Hello,
Many of you not only collect model trains, but also other RR related memorabilia.
Maybe you can help me out, telling me about this lapel pin?
I tried to google information about it, but couldn’t find anything.
What purpose, what era, any value (I doubt it), and where I might find more info about it.
Thanks!
It’s so hard to find information of lapel pins like that. I also have one but there is no one who know its information.
The BNSF used the circle-cross herald from 1996 through 2005, so that’s your pin’s era.
MSC on the back might refer to MSC Industrial Supply Co., and the number might have been their toll-free number back then?
Would anyone know what the rule S 131.5 means? I tried looking it up. Thanks!
It is a BNSF Mechanical Safety Rule: S-13.1.5 Riding in or on Moving Equipment
https://bnsfcontractor.com/master/documents/BNSF_Mechanical_Safety_Rules_Jan_2015.pdf
Take a look at pages 77 to 79.
Rich
Over the years I’ve come across many railroad safety ‘trinkets’ (tchotchke) for lack of a better word. Shot glasses, picknick coolers, all sorts of clothing, hats etc. ash trays, pin backs, flashlights and, well, you name it.
One of my faves is this PRR driving wheel paper weight:
PRR_Big-Wheel-near by Edmund, on Flickr
PRR_Big-Wheel by Edmund, on Flickr
Back in 2003 I was a guest at BNSF’s training center in Overland Park, Kansas. There were lots of railroad-labeled handouts passed around. I think I still have a set of golf balls around here somewhere!
Here’s a sampling: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=bnsf+pin&_sacat=0
I like the one that proclaims ‘Best Derailment Performance’ “Wow, Joe, you really messed up that one… here’s a pin!”
Might be fun to see what others have?
Cheers, Ed
I’m pretty sure that this pin was never commercially available. Rather, it was ordered by BNSF to award to its employees (certainly along with an appropriate certificate) when they concluded a training course on the referenced sujbect. As such, they would have little if any value, let alone available information. The above reference to MSC as a supplier is probably correct.
I suppose that one’s cap, jacket, lapel or overalls could be festooned with a slew of these if a font-line employee had been around for a while. If not worn they were filed in a drawer or trash can and were forgotten. Among some, they were affectionately called “hardware”. Somewerre proud to tote them, others saw them as metallic yada,yada. [:-^]
Attuvian John
Thanks sir!
Do such similar pins exist for other rail lines?
Yes. Along with years of service pins and special programs that railroads instituted for safety awareness. An eBay search for railroad safety pin will bring up dozens.
I have various safety and years of service award ‘giveaways’ for many railroads. Even the Bessemer & Lake Erie got into the game.
Bessemer Safety Pin by Edmund, on Flickr
Good Luck, Ed
Thank you all for the responses! I don’t plan on selling it, but rather display it somewhere in my train room.