Dining cars on the rails were similar to today’s fine dining restaurants on wheels, they had elaborate menus, the finest china, linens, and glassware. These objects would be valuable in their own right as fine antiques, but with railroad names engraved, applied, or decorated onto them they take on an even finer appeal. Silver from railroad dining cars is the most valuable of the items found onboard simply because of the innate value of the silver. Silver pieces include the acutal silverware, platters, trays, vases, and other pieces typically seen at fine dinners. Prices for these goods tend to fluctuate with the price of silver and the silver content of the piece. Hallmarks and railroad names and initials make identification relatively easy, forgeries are generally a nonissue. Some railroads tend to command higher prices, such as the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe.

Common hallmarks found on railroad silver items include:
CH – CH Hanson
ELKINGTON
GMCo – Gorham
HARRISON BROTHERS & HOWSAM
IS – International Silver
MER – Meridien Brothers
ROGERS – Rogers & Hamilton
R&B – Reed & Barton
SMITH BROS
STANLEY THERMOS CO
TORONTO – Toronto Silver Plate Co.
VICTOR
WALLACE
WILEY
and many others

Check out our Complete Railroad Silver Price and Value Guide for more information.