Rare Old Railroad Lock

[camb1]

Found a very old railroad lock this afternoon. It is from the GT&C Railroad. Grand Tower and Carbondale Illinois Railroad. Date would be somewhere around 1868.

 

[A2coins]

That is sweet I love railroad stuff that would be great in a display case great find!!!!Happy New Year!!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I agree with A2-coins: "Americana" stuff like that looks so cool in shadow box displays. Evokes "wild west" image Nice find !

 

[Mackaydon]

The GT&C RxR company was first chartered in 1882.
In 1893 it merged with another company and became the Chicago and Texas RxR Co.
I'd say your lock can be dated between those two dates.
Don......

 

[UnderMiner]

A very unusual lock, congrats!

 

[camb1]

The GT&C RxR company was first chartered in 1882.
In 1893 it merged with another company and became the Chicago and Texas RxR Co.
I'd say your lock can be dated between those two dates.
Don......

This is from the Grand Tower Free Press on Dec. 17, 1926.

The G.T.M.M. & T., Co., were the founders of what is now the city of G. T. the Co. at once commenced operation by getting the way and building the G. T. and Carbondale railroad, it being the 5th railroad built in the state of ILL. The railroad was finished to Mt. Carbon now part of the M on Xmas day 1866. The following spring it was finished to Carbondale, and opened to the public.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

That's a very nice relic find, congratulations!

 

[Trezurehunter]

Very nice find. Old Railroad locks display real nice.

 

[deershed]

Sweet old R.R.lock, I like that look it has!! Congrats!!

 

[Bass]

Nice lock! Thanks for showing it

 

[trapperart]

Congrats on a nice lock

 

[Tommy G]

Great find. I've never seen one like that. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Carolina Tom]

The lock is cut in half.

OK, here it is, less the key holding loop.

 

[camb1]

Thanks Everyone for the comments.