Medium: PhysicalObject
Railroad spike
Date: between 1943 and 1963
A railroad spike is a pointed, iron object used to secure rails and tie plates to ties in the track. This one is from the “museum room” of collector Johnson…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Spike maul
Date: between 1923 and 1973
This spike maul is a hand tool used to drive railroad spikes into railroad tracks. It is made by Slug-Devil, a common spike maul brand.
Medium: PhysicalObject
AT & SF Railway lantern
Date: between 1912 and 1940
The Dietz Acme Inspector Lamp was the most popular railroad lantern marketed for inspecting wheel bearings, journals, etc. The Acme was also the last square tube Hot Blast lantern produced…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Union Pacific Railroad saltshaker
Date: between 1920 and 1929
Glass and silver saltshaker used in the dining car of the Union Pacific train, “City of Kansas City,” which ran through Kansas City on its run from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to…
Medium: PhysicalObject
AT & SF Railway pitcher
Date: between 1890 and 1920
Silver-plated pitcher made by the International Silver Company for the Dining Car Service of the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railway Company.
Medium: PhysicalObject
Union Pacific Railroad ashtray
Date: between 1961 and 1971
Light blue glass ashtray from the dining car service of the Union Pacific Railroad’s City of Kansas City on its last run across Kansas. Service ended may 1, 1971 with…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Union Pacific Railroad sugar bowl
Date: between 1930 and 1939
Small Art Deco silver-plated sugar bowl, part of a silver service used on the Union Pacific train “City of Kansas City,” which ran through Kansas City on its run from…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Union Pacific Railroad menu holder
Date: between 1930 and 1939
Small Art Deco silver-plated menu holder, part of a silver service used on the Union Pacific train “City of Kansas City,” which ran through Kansas City on its run from…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Union Pacific Railroad vase
Date: between 1930 and 1939
Silver Art Deco vase from dining car service from the Union Pacific Railroad’s City of Kansas City on its last run across Kansas. Service ended May 1, 1971 with the…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Union Pacific Railroad sugar bowl
Date: between 1930 and 1939
Small Art Deco silver-plated sugar bowl, part of a silver service used on the Union Pacific train, “City of Kansas City,” which ran through Kansas City on its run from…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Union Pacific Railroad teapot
Date: between 1930 and 1939
Small Art Deco silver-plated teapot, part of a silver service used on the Union Pacific train “City of Kansas City,” which ran through Kansas City on its run from Cheyenne,…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Union Pacific Railroad menu
Date: 1969
Menu used aboard the Union Pacific Domeliner, “City of Portland,” which ran between Chicago and Portland, Oregon. The “Centennial” reference is for the 100th anniversary of the driving of the…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Fred Harvey Service menu
Date: between 1950 and 1955
This menu was used by the Fred Harvey Service on a Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway dining cars. The painting depicted on the cover is by E.I. Couse, a…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Rock Island Railroad water jug
Date: between 1890 and 1900
Ceramic water jug used on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (Rock Island Lines.) Where on the railroad it was actually used is not known.
Medium: PhysicalObject
Railroad Y.M.C.A. commemorative dish
Date: between 1902 and 1940
This commemorative dish was produced by C.E. Wheelock & Company based in Peoria, Illinois but produced in Weimar, Germany. It depicts the Railroad Y.M.C.A. in Hoisington, Kansas. The YMCA was…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Thacher’s calculating instrument
Date: between 1915 and 1925
Thacher’s Calculating Instrument, used by the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railway in the 1920s to calculate fares and perhaps other matters. Originally created by Edwin Thacher in 1884, the…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Saw Tooth or Evening Star friendship quilt
Date: between 1914 and 1916
Blue and white cotton friendship quilt pieced in Saw Tooth pattern, also known as Evening Star. Signatures are embroidered in red at the center of each block, several of which…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Double Star quilt
Date: between 1830 and 1880
Elaborately quilted blue and white cotton bedcover pieced in Double Star pattern, with 12 blocks separated by wide bands of white sashing. Ornate quilted designs include circular floral wreaths and…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Cafferty-Hayden Tie-Tong brochure
Date: between 1910 and 1920
Paper brochure for the Cafferty-Hayden Tie-Tong, a device for lifting railroad ties. It was manufactured in Topeka, Kansas.
Medium: PhysicalObject
Kansas Pacific Railroad cigar box
Date: 1883
Wooden rectangular cigar box for Kansas Pacific Railroad cigars. Donor indicated that dignitaries received these cigars when riding Kansas Pacific trains, but tax stamp on box is dated 1883 and…
Medium: PhysicalObject
AT & SF Railway paperweight
Date: between 1870 and 1900
In the 1870’s and 1880’s Great Britain made large investments in the Santa Fe Railroad. Lion paperweights, including this one, were made in England and distributed to Santa Fe Railroad…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Bishop car-coupler
Date: between 1881 and 1884
The Bishop Car-Coupler was a special steel blade with a wood handle used by railroad brakemen and switchmen for coupling and uncoupling cars with particular couplers. The original patent for…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Portable pantry
Date: between 1890 and 1910
Painted tin portable pantry made by “Globe.” Enameled black overall, with decorative patterns and text stenciled in gold. The base is divided into six cubbies. Oval top has two doors,…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Postage Stamp quilt
Date: 1949
Postage Stamp quilt pieced in pattern known as Sunshine and Shadows or Double Irish Chain. Quilt’s chains are made up of postage stamp-sized pieces of feed sacking. Tan-colored muslin ground…
Medium: PhysicalObject
Formosa Tea Leaf quilt
Date: 1948
Cotton quilt in the Formosa Tea Leaf design. Each block consists of a large star rendered in two shades of blue with red tips, set in a white background. Eight-pointed…