Railroad key and a clock pendilum?

[VERMONTPACKRAT]

A short hunt this afternoon at a site that I have never done before gave me a few keepers. My first railroad key. Atleast that is what I think it is Any info on this would be great. One side has W.S.S.RY. The other side has 509. The round thing that looks like a clock I am guessing that it is a pendilum for a clock. There is a spot on the top where it was attatched to something else. Broken off.
A pewter spoon in pretty sad shape is an ecouraging find as the site is where an old house used to be. Built in the late 1700's, burned in the early 1990's. Very overgrown spot now.

VPR

 

[savant365]

There was a WINSTON SALEM SOUTHBOUND RAILWAY that may be where your key came from.

http://railroadiana.org/pgRRNamesResults.php

Nice finds.

 

[Burnt Chimney]

Nice looking key , good find .

 

[VERMONTPACKRAT]

I wonder how it ended up in Vermont? Guess you never know

VPR

 

[Bob S]

Nice Finds WTG

 

[crazyjarhead]

Nice old key VPR

 

[STH69]

very cool

 

[allen]

the r/r key is really neat ...

 

[N.J.THer]

It is a railroad switch/barrel Key and I believe Savant is right with the Winston Salem Southbound Railway. Congrats on the key. I found one a few years back that was marked by the maker not the railroad. I was able to find a patent for the lock that dated to 1859.

NJ

 

[John (Ma)]

Very nice finds

 

[Dirty WhiteBoy]

Your hunting spot looks pretty promising! Nice R.R. key! That is a collectible! Good find!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Well, that key is a great find. Most keys are worth a decent amount. In some cases, the keys from a railroad line are worth more than the locks--since one key could open any lock.


Best Wishes,



Buckles

 

[VERMONTPACKRAT]

Well, that key is a great find. Most keys are worth a decent amount. In some cases, the keys from a railroad line are worth more than the locks--since one key could open any lock.


Best Wishes,



Buckles

Thanks !! The key is not my most valuable find but one of my favorites

VPR

 

[BomberJohn]

Very cool. Love the key! WTG!

 

[burglarifyoulike]

congratulations on some great and unusual finds!! fun!

 

[PBK]

Great stuff!

Earliest date for the key would be 1910.

 

[Sniffy]

all very happy to get some light