Railroad Memorabilia & Collectibles

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Railroad Grade Pocket Watches

By the middle of the 19th century, American life and commerce had become increasingly dependent on railroads, and in the years following the Civil War the tracks became congested with train traffic. Trains needed to run on tight timetables so that all could share the available rails, and the need became evident to agree on a standard time. There were no time zones as we know them back then -- it was noon when the sun was high, which depends on your longitude. With rail lines spanning the North American continent, there were hundreds of definitions of "noon" spanning many hours, usually relying on the largest or most accurate clock in the area.

The railroad-grade pocket watch was developed to meet to make sure everyone operating the trains knew what time it was. To ensure that, the standards specified that a railroad grade pocket watch must contain a minimum number of jewels for bearings, pallets, and pins, must be lever set and have a lever type escapement with a safety wheel to ensure it would restart if stopped, must keep accurate time in several different positions and across a range of temperatures, regardless of how tightly the main spring was wound. Trainmen's pocket watches also had to be easily read in poor lighting, so they required a minimum size watch movement with Arabic numbers, a white dial, and contrasting spade hands.

Read more about railroad pocket watches, or browse the listings below to find one for your railroad memorabilia collection.

Subcategories:
Antique Railroad Pocket Watches Modern Pocket Watches	Other Pocket Watches Railroad Watch Parts & Tools

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79 items		Price	Shipping	Total	Time Left
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Buy Now »	ANTIQUE SOUTH BEND MODEL 227 21 JEWEL POCKET WATCH RAILROAD GRADE WORKING GF
	Details » Buy Now for $300.00 »	Buy: $300.00	Ships: $4.00	$304.00	1 hr 34 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Abingdon, VA, USA ZIP 242 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $4.00 Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: treasure-next-door Feedback: 7,965 / 100%** See other items for sale from treasure-next-door
Buy Now »	1929 Hamilton Pocket Watch Railroad Accuracy Lancaster PA "Timekeeper" Print Ad
	Details » Buy Now for $9.95 »	Buy: $9.95	Ships: $5.05	$15.00	6 hrs 38 mins
	Item Condition: Used Item Location: Austin, TX, USA ZIP 787 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $5.05 Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: adman365 Feedback: 918 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from adman365
Buy Now »	Vintage Hamilton Watch Railroad USA Mainspring Box Watchmaker No 2721
	Details » Buy Now for $29.99 »	Buy: $29.99	Ships: Based on Zip	$29.99 Plus shipping	9 hrs 33 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Beaverton, OR, USA ZIP 970 Shipping Type: Calculated Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 3 business days Seller: aa0636 Feedback: 190 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from aa0636
Buy Now »	Burlington working 1919 Antique 21Jewel Pocket Watch, Railroad,Wadsworth Quality
	Details » Buy Now for $315.00 »	Buy: $315.00	Ships: Free	$315.00	11 hrs 51 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Carmel by the Sea, CA, USA ZIP 939 Shipping Type: Free Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: 5099barbarak Feedback: 458 / 100%** See other items for sale from 5099barbarak
Buy Now »	1914 HAMILTON WATCH advertisement, Pocket Watch, Railroad accuracy
	Details » Buy Now for $5.91 »	Buy: $5.91	Ships: $2.84	$8.75	23 hrs 18 mins
	Item Condition: Used Item Location: Canada ZIP B0J1T0 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $2.84 Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: busybeas_books Feedback: 14,676 / 99.8% See other items for sale from busybeas_books
Buy Now »	1924 PAPER AD 4 PG 18 Size Pocket Watch Railroad North Shore Trans Atlantic
	Details » Buy Now for $22.79 »	Buy: $22.79	Ships: $4.99	$27.78	2 days 3 hrs 46 mins
	Item Condition: Used Item Location: Wooster, OH, USA ZIP 446 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $4.99 Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: gdawg Feedback: 18,937 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from gdawg
Buy Now »	Watchmakers Arnex Mechanical Hunting Case Pocket Watch Railroad Engine Theme
	Details » Buy Now for $120.00 »	Buy: $120.00	Ships: Free	$120.00	2 days 14 hrs 17 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Americus, GA, USA ZIP 317 Shipping Type: Free Handling Time: 4 business days Returns Accepted Seller: we-are-watchfinder Feedback: 9,217 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from we-are-watchfinder
Buy Now »	1927 HAMILTON WATCH RAILROAD ACCURACY vintage art print ad
	Details » Buy Now for $8.95 »	Buy: $8.95	Ships: $5.45	$14.40	4 days 5 hrs 48 mins
	Item Condition: Used Item Location: North Adams, MA, USA ZIP 012 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $5.45 Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: crosby-auctions Feedback: 7,371 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from crosby-auctions
Buy Now »	Mechanical Pocket Watch Railroad Jesse Kansas City Vintage Chain Wind
	Details » Buy Now for $11.99 »	Buy: $11.99	Ships: Free	$11.99	4 days 13 hrs 4 mins
	Item Condition: New without tags Item Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA ZIP 917** Shipping Type: Flat Rate Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: bjg_deals Feedback: 41,299 / 99.6% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from bjg_deals
Buy Now »	Hamilton Electric Watch “RAILROAD 50”-RECONDITIONED 505 W/New Contact & WARRANTY
	Details » Buy Now for $425.00 »	Buy: $425.00	Ships: Free	$425.00	5 days 18 hrs 19 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Cleveland, OH, USA ZIP 441 Shipping Type: Free Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: electricavenuewatchrepair Feedback: 1,734 / 100%** See other items for sale from electricavenuewatchrepair
Buy Now »	Vintage 1922 HAMILTON WATCH Pocket Watch Railroad Accuracy 20's Print Ad
	Details » Buy Now for $14.95 »	Buy: $14.95	Ships: $4.95	$19.90	6 days 15 hrs 9 mins
	Item Condition: Item Location: Chattanooga, TN, USA ZIP 374 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $4.95 Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: retro.ads Feedback: 1,430 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from retro.ads
Buy Now »	1952 PAPER AD 2 PG Dietz Cold Hot Blast Lantern Night Watch Railroad Bolser
	Details » Buy Now for $14.99 »	Buy: $14.99	Ships: $4.99	$19.98	7 days 3 hrs 19 mins
	Item Condition: Used Item Location: Wooster, OH, USA ZIP 446 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $4.99 Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: gdawg Feedback: 18,926 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from gdawg
Buy Now »	1914 Hamilton Pocket Watch Railroad Engineers & Conductors Print Ad
	Details » Buy Now for $12.99 »	Buy: $12.99	Ships: $4.95	$17.94	7 days 12 hrs 14 mins
	Item Condition: Used Item Location: Greer, SC, USA ZIP 296 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $4.95 Handling Time: 2 business days Returns Accepted Seller: plethora-of-paper Feedback: 7,914 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from plethora-of-paper
Buy Now »	Hamilton pocket watch railroad grade 21 jewel mod# 268217 gold filled case
	Details » Buy Now for $695.00 »	Buy: $695.00	Ships: Free	$695.00	7 days 12 hrs 37 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Bath, NY, USA ZIP 148** Shipping Type: Free Handling Time: 3 business days Seller: gordonoctopus Feedback: 324 / 100%* See other items for sale from gordon*octopus
Buy Now »	Mechanical Pocket Watch Railroad Jesse Kansas Vintage Chain Doesn't Wind or Work
	Details » Buy Now for $9.99 »	Buy: $9.99	Ships: Free	$9.99	8 days 9 hrs 3 mins
	Item Condition: New with defects Item Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA ZIP 917** Shipping Type: Flat Rate Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: bjg_deals Feedback: 41,299 / 99.6% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from bjg_deals
Buy Now »	Men's Pocket Watch Railroad Vintage Bronze Quartz LED Lighting Western Cowboy!
	Details » Buy Now for $25.97 »	Buy: $25.97	Ships: Free	$25.97	9 days 5 hrs 46 mins
	Item Condition: New without tags Item Location: Bozeman, MT, USA ZIP 597 Shipping Type: Free Expedited Shipping Returns Accepted Seller: pocket-watch-shoppe Feedback: 127 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from pocket-watch-shoppe
Buy Now »	Vntage Original Ad Art HAMILTON WATCH Railroad Accuracy
	Details » Buy Now for $13.59 »	Buy: $13.59	Ships: Free	$13.59	9 days 6 hrs 31 mins
	Item Condition: Used Item Location: Chico, CA, USA ZIP 959 Shipping Type: Free Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: sherblay Feedback: 10,743 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from sherblay
Buy Now »	Men's Pocket Watch Railroad Vintage Carved Bronze LED Light Western Locomotive!
	Details » Buy Now for $25.97 »	Buy: $25.97	Ships: Free	$25.97	9 days 7 hrs 12 mins
	Item Condition: New without tags Item Location: Bozeman, MT, USA ZIP 597 Shipping Type: Free Expedited Shipping Returns Accepted Seller: pocket-watch-shoppe Feedback: 127 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from pocket-watch-shoppe
Buy Now »	Men's Pocket Watch Railroad Vintage Open Carved Locomotive Bronze LED Lighted!!!
	Details » Buy Now for $25.97 »	Buy: $25.97	Ships: Free	$25.97	9 days 7 hrs 20 mins
	Item Condition: New without tags Item Location: Bozeman, MT, USA ZIP 597 Shipping Type: Free Expedited Shipping Returns Accepted Seller: pocket-watch-shoppe Feedback: 127 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from pocket-watch-shoppe
Buy Now »	Hamilton Electric Watch Railroad 51-REFURBISHED-505-FactoryGemexBand-WARRANTY ELECTRIC AVENUE WATCH REPAIR.........repairs done right
	Details » Buy Now for $890.00 »	Buy: $890.00	Ships: Free	$890.00	9 days 7 hrs 27 mins
	Item Condition: Seller refurbished Item Location: Cleveland, OH, USA ZIP 441 Shipping Type: Free Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Seller: electricavenuewatchrepair Feedback: 1,735 / 100%** See other items for sale from electricavenuewatchrepair
Buy Now »	Vintage Churchil Windup Pocket Watch Railroad Train Theme Silver, 12” Chain
	Details » Buy Now for $59.00 »	Buy: $59.00	Ships: Based on Zip	$59.00 Plus shipping	9 days 18 hrs 33 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Reading, PA, USA ZIP 196** Shipping Type: Calculated Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 2 business days Returns Accepted Seller: dljfrompa Feedback: 168 / 99% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from dljfrompa
Buy Now »	1934 Hamilton Watch: Railroad Accuracy Test of the Skies Vintage Print Ad
	Details » Buy Now for $6.50 »	Buy: $6.50	Ships: $4.25	$10.75	10 days 3 hrs 5 mins
	Item Condition: Used Item Location: Roselle, IL, USA ZIP 601** Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $4.25 Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: relicpaper Feedback: 5,907 / 99.5% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from relicpaper
Buy Now »	Waltham pocket watch, railroad, Runs, 1900 vintage, needs overhaul, inscribed, G
	Details » Buy Now for $420.00 »	Buy: $420.00	Ships: Free	$420.00	10 days 10 hrs 39 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Glendora, CA, USA ZIP 917 Shipping Type: Free Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: timelessclassicwatches Feedback: 8,326 / 100%** Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from timelessclassicwatches
Buy Now »	Elgin Natl pocket watch, railroad dial , working , Rare collector pocket watch !
	Details » Buy Now for $386.22 »	Buy: $386.22	Ships: $47.29	$433.51	11 days 1 hr 3 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Canada ZIP T2R0M6 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $47.29 Handling Time: 3 business days Seller: cezar242000 Feedback: 191 / 100% See other items for sale from cezar242000