I did a quick search for this question, and found it had last been asked in 2002 as far as I can find...

So what is your favorite RR watch? Could be a particular watch, or a maker like Hamilton or Illinois or South Bend. Maybe a family heirloom is your particular favorite? Or a pristine and rare collector piece?

My interest in pocket watches really began in college about 1990. I bought an old Swiss lever key wind pocket watch and I was fascinated by it. Well actually, my first PW was a Timex hunting case PW that I got in second grade as a gift from my parents, but my collecting of watches started with the key wind Swiss watch.

Anyway, as I began reading up on old watches I became fascinated by the great American railroad watches and resolved to have one! My first is still my favorite: this old circa 1911 Hamilton 992. The old watchmaker who sold it to me was a Hamilton fan, and he "converted" me to a Hammie disciple with this watch.

When I carry this old Hamilton I think of the romance of the rails, the 992 that Admiral Byrd carried, you name it...it's a passport to another time.

I realize asking some of ya'll to name your favorite RR watch is akin to picking your favorite child, but let's have some fun! What is your favorite?

950 pendent set

Always an excellent question, and as you say, not an easy one to answer. Not to sound wishy/washy, it has to be which ever one I've chosen to carry on a particular day. I'm currently carrying my 18s Hamilton 940....but I'm VERY partial to my big old Elgin 214, or 239, or 240, or my Waltham Crescent Street, should the mood move me to pull one out and put it in my pocket.

My daily carry is usually either a Hamilton 992B, or my Elgin BWR 541....

I love them all!

Regards! Mark

I really enjoy Railroad Watches.

I am also Interested in this topic, however I believe it would make sense to "Define" the parameters of "Railroad Watch". I feel this topic can divided into Railroad approved or Railroad grade, also a time period can also be interesting as pre-1893 and post-1893 watches are significantly different. Even the 1930's period of "Factory Cased" watches is distinctly different to prior designs.

-Sean

I hear ya, Sean. I decided to leave it a little broad to encourage participation and discussion.

I think many of us think of the classic railroad pocket watch as those made to RR standards from about 1893-1969. Of course there were RR watches used on the rails before the standards were adopted and for some years after Hamilton made the last 992B in 1969.

If somebody has a favorite made before 1893, I'd love to see it or hear about it. If they have a nice RR wristwatch like a Ball Trainmaster or something else, that's fine with me but this particular board is for the pocket watches.

Here is A Columbus Railway king special from 1892 it,s a hunting case but they were approved by several of the railroad co,s.

I Also like the ones with the choo hoo dials..

the 2 tone movement

Here's my favorite, my GG Grandfather's ca.1868 Elgin BWR. It set the standards before there were standards! Don't carry her much though. My regular carry is a 992B in no.15 SS(needs new staff however ). Anyway, here is the old gal;

the Columbus Railway king

2 tone movement

Absolutely lovely Samie! BOTH of them! In fact, you have too many, I think you should sent one down to Florida to enjoy the sunshine

Those are really nice, guys!


I think it's also great that we're hearing about and seeing some heirloom watches. I have a good friend who is fortunate enough to have his grandfather's watch and it is a ... you guessed it, an 18 size Elgin BW Raymond.

Sam
great looking Raymond having your grandfathers watch has to be something special.

I have several of the early 2 tone railroad movements i guess my favorites in the early 2 tones are the columbus and Walthams.

Sam, When I saw the pic of your BWR, it prompted me to post a pic of mine. As you will note, my 69,178 is close to yours. The other thing I noted is that yours is the unadjusted model as is mine. Wayne Schlitz's site states that the grade 69 was both adjusted and unadjusted, but no mention is made as to how many of each. It is also understood that the unadjusted grade was used for RR service in the late 1860's. Would be interesting to find out if the run that included both or our watches was all unadjusted.

Tom

Great topic..Today it's my Elgin 23 jewel Veritas, tomorrow ???.

For those who may not be familiar with Ray's 23 jewel B W Raymond, this is the Grade 350, which uses a different shaped set of plates than most 16 size B W Raymond movements. These plates are often referred to as "Lord Elgin" plates and only a single run of 1,000 of the Grade 350 was ever made. There is also a 21 jewel version, the Grade 360, also made in a single run of 1,000 units.

I'm partial to early Hamilton 992B's.


Here is C612 from my collection . . .

That is a stunning and EARLY 992B !

Thanks for sharing that beauty.

Mine is the elusive spot guilt Rockford No. 912

Guess I'm a little more "old" school in that I like nearly all the qualified 18s pieces. Here's a nice Peoria Fof RR Service. Needless to say though, I don't carry it much.

Joe

Pic of the movement... Really needs a COA!

Joe

That is a very nice and unusual Rockford there, Lindell. The movement IS especially pretty with that gorgeous damaskeening!

As I do not own many RR watches, I beg to be allowed to interpret the question as my favorite kind of RR watch, rather than the RR watch I happen to own that is my favorite. With this understanding, "my" favorite RR watch is the hunting case Ball Howard, either B of LE or ORC. They have no gold trains, double rollers, elinvar hairpsrings, winding reserve indicators or enormous jewel counts, but they combine great rarity with cosmetic appeal, the early Howard mystique and the romance of the RR brotherhoods. A few Ball Howards have even turned up with Moorhouse dials, a peculiar passion of mine. Here is an example of the ORC variety, truly a hen's tooth among hens' teeth, from a friend's collection.

Clint

Joe R.

Would you know if this watch would be the same grade as the one you have pictured?? Has a non-magnetic hairspring and the pallet is made of gilt metal..Check out that blued regulator disk..Very well put together and finished watch

Here is the dial..

Dr. Clint,

That is exactly the kind of favorite I had hoped to see...not just particular watches, but favorite kinds and models and makers, too.

Thanks for sharing the image and your thoughts.

Although I have several makes of RR watches, I really like the Illinlos watches best. There is just something about an Illinois railroad dial that I really love. The way the Illinois logo is curved, and the way the way the double sunk dial is made. My favorite Illinois watches have the large diameter seconds dial. I am also fond of the older Illinois Gothic dials!

Hi John P.

Just signed into the site after being away for some time. Our 4 year old grandson is finally home after 3 weeks at Le Bonheur in Memphis for open heart surgery. His second. Poor little guy.

Back to your question about your Peoria. Yours might be a Non-Magnetic Watch Co. using a Peoria movement, I can't see all movement details from your picture. Also, Your dial is setup using Arabic numerals. Peoria watches used Roman numeral dials as far as I know. Regarding the grade, yours looks similar, but I really don't know.

Joe