Misc. treasures

[TrainNut]

Do you have any railroad related treasures that are priceless to you but probably worthless otherwise? Care to share?
I've got three...
The first two, I'm sure aren't worth anything of significance -
First is a Y2k wooden, 4 tone, Amtrak whistle.

The second is a Coast Starlight, Barlow, gold keyholder.

They were give to me by some friends who happened to be on the Amtrak Coast Starlight the night of the new millennium. They were told by a conductor that these two items were only being handed out on this one particular train to commemorate the event. If that story is true, these are some pretty rare items. Yep, I said, IF. I would be willing to bet these two items are actually a dime a dozen but the story is fun to tell and they mean a lot to me.
My third item was given to me by my father in law with strict instructions never to get rid of it. It's a book titled "The Curse of Tramp Life" written by a famous tramp better known as A-no. 1. It's #3 of the 13th edition with a copyright of 1912. It's pretty frail. Again, due to its condition, it can't be worth much of anything except to somebody like me.

Front cover...

Portrait...

First page...

Back cover...

So, how about you? Have you got a treasure you'd care to share?

 

[nachoman]

That book is very interesting. Have you read it?

Kevin

 

[TrainNut]

I did actually. I was afraid to even open it 'cause I thought it would probably fall apart on me but eventually I threw caution to the wind and read it through. It's neat in the aspect that you can experience his stories by putting yourself in the place of a tramp 100 years ago.

 

[TrainNut]

I just found the same book of equivalent quality on abebooks.com. They have valued it at $275. Hmmm. I always wondered and now I know!

 

[Herc Driver]

I should have asked...

I don't have it yet...but I'm going to ask my uncle for my grandfather's "Lifetime Pass" on the B&O. He was on a wreck crew from the stories I heard and had a pass allowing him to ride wherever the B&O needed him to go to get to the wreck. It's not worth anything but memories to me, as a young kid thinking how "important" he must have been to earn such a valuable (in a 5 yr old's mind) pass such as that. We'll see if anyone in the family remembers where it went and if they'll part with it.

 

[TrainNut]

That sounds neat! I wish you luck in hunting it down. Sounds like you could frame it with some other memorabilia of your grandfathers as a tribute to the man of the B&O!

 

[MP3CNLettalierSub]

I still have the first railspike I ever found when I was a wee lad, I got it chromed as well back then, it reminds me when I first got into trains!

 

[Glen Haasdyk]

I don't own them (at least not yet) But my Wife's Grandfather worked on the Canadian National Railways for 40+ years. When he passed away my Father-in-law got his railroad pocket watch (Hamilton) and my Mother in Law has a Canadian national first aid kit from the 1950's. The Kit is like new with all the bandages intact. The Iodine has dried up but the first aid manual doesn't even have the spine bent open. The box itself is white with the large Canadian national maple leaf on the front. Not a scratch on it. Maybe one day I'll inherit them. The watch would probably go in a shadow box in the train room.

 

[CNWman]

I have some headphones and a coffee cup from the first time I rode a comercial Amtrak train. These items are still being made today, but you can probably see why these things are special to me. I still want to only drink hot chocolate from the coffee cup if possible!

 

[TrainNut]

The Iodine has dried up but the first aid manual doesn't even have the spine bent open....The watch would probably go in a shadow box in the train room.

I wish my book was in as good a shape as your first aid manual sounds to be!!!! When my wife and I got married, she gave me a railroad pocket watch. As I only use it but once in a blue moon, I should put it in a shadow box as well!

I still want to only drink hot chocolate from the coffee cup if possible!

Why's that? I stand behind you as I can't stand the smell of coffee. My wife always makes fun of me as we walk down the coffee aisle at the grocery store because I act like a little kid and hold my breath until we're past! I suppose anymore I just do it to annoy her in a playful sort of way 'cause she loves the stuff.

 

[N Gauger]

I have a coffee cup and a pin from when the X2000 train was on display in Phila PA -- They tested it.. but went with the Acela set..

http://www.trainnet.org/Libraries/Lib003/X-2000.GIF

 

[MadHatter]

I have:

1 x Shovel.
2 x SAR Shunter's Lamps. 1 in silver and 1 in black.
1 x More modern shunters plastic lamp.
1 x Conductors hand lamp.
1 x Handbrake wheel.
2 x End of train boards, 1 old metal and 1 the newer plastic.
1 x Drivers kit box, known locally as a "blik" (can).
1 x SAR standard point lock and key.
1 x Detonator
1 x Worn brake shoe.
1 x Grease applier.
1 x vacuum gauge for steam.
1 x vacuum gauge for electric.
1 x "key" (the reverser, from an electric loco).
1 x grate shaker handle.
1 x slice of rail.
1 x plastic rail clip.
1 x metal clip.
1 x screw.
1 x Cap from diesels sand box.
1 x diesels speedometer.
1 x fasting wheel (for the smokebox door).
1 x chair (as in the piece of metal that helps seat a rail in a sleeper).
1 x piece of vacuum pipe. (All trains in South Africa used to be vacuum braked, now all goods wagons are being converted to airbrakes).

Various memoribila including:

Stuff from the old Blue Train
Tons of tickets. (A few from Mainline trains, but mostly from Metro trains).
Waybills in various forms
Calendars
Magazines
And DVDs, videos and pictures.

I'm sure I've got more, just can't remember everything.

 

[TrainNut]

Sounds like you could almost start a small museum!