Does anyone know railway keys?

[DrewG]

I work with a tourist railway, so I'm looking for more coach keys, but I'd also like to know some more history behind them. Does anyone know anything about coach keys?

These are our CN coach keys.
https://imgur.com/a/wGwjm

Made by Mitchell Co. from Montreal, it seems most Canadian keys are all from Mitchell. My switch key and other coach key are both Mitchell, my CPR key is not labelled so I'm not sure the make.

My confusion is I've seen keys are from adlake, from what I see, adlake was the main manufacturer for American keys. So if two companies made this teeth shap of key, was this a standardized key between railroads, I've seen it with B&M, and PRR markings. If it was, what coach manufacturer used this type? My CPR key is different. The coaches we have are lightweight coaches built by CC&F.

I'm looking to buy this PRR key.

It's the same shape but I'm curious to the history of this type of teeth, why did multiple Railway's uses this type and was it for a certain type of coach?

Thanks

[GERUNIMO625]

Hello, I hope your having a nice day. I can't tell you who makes the keys we use on Metra (a Chicago based commuter service) as the company name is not stamped in the key. However I can tell you the keys shape is very similar in shape and possibly size to yours. The keys are universal for all our cars ranging from the older RTA/CNW cars all the way up to the new Nippo Sharyo cars. Since those cars get pawned off all over the city of Chicago on the UPRR, BNSF, etc. I assume they use the same keys. We even have one that is nothing more then a stick but has the same fancy handle part as the other keys. Hope that helps you out.

Hope you enjoy your weekend!
-Jerry

[CArailroader]

Good morning from sunny and cold California. There was a website that I found several months back on the history of adlake keys, I'll try to dig it up and post. I don't believe there was a "standard" coach key. Adlake alone had at least 5 different styles that I know of. On the Sacramento Southern, most of our locks have been converted from the Standard SP coach key to a non-duplication BEST key. Since our equipment is State-owned, they control the keying process, and who gets keys. The only car left that still uses the SP coach key is the El Dorado an ex-SP Observation car.

It was called a Standard SP key because it was used on most all SP coaches including all of SP's subsidiaries. (Today the SP coach key gets you into Amtrak Superliner cars.)

IMAG4167.jpg

These are my railroad keys (there is a lot, I know). There my adlake SP Coach key and in front of it is my spare State coach key. I also have a master key because this F4 doesn't get me into the lightweight daylight cars, and what kind of Car Knocker would I be if I can't get into all of the cars....