I’ve got a brass HO scale 2-6-6-2 from a logging line that most people have never even heard of — it took me years to track one down. I usually stick to mountain short lines from the 1940s and 50s, so every piece feels like it belongs in a living story rather than just sitting on a shelf. The best find was a beat-up caboose I rescued at a swap meet; turned out it was from a limited run, and I only recognized it because of an old ad I’d seen in a magazine. I’m still debating whether to restore it or leave the weathering as proof of its age.
There’s something special about those lesser-known railroads or rare pieces that don’t always make the headlines but tell incredible stories. Maybe it’s a boxcar from a short line no longer in service, a steam loco with a limited production run, or even a timetable or ticket stub from a bygone era.
What’s the most unusual or historically interesting item in your collection?
Do you focus on a particular road name, region, or time period?
Any pieces with a story behind how you found them?
