A couple more B of RT items I picked out. THe two pendants on the bottom I assume are to identify you and your health plan in case of a health issue or accident. Both are the same I just have one flipped to the other side. One is a little more yellow in color but it also has a lot higher number stamped so it probably is a newer one. I have no idea what the top band is for or where it was used. Any info on this stuff I would appreciate.

I believe the top artifact is for a "hat badge" that would ID a RR employee to patrons. These different ID's might be; porter, conductor, baggageman, brakeman, etc. Employees at times may be called to see service on a "run/trip", and they may be trained to do different jobs, so instead of putting on the correct hat for their job title, these ID labels were merely and easily interchanged on the cap/hat.

The other type is a key chain fob that your ID number could be accessed if your keys were lost so they may be returned, or if the employee required medical attention and was unable to give directives or commands, or as a last alternative, may have been KIA.

Railroading at a period of time was one of the most dangerous occupations on the North American continent. Today with rules changes and safeguards it is no longer one of the top "widow-maker" professions. Still it requires constant presence of mind and obedience to the rules in order to protect the employees as well as the welfare of the general public, and the equipment involved. Safety is a big word on the nations RR's, and paramount if one is to remain in the ranks of RR employment.

The top hat band ID tag was from the Chicago Great Western Railroad Co. The Chicago Great Western Railroad was a Class I railroad that linked Chicago, Minneapolis, Omaha, and Kansas City. It was founded by Alpheus Beede Stickney in 1885 as a regional line between St. Paul and the Iowa state line called the Minnesota and Northwestern Railroad. Through mergers and new construction, the railroad, named Chicago Great Western after 1892, quickly became a multi-state carrier. One of the last Class I railroads to be built, it competed against several other more well-established railroads in the same territory, and developed a corporate culture of innovation and efficiency to survive.

Nicknamed the Corn Belt Route because of its operating area in the midwestern United States, the railroad was sometimes called the Lucky Strike Road, due to the similarity in design between the herald of the CGW and the logo used for Lucky Strike cigarettes.

In 1960 it reported 2474 million net ton-miles of revenue freight and 4 million passenger miles; at the end of that year it operated 1469 miles of road and 2117 miles of track. In 1968 it merged with the Chicago and North Western Railway (CNW), which abandoned most of the CGW's trackage.

regards,
bb

Wow interesting reading Thanks Buster I sure enjoy the info.

Here's a photo of a similar badge:

http://www.shorpy.com/node/6992