Railroad artifact

[castletonking]

I found this cast iron plaque in my field,approx 6 inches down,it is from the long extinct Rutland and Whitehall railroad (1860's thru the early 1900's) it is cast iron and measures 8x5.5. I live approx 1/4 mile from the current rail line.This is amoung many other items,such as spikes,chisels,rivets and other items found in what is now a 10 acre hay field and has been a field for at least the last 90 to 100 years according to land records.I know it's a plaque,but does anyone know how they might have mounted such plaques or what they were used for? There are also crudely made initials in the back of it,possibly from whoever molded it.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[creskol]

I have seen similar plaques affixed to steel railroad bridges.
That is a really neat find!

 

[jeff of pa]

journal box (wheel bearing) cover.



http://cprr.org/Museum/Ephemera/Journal_Box_Cover_1865_BCC.html

 

[creskol]

journal box (wheel bearing) cover.



http://cprr.org/Museum/Ephemera/Journal_Box_Cover_1865_BCC.html

Very Good ID Jeff! That's good for a Green Check!

 

[jeff of pa]

journal box (wheel bearing) cover.



http://cprr.org/Museum/Ephemera/Journal_Box_Cover_1865_BCC.html

Very Good ID Jeff! That's good for a Green Check!

ID Courtesy of PBK

 

[castletonking]

journal box (wheel bearing) cover.



http://cprr.org/Museum/Ephemera/Journal_Box_Cover_1865_BCC.html

thats awsome,thanks for the information,I guess it has some age on it.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

journal box (wheel bearing) cover.



http://cprr.org/Museum/Ephemera/Journal_Box_Cover_1865_BCC.html

Thats one heck of an ID.

 

[railroad-relic-hunter]

Have you dug up any others? I've dug up quite a few of them over the past 20 years and that's the main reason i hunt old abandoned RR grades,the older the better!. The older bolt on journal box covers/lids from the 1850's-60's with the RR names are pretty desireable. The newer and smaller pre 1900 hinged ones are also nice and often RR marked. Your R&W RR jbc. is a super nice find!