Need help with ID please

[Jerry/MI]

front reads WAY 2220
back reads NYCRR
measurement: 1 5/8" X 1 1/4"

[vayank54]

Looks like it might be a baggage tag The NYCRR probably stands for New York Central Railroad Formed March 17, 1853
the other latters and numbers I can't help with. Sorry

[AU24K]

Tool check tag?


Scott

[Bigcypresshunter]

Looks like it might be a baggage tag The NYCRR probably stands for New York Central Railroad Formed March 17, 1853
the other latters and numbers I can't help with. Sorry

Nice find. Yep. its an 1800's Way Check. Could be New York Connecting RailRoad. Here are some baggage check examples. http://www.tagtown.net/robbins.html They are collectible. Nice find.

[Bigcypresshunter]

Not exactly sure what a Way Check means but its definitely a baggage check tag used by railroads.

[traderoftreasures]

i figured way short for wayword

[ivan salis]

way as in way station ( transfer point ) a bag (along with its owner / passenger) going from place A to place B might have to transfer at a station "along" the way -- thus its a transfer tag --it tells the porters to transfer the bag unto the other train

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

According to my brief research, the "way" number is the number of a particular train and/or final destination. Thus the bag(s) would be continually transferred along the "way" (as already mentioned) until they reached there final destination.

It might be of interest to research the no. 2220 and see which train/destination it refers to. Maybe there is still an unclaimed bag waiting to be picked up that contains some cold hard cash from yesteryear. I know, I know ... I watch "way" too many old movies!

[diggummup]

History

The New York Central Railroad was formed on March 17, 1853 by the consolidation of a number of smaller railroads between Albany and Buffalo. In 1867 Cornelius Vanderbilt gained control of the New York Central Railroad and on November 1, 1869 he merged it with his Hudson River Railroad to for the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad.


This narrows the age gap down on your piece considerably I would think. Nice piece.

EDIT- I guess it could have still been used after the date of the merger.

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Please bare with me here ... my ongoing research is a little sketcy at best.

(See photos below)

I discovered there was a Long Island Railroad train no. 2220 that went to the Central Islip mental hospital about three or four days a week. The Hospital was near the end (in 1906) of the railroad's line to Ronkonoma, New York (Long Island).

The photo of the time table shows the train no. 2220 to Ronkonoma.
The other photo involves the hospital itself, and is dated August 16, 1906.
The hospital is now closed and abandoned.

Of course, I can't be certain the way tag shown here was for the mental hospital station, nor if there was a connection between the NYCRR and the Long Island railroad, but my meandering around the internet suggest there may have been one. Plus, from what I've gathered, the Islip hospital was a popular destination on the rail line for visitors to the facility. Perhaps I need to be committed to that mental hospital myself! Oops! I forgot ... it's closed! Sorry - no can do!

[Bigcypresshunter]

Was it found in Michigan?

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I may be on the wrong "track" here ... but it's been a fun ride so far!

The attached photos show the railroad line and location of both Ronkonkoma and Central Islip, New York.

Just say the word and I will commit myself into that mental hospital!

[intimer]

cool stuff guys!!!!! crazy....?

[Woodland Detectors]

way as in way station ( transfer point ) a bag (along with its owner / passenger) going from place A to place B might have to transfer at a station "along" the way -- thus its a transfer tag --it tells the porters to transfer the bag unto the other train

Great "Complete" ID

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

I recant my earlier connection with the number 2220 as being connected to the Central Islip mental hospital. Central Islip and Ronkonkoma were two seperate train stations, and the 2220 seems to be directly connected to the Ronkonkoma station only. Plus there is still a little confusion on my part regarding the NYCRR vs LIRR.

Please don't hold it against me ... remember ... I'm a mental patient!

And just to show my intent is in the right place, here's a photo of the Ronkonkoma station as it looked in 1900.

Final P.S. If I have to spell out and type R-O-N-K-O-N-K-O-M-A one more time, I will go crazy! ( Not to mention, I'm still not exactly sure how to pronounce it! )

[SODABOTTLEBOB]

Here's another train schedule from the same time period showing a reference to the Ronkonkoma station under the number 2229 ... so if I wasn't confused before, I am now! At least the 22 part is the same, and the differation in the numbers 20/29 seems to refer to AM vs PM. I just dunno ... and I'm calling it quits with this one before I go totally bonkers!

[ted750]

That's quite cool, actually. I think the tag is definitely "New York Connecting Railroad", and the guy who lost it might have transfered to the LIRR at Jamaica? (It's still hell doing that today!) I don't believe the New York Connecting Railroad went out onto the Island like the LIRR, it's also interesting to note that the LIRR was taken over by the Pennsylvania Railroad around 1900, and a "connecting railroad" would probably have been obsolete by 1911 when the Pennsylvania Station opened in Manhattan, along with Alexander Cassatt's tunnels under the Hudson and East Rivers. I would say it's pre 1900, but what do I know?

Hope that helped,
- Teddy

[intimer]

sodabottlebob it shows your research is crazy....uhhhh difficult...you know.

really it's wonderful to read. i sure couldn't have done what you've done and doubt few others could do what you have done. it's going to take a railroad collector expert to identify the reason for the #2220.

i would like to offer my GUESS on why the numbers change for the stations. the tokens had to be distributed at many stations so they could label baggage going to station 2220. then a majority of all the 2220 tags would eventually arrive in the hands of station 2220. at some point causing other stations to run low on #2220. then it would be assigned to another station. and the number would be distributed again only station #2220 already has their allotment.
or not....?

[Bigcypresshunter]

Scroll down for some good maps of the NYCRR which appears to have gone to Michigan where it was most likely found. Was it found in Michigan Jerry/MI? http://www.answers.com/topic/new-york-central-railroad

Brass baggage tags were going out of style to paper soon after the turn of the century.

[intimer]

here's a site that explains the tags & numbers came in pairs. one to the passenger and one left on the bag. for id at destination. may be that simple?

http://railroadiana.org/hw/pgBaggageTags.php