Relics of the Past

[DrewG]

My less expensive than modelling, but more expensive than railworks hobby is collecting antique railway items. I figured I would share some of my collection. I've noticed a lot of people don't realize items like these exist out there, especially younger guys like myself. I've been rather aggressively collecting for over 3 years and have a collection I'm quite proud of now. Collecting is great fun as it's like a hunt for the next item. They're out there at auctions antique stores, flea markets. I haven't spend that much on one item, never more than the cost of a DCC with sound engine.

Here are some of my bellbottom lanterns. If you don't know lanterns at all, a Bellbottom lantern is a lantern with a full round base instead of a wire base.

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From left to right: Pullman made by Adams and Westlake, Grand Trunk made by E.T. Wright of Hamilton, Intercolonial made by E.T. Wright, Canadian Pacific made by Dietz, Grand Trunk made by Adams and Westlake and a 'Thompson' made I believe by Peter Gray & Sons. The Thompson has a patent date from the late 1860s and likely was made in the 1870s. The rest date to 1890-1910.

Here's a few of my keys, the long barrel ones are coach keys, and the short ones are switch keys.

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The switch keys are, Top L-R: Prince Edward Island Railway ( Narrow gauge railway on the Island of PEI), Grand trunk railway, Intercolonial.
Bottom L-R: Canadian Northern, Toronto Hamilton and Buffalo (same type of key as the Canada Southern Railway so I assume a key used on interchanges between the two), and Canadian Pacific. The coach keys are Canadian Pacific and Canadian National.

[ET44C4]

Very nice collection of railroad memorabilia you got there Drew.