Railroad Tag?

[lairmo]

OK, first of all, not my find. Found by a friend over the weekend. Funny thing though, found less than 6 miles from the town of Ritchey, MO. A little 'googling' produced the Chicago and Northwestern Railway, but do you think it was a Telegraph Operators piece or something else? It seems to have a shield and maybe an eagle above the name. I do not have pics of the back, sorry. Any idea of time frame would be greatly appreciated. Found near a CW battlefield. Thanks, Lairmo.

 

[lairmo]

Forgot the pics...

 

[DCMatt]

A railroad "operator" is a guy who maintains track and equipment.

Cool piece. Is it silver? It looks like a "squished penny" like you can get at tourist spots or carnivals.

Maybe you could search the census records to find this guy.

DCMatt

 

[IronSpike]

Maybe the eagle will help with the ID. Cool find

 

[PBK]

Oval key return tags like this one were sold from the late 1800's all the way up to the 1950's. These illustrations from a 1929 catalog show a couple of similar eagle tags. Note the Union shield stripes on the second example, as on yours.

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[DCMatt]

One clue on the age - Zion City, IL was incorporated in 1902. It has a VERY interesting origin and history. You should read some of it.

DCMatt

 

[lairmo]

Wow, Thanks PBK and everyone!! I"ll have to add the check...I think this ones solved!!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

PBK nailed it!

 

[JRich98150]

OPR stood for "Operator" A old Operator was involved in the local depot as Agent/Operator. They would take train orders from a Train Dispatcher and with a forked stick "hand up" to the head end and caboose crew members of a moving train. They were member of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. An Agent/Operator back then would have effective telegraphing skills in both sending and receiving. An equipment operator would have been a member of the MofW Maintenance of Way crew. You could probably find the person by going back on the Railroad and local records. Nice find!

JRich