late 1800s
Superb serif stamp marks and copper patina.
Key listed in the
"American Railway's Switch Key Directory."
125 year + centenarian!
History
The first railroad to reach Cornwall was the North Lebanon Railroad. It was incorporated in 1850 by George Dawson Coleman and William Coleman and opened in 1855. The railroad extended for about six miles from the ore banks in Cornwall to the Union Canal in Lebanon City. Originally ore laden carts were pulled by teams of mules. This type of operation only lasted seven months until a locomotive was purchased, capable of pulling the same weight as a team of one hundred mules. In 1870, the name was changed to the Cornwall Railroad. In 1857 the Lebanon Valley Railroad reached Lebanon and built an interchange with the North Lebanon RR there (the Lebanon Valley Railroad quickly became part of the Phildelphia & Reading Railroad).
The Cornwall Railroad remained a very prosperous line well up through the 1950's and into the early 1960's. In just the year of 1949 alone, the railroad hauled 1,448,000 tons of iron ore, significantly more than the annual revenue of 51,068 tons in the 1850's. In 1950, the line replaced its fleet of steamers with much more efficient diesel-electric locomotives. However, in 1962 Bethlehem Steel created a new concentrator plant in Rexmont. For many years prior to this, raw ore was shipped up to Lebanon to be processed there at the original concentrator. The reduction in revenue due to shipping only processed ore devastated the Cornwall Railroad. It was only two years later in 1964 that the Reading Company acquired the ailing Cornwall.
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Switch Key Directory
American Railway's Switch Key Directory
Price: HC-$25.00 | CD-$35
Whether your just starting out collecting switch key's or you have been a collector for many years, this 44 page switch key directory is a useful tool. Although, it does not list every railroad key there is, the directory has a 3-D diagram for the most common railroad keys in the collectors circle. With a CD, you can copy the directory to your hard drive and view and enlarge the pages on your computer screen. Price does not include shipping fees.
Upon request, I will "three ring" the pages for a book binder.
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Don Stewart's Railroad Switch Keys and Padlocks
Switch Keys and Locks Directory
Price: HC-$65.00 | CD-$55
One of the lesser known railroad directories is Don Stewart's Railroad Switch Keys and Padlocks Directory. The book includes 56 pages of switch key pictures, 12 pages of switch lock pictures, 12 supplemental pages including, 2 Canadian key picture pages and 32 pages of railroad names. It's another handy tool for beginners and even veteran collectors. The book contains 117 pages in all and is a ink jet printed copy of the original book. As noted, the CD copy is less expensive than a hard copy. The reason; printer ink and paper prices. With a CD, you can copy the directory to your hard drive and view and enlarge the pages on your computer screen. Price does not include shipping fees.
Upon request, I will "three ring" the pages for a book binder.
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Dates quoted for keys are approximate dates. Railroad switch keys initials (reporting mark) are assumed to be correct and accurate.
Comments on any railroad initials origin, including (typos), are welcome. Last update 09/24/2024
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