Fake RR key... But what type of lock?

Jmensel

I purchased this key today at an antique shop. It was labeled as a railroad key and obviously is stamped with “C&FRR”. I have seen this same type of key listed as a railroad key in various places, but never with a lock.

My friend and I have come to the conclusion that the RR markings are likely fake, as this line went out of business in the 1890’s and we do not think the key is that old.

I would however be interested in knowing what type of lock it fits and what the dates of manufacture were…

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Dean Nickel

The key looks to be used and worn in the correct spots. Even if the RR was not in business the line they had might have been used for decades by one or more other RR co and the padlocks were left with those tracks. They would still be marked with what line they were for as those padlocks wouldn’t have been moved far. Locks will often times outlast the company that bought them. So it is possible that the key is newer but for that line just so they would know what line to use it on.

Jmensel

Halflock wrote
The key looks to be used and worn in the correct spots. Even if the RR was not in business the line they had might have been used for decades by one or more other RR co and the padlocks were left with those tracks. They would still be marked with what line they were for as those padlocks wouldn’t have been moved far. Locks will often times outlast the company that bought them. So it is possible that the key is newer but for that line just so they would know what line to use it on.

I agree that they key is probably pretty old, or an old fake even.

I am not as educated on these older railroad keys as I would like to be. The key, if it is real, is from the Catasauqua & Fogelsville Railroad, which was a small railroad that operated in Pennsylvania. The line was absorbed by the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad in 1893. The P&R was very good about changing locks out after takeover from what I have found, although anything labeled by P&R for another railroad after their takeover would in theory be numbered into the P&R key series and fit the rest of their locks. I have two keys from the People’s Railway, which was a short interurban line around Pottsville, PA, that are basically P&R keys with P&R serial numbers labeled for PRY. The PRY keys are the standard round-top Adams & Westlake switch keys, as are the P&R keys I have.

I would just feel better about they key if I knew what vintage it was (1890’s, post-1900, etc) and exactly what type of lock it would fit so that I could do more research. I am more interested in learning how to spot fakes more than anything…

[unknown]

Dean Nickel

As far as I know RR only used two types of locks. I can be wrong but they were door locks on the trains and padlocks. Of course they had building keys but for the key you show I know of only two types.