Collection of 83 RR Dating Nails

Object/Artifact

-

Chester Historical Society

Collection of 83 RR Dating Nails: The image shows many rusty, numbered nails arranged on a paper sheet, with some grouped and others scattered.
Collection of 83 RR Dating Nails

The image shows many rusty, numbered nails arranged on a paper sheet, with some grouped and others scattered.

Name/Title

Collection of 83 RR Dating Nails

Entry/Object ID

chs-014679

Description

Paul Orsini collected these several decades ago along the Chester area(and other Orange County communities) as he surveyed properties along RR rights of way including: Erie Main and Branch lines. L&H RR O&W - - - Round indented: 14 27 28 (3 ea) 29 (2 ea) 30 (7 ea) 31 (10 ea) 32 (3 ea) 33 (4 ea) 34 35 (3 ea) 36 (14 ea) 37 (3 ea) 38 (3 ea) 39 (7 ea) 40 (2 ea) 41 42 43 44 45 (2 ea) 48 49 (3 ea) 52 53 54 (3 ea) 55 (4 ea) Round Raised: 34 39 51 58

Context

Typically, a date nail is a nail with the date stamped in its head. For example, a nail with a "41" is from 1941. They are usually 2 1/2" long, with 1/4" shanks. Date nails were driven into railroad ties, bridge timbers, utility poles, mine props, and other wooden structures for record keeping purposes.

Category

Railroads

Acquisition

Notes

6/27/2013 Gift from Paul Orsini.

Made/Created

Date made

1914 - 1958

Notes

1914-1958

Dimensions

Height

1.7 cm

Width

1.7 cm

Depth

6.5 cm

Dimension Notes

83 nails.

Create Date

January 14, 2025

Update Date

July 7, 2025