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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65 items		Price	Shipping	Total	Time Left
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Buy Now »	1930s Elgin pocket watch - railroad motif - engraved silver - working & accurate
	Details » Buy Now for $89.99 »	Buy: $89.99	Ships: Free	$89.99	3 hrs 5 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Baltic, CT, USA ZIP 06330 Shipping Type: Free Handling Time: 2 business days Seller: amac3877 Feedback: 63 / 100% See other items for sale from amac3877
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	9 hrs 14 mins
	Item Condition: New with defects Item Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA ZIP 91730 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: bjg_deals Feedback: 36,140 / 99.4% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from bjg_deals
Buy Now »	Vntage Original Ad Art HAMILTON WATCH Railroad Accuracy
	Details » Buy Now for $13.59 »	Buy: $13.59	Ships: Free	$13.59	1 day 6 hrs 42 mins
	Item Condition: Used Item Location: Chico, CA, USA ZIP 95928 Shipping Type: Free Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: sherblay Feedback: 10,280 / 100% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from sherblay
Buy Now »	Vintage 1890 Elgin Natl Watch Co Model 2 Grade 70 18S 15J Pocket Watch Railroad
	Details » Buy Now for $105.86 »	Buy: $105.86	Ships: $18.15	$124.01	1 day 9 hrs 43 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Canada ZIP N2T2S5 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $18.15 Handling Time: 2 business days Returns Accepted Seller: geepeters Feedback: 83 / 100% See other items for sale from geepeters
Buy Now »	Elgin 1909 18s 317 Grade 15 Jewel Pocket Watch Railroad Train Engraved Back Case
	Details » Buy Now for $109.95 »	Buy: $109.95	Ships: Free	$109.95	1 day 14 hrs 27 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Christiansburg, VA, USA ZIP 24073 Shipping Type: Free Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: xlax769 Feedback: 152 / 98.6% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from xlax769
Buy Now »	Vintage Waltham Pocket Watch Railroad Dial PRICE REDUCED
	Details » Buy Now for $350.00 »	Buy: $350.00	Ships: Based on Zip	$350.00 Plus shipping	1 day 19 hrs 34 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Tujunga, CA, USA ZIP 91042 Shipping Type: Calculated Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 2 business days Seller: ezze Feedback: 410 / 100% See other items for sale from ezze
Buy Now »	Vintage Lucerne Pocket Watch Railroad Train
	Details » Buy Now for $24.99 »	Buy: $24.99	Ships: Free	$24.99	2 days 6 hrs 57 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Mentone, CA, USA ZIP 92359 Shipping Type: Free Handling Time: 2 business days Seller: sixtytwoolds Feedback: 9,592 / 100% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from sixtytwoolds
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	2 days 10 hrs 50 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Glendora, CA, USA ZIP 91740 Shipping Type: Free Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: timelessclassicwatches Feedback: 6,769 / 99.9% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from timelessclassicwatches
Bid Now »	Vintage Yellow Dietz Night watch Railroad Lamp DARK Red Globe
	Details » Bid on This Item (1 bid) »	Bid: $9.10	Ships: Based on Zip	$9.10 Plus shipping	3 days 4 hrs 2 mins
	Item Condition: Used Item Location: Riverside, IA, USA ZIP 52327 Shipping Type: Calculated Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 3 business days Seller: jaxx_94 Feedback: 19 / 100% See other items for sale from jaxx_94
Buy Now »	ELGIN 21J B.W. RAYMOND POCKET WATCH RAILROAD GRADE ~ Runs ~ Lever Set ~ 1924
	Details » Buy Now for $190.00 »	Buy: $190.00	Ships: $5.99	$195.99	3 days 6 hrs 48 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Albany, OR, USA ZIP 97321 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $5.99 Handling Time: 3 business days Returns Accepted Seller: midvalleycoins Feedback: 7,999 / 100% See other items for sale from midvalleycoins
Buy Now »	45th Disneyland Ingersol Watch Railroad Partners Ticket Mickey Boxed LE Pin Set
	Details » Buy Now for $99.99 »	Buy: $99.99	Ships: $8.50	$108.49	3 days 13 hrs 31 mins
	Item Condition: Item Location: Brea, CA, USA ZIP 92823 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $8.50 Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: dream499 Feedback: 75,514 / 100% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from dream499
Buy Now »	1933 PAPER AD Illinois Pocket Watch Railroad Springfield Howard Hamilton Cleve
	Details » Buy Now for $14.99 »	Buy: $14.99	Ships: $4.49	$19.48	4 days 1 hr 58 mins
	Item Condition: Used Item Location: Wooster, OH, USA ZIP 44691 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $4.49 Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: gdawg Feedback: 16,988 / 99.9% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from gdawg
Buy Now »	Illinois Pocket Watch Railroad Dispatcher Silverode C.1912 Serviced Warranty
	Details » Buy Now for $335.75 »	Buy: $335.75	Ships: Free	$335.75	4 days 4 hrs 49 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Folsom, CA, USA ZIP 95630 Shipping Type: Free Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: rjewelryfolsom Feedback: 500 / 98.6% See other items for sale from rjewelryfolsom
Buy Now »	VINTAGE ILLINOIS BUNN SPECIAL POCKET WATCH RAILROAD 16S 21 JEWEL & PERFECT DIAL
	Details » Buy Now for $139.00 »	Buy: $139.00	Ships: $9.90	$148.90	4 days 6 hrs 19 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Boston, MA, USA ZIP 02116 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $9.90 Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: universegemsco Feedback: 1,181 / 99.4% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from universegemsco
Buy Now »	Pocket Watch Railroad Embossed Case with Belt Chain
	Details » Buy Now for $28.00 »	Buy: $28.00	Ships: Free	$28.00	5 days 19 hrs 15 mins
	Item Condition: New without tags Item Location: La Valle, WI, USA ZIP 53941 Shipping Type: Free Handling Time: 5 business days Seller: fordmanted2b2b Feedback: 616 / 99% See other items for sale from fordmanted2b2b
Buy Now »	elgin vantage pocket watch (railroad issue)
	Details » Buy Now for $75.00 »	Buy: $75.00	Ships: Free	$75.00	6 days 8 hrs 43 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Layton, UT, USA ZIP 84041 Shipping Type: Free Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: 62karmannghia Feedback: 2,382 / 100% See other items for sale from 62karmannghia
Buy Now »	Hamilton 19 Jewel, Grade 996 Pocket Watch, Railroad Grade, Factory Display Case
	Details » Buy Now for $289.99 »	Buy: $289.99	Ships: $5.00	$294.99	6 days 9 hrs 8 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: USA Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $5.00 Handling Time: 5 business days Seller: thefirstlarjones Feedback: 17,363 / 100% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from thefirstlarjones
Buy Now »	Illinois Pocket Watch - Railroad style - 11 Jewels Gold filled Case
	Details » Buy Now for $135.00 »	Buy: $135.00	Ships: Free	$135.00	6 days 10 hrs 17 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Longview, WA, USA ZIP 98632 Shipping Type: Free Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: longviewpawn Feedback: 1,971 / 100% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from longviewpawn
Buy Now »	TWO ENAMEL POCKET WATCH RAILROAD DIALS OMEGA + REGINA
	Details » Buy Now for $68.02 »	Buy: $68.02	Ships: Based on Zip	$68.02 Plus shipping	6 days 12 hrs 26 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Canada ZIP V9P1A4 Shipping Type: Calculated Handling Time: 1 business day Seller: savoy88 Feedback: 231 / 100% See other items for sale from savoy88
Buy Now »	BNSF Springfield Div Railroad Selco Geneve Wrist Watch Railroad Approved 2012
	Details » Buy Now for $94.99 »	Buy: $94.99	Ships: Free	$94.99	7 days 9 hrs 33 mins
	Item Condition: New Item Location: Fenton, MO, USA ZIP 63026 Shipping Type: Free Handling Time: 3 business days Returns Accepted Seller: mptcollectors Feedback: 1,305 / 100% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from mptcollectors
Buy Now »	Kronotron Pocket Watch Railroad Train Theme Wind Up Silver Tone
	Details » Buy Now for $39.99 »	Buy: $39.99	Ships: Free	$39.99	7 days 13 hrs 26 mins
	Item Condition: Used Item Location: Jacksonville, FL, USA ZIP 32256 Shipping Type: Local Pick-up Handling Time: 3 business days Returns Accepted Seller: trishastreasuresfla Feedback: 132 / 100% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from trishastreasuresfla
Buy Now »	DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE POCKET WATCH RAILROAD WORKER NEW DISNEY TIN RARE LOWER $$
	Details » Buy Now for $119.99 »	Buy: $119.99	Ships: $3.50	$123.49	8 days 3 hrs 17 mins
	Item Condition: New Item Location: Coventry, RI, USA ZIP 02816 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $3.50 Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: auctiontimes Feedback: 16,158 / 100% See other items for sale from auctiontimes
Buy Now »	Ancre Remontoir 15 Rubis Pocket Rubis LARGE Silver Pocket Watch - Railroad Motif
	Details » Buy Now for $1,100.00 »	Buy: $1,100.00	Ships: Free	$1,100.00	9 days 6 hrs 7 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Thousand Oaks, CA, USA ZIP 91362 Shipping Type: Free Expedited Shipping Handling Time: 1 business day Seller: citycountryboy Feedback: 1,497 / 98% See other items for sale from citycountryboy
Buy Now »	ANTIQUE ELGIN POCKET WATCH RAILROAD GRADE MONTGOMERY DIAL **
	Details » Buy Now for $29.95 »	Buy: $29.95	Ships: $5.00	$34.95	10 days 5 hrs 5 mins
	Item Condition: Pre-owned Item Location: Green Bay, WI, USA ZIP 54303 Shipping Type: Flat Rate Shipping Cost: $5.00 Handling Time: 1 business day Returns Accepted Seller: aa_and_jewelry Feedback: 24,048 / 99.9% Top-Rated Seller See other items for sale from aa_and_jewelry