Rail & Road Auctions is proud to present our Spring 2023 two day Railroadiana auction. This two day event features 575 lots of quality railroad history including paper, china, passes, locks, keys, lanterns, builders plates, locomotive hardware, stock certificates, conductors caps, uniforms, badges, and so much more.
It’s a very exciting time for Rail & Road as this month marks the introduction of our own bidding platform and dedicated apps for both Apple and Android devices. Our platform features a reduced buyers premium along with a host of other features that you’ll discover as you explore the auction. We think you’ll enjoy the bidding experience and we encourage you to familiarize yourself with it in the coming weeks and months. Starting this year we will have some exclusive auctions on our platform which you’ll want to be a part of.
If you’d like a step by step guide on how to get signed up with our new platform, you can find a walk through guide by following this link.
Here are just some of the highlights you’ll find in our auction this month!
Day 1 – Thursday May 4, 2023
Our first day is highlighted by a number of tougher paper, china, and silver lots from the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad.
This auction includes one of the widest selections of Rock Island china and silver that we’ve seen enter the public market in quite some time. This is highlighted by a number of Golden Rocket and Golden State pieces along with other Rock Island patterns. The key pieces include:
- A Golden Rocket Silver Ice Bucket
- Golden State Butter Pat
- Golden Rocket Hall Tea Pot
- Rock Island Tureen
- Rock Island Waiters Jacket
Collectors should take note of the wide variety of paper in this auction. This includes pass lots issued to the likes of Rock Island President J.E. Gorman and infamous robber baron Jay Gould. There is other scarce travel paper and documents from the Rock Island and other railroads such as the Colorado Midland. The paper weaved throughout both days is unique and was well curated by the owner.
The Pennsylvania Railroad also has a nice small selection of items including a silver syrup pitcher, original color drift cards, a fascinating set of wreck photographs from 1934, standard plans book, and more.
Other highlights from the first day include a matched pair of Wabash caboose lamps, mechanical crossing bell, Chicago and Alton marker lamp, unfired Dietz GM&O lantern, Baltimore & Ohio centennial medallion, C.H. Williams vision screening lamp for color blindness, Santa Fe Brakemans cap with badge, Western Railroad Supply lights and mechanical crossing bell, and a nice modern selection of employee and promotional items from Norfolk Southern.
Day 2 – Friday May 5, 2023
The second day is filled with more quality railroadiana with a wide diversity from full size equipment and signals down to wonderful smalls. We’ll list some of the highlights below, but please be sure to view the entire catalog!
- 16 Foot Porcelain lettered depot sign from the Great Northern depot in Grand Rapids, Minnesota
- Embossed metal Rock Island herald – Believed to be a depot or tender sign
- Fairmont S-2 Speeder – Newer restoration (Pickup near Sandusky, Ohio)
- Hand operated train order signal with mast, blade, and hand controls. (Pickup near Sandusky, Ohio)
- Alco Builders Plate from Wabash Steam Locomotive #2700
- Section of Solari / Flip Board from Grand Central Terminal
- Golden Glow Railroad Locomotive Headlight
- Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Embossed Step Box
- New York Central Railroad S-2 Electric Locomotive Single Chime Whistle
- Rock Island / The Rock Railroad Fruitland, Iowa Sign
- Wooden Railroad Roundhouse Roster Board – Midwestern Division – Likely Kansas City Southern
- Union Switch and Signal PL-2 Railroad Position Light Signal Head
- Railroad Yard Limit Sign w/ Cat Eye Reflectors
- General Railway Signal Baltimore and Ohio Color Position Light
- Pennsylvania Railroad E44 Builders Plate
- Union Pacific SD90 Builders Plate
- Rock Island 1883 Cook Book
- Rock Island Celluloid Match Safe
- Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Felt Banner
This is just a partial list of the diverse offerings we have in the second day of this auction. Please take note that there are some larger items which will need to be picked up near Sandusky, Ohio. There are also larger items that will ship directly from our warehouse, but will require freight transit and crating. If you have any questions, we welcome you to contact via email at info@RARauctions.com or call 765-412-7926
