INFORMATION

I recommend the following organizations, publications, collectors, and dealers for increasing your knowledge of railroad memorabilia.

RAILROADIANA ONLINE

This is an independent web site for ALL collectors, updated regularly, with a railroad name database search, questions board and much much more. For more information, contact: railroadiana@comcast.net. Check out the site at www.railroadiana.org.

 

RAILROADIANA COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

The RAILROADIANA EXPRESS is published quarterly and features articles, photos, upcoming show and swap meet information and member want ads. For more information, contact: Mr. Bob Chase, 550 Veronica Pl., Escondidio, CA. 92097. Check out the RCAI website.

KEY, LOCK & LANTERN

This organization is dedicated to the history and preservation of railroad artifacts. Their quarterly magazine also features articles, photos, upcoming show and swap meet information and member want ads. For more information, contact: Joel R. Shaw, 31 Sandle Drive, Fairport, NY 14450. (716) 385-3776. Check out the KL&L website.

Both of the above organizations publish a membership directory complete with addresses, phone numbers and areas of member interest or specialty. These directories are invaluable when trying to make contact with someone who shares your interest.

 

RAILROAD MEMORIES

Their auction catalogs generally feature over 500 HIGH QUALITY lots  with a great assortment for everyone. They require a $15.00 subscription fee which insures four catalogs with a prices realized summary sent to you after each auction. For more information, contact: Railroad Memories, 1903 S. Niagara Street, Denver, Colorado 80224. (303) 759-1290. Email them at rrm@uswest.net. Check out their new web site Railroad Memories.

RailServe

Internet Railroad Directory. Check it out, they now catalog over 900 railroad sites in their Hypertext Switchyard.

RailServe also features a Chat Room, BBS Forums and a Search Engine.

The Railroad Lantern, 1865 to 1930

This publication follows the evolution of the "removable globe" railroad hand lantern as reflected by the U.S. Patent Records and by lanterns made by Cross, Dane & Westlake; Dane, Westlake & Covert and Adams & Westlake. It contains 116 pictures of key patents, dating features and lantern models plus the steel hand lantern pictures from Adams & Westlake's 1877, 1893, 1901, 1907 and 1918 catalogs. Get your copy by sending $25.00 to: Bill Cunningham, 3629 Candelaria, Plano, TX 75023.

Santa Fe, Lanterns & Locks, 1874 to 1928

This publication identifies, dates and shows pictures of 30 different tall globe hand lantern "Models" and "Model Variations" purchased by the Santa Fe from 1874 to 1928. These lanterns were made by Dane, Westlake & Covert, The Adams & Westlake Co., M.M. Buck & Co., Handlan-Buck Mfg. Co. and The Keystone Lantern Co. It also identifies and dates all of the known cast brass locks used by the Santa Fe. It contains 82 pictures of the various styles of lanterns, globes and locks used by the Santa Fe. Get your copy by sending $25.00 to: Bill Cunningham, 3629 Candelaria, Plano, TX 75023.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Railroad Lighting, Volume I, The Railroad Lantern

A comprehensive and profusely illustrated history of the railroad hand lantern. Contact: Railroad Research Publications, 3400 Ridge Road West, Suite 5, Rochester, New York 14626. They also publish several railroad historic and reference type books.

Railroad Switch Keys and Padlocks, 2nd Edition
A highly recommended reference book with many illustrations and switch locks and their corresponding key. Contact: Richard Chenovick, 1491 Sycamore Canyon Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93108.

How to Clean and Restore Railroad Lanterns Fast & Easy.
This 8 1/2" x 11" soft cover book was written by a nationally recognized lantern collector. The book details how to use safe chemicals and products available in your local hardware store. The strength of the book is the step by step procedures clearly revealed along with photos. If you only own one railroad lantern or metal artifact with rust, grime, and dents, you need this book. Following the steps will give you a lantern that looks the way it did when it was first made without losing age patina. Lastly, the book shows you how to preserve that metal artifact so that it will never deteriorate. Available from Georgia Railroad Depot, PO Box 80641, Chamblee, GA 30366-0641. Phone (770) 458-6194, email rrdepot5@l.msn.com or visit the web site www.georgiarrdepot.com. 

Railroad Names
The all around best book to research railroad names and initials. Contact: William D. Edson, 10820 Gainsborough Road, Potomac, MD 20854.

Railroadiana: The Official Price Guide
This is a 368 page price guide with over 900 photographs covering all major categories of railroadiana. Contact: Railroad Memories, 1903 S. Niagara Street, Denver, Colorado 80224. (303) 759-1290. Email them at rrm@uswest.net.

eBay Online Auctions

The largest and longest running auction on the Web. It has approximately 100,000 items in over 300 categories online right now. It is very active with over 12,000,000 "hits" per week. It features a railroadiana section as well as a model railroad section. Mostly common items but every once in a while, you find a real "gem".