One of the most fascinating historical collectibles is the tableware that was used to serve railroad passengers on trains and in depots. This area of collecting is not for the faint of heart: examples can be hard to find and sometimes very expensive, and it’s frustrating because there are so many reproductions and phonies created by unscrupulous sellers to make a buck off the unwary! But you’ll also enjoy learning about an important aspect of American history, and saving actual artifacts is highly rewarding.

Because mistakes can be very expensive, the best advice for a new railroad china collector is to educate yourself before making a serious investment! The more you learn, the more you’ll understand how little you know. Read as much as you can about rail passenger dining and learn about china manufacturers and patterns. You’ll soon realize that just as important as recognizing the real McCoy is the ability to recognize fakes. Two railroad china guides have stood out as dependable stand-bys: "Dining on Rails" by Richard Luckin and "The Official Guide to Railroad Dining Car China" by Douglas McIntyre. Buy both if you possibly can. Online, the Railroadiana Collectors Association Inc. (RCAI) provides a wealth of collecting
information at http://www.railroadcollectors. org.

The next step is to decide what to collect. Does a particular railroad line hold special interest (perhaps from family experiences, or a certain region of the country may appeal to you)? How much space do you have to display your collection (individual creamers take less room than large plates)? Or perhaps you simply find a particular pattern attractive.

Locating pieces to buy is a difficult but rewarding treasure hunt. As with any other field of collecting, buy from reputable sellers. The absolute best place to get started is a railroadiana trade show (see the Calendar on the RCAI website) where you will find authentic china pieces to compare and experts willing to help a newcomer. You may find railroad items at auction houses, antique stores and even tag sales. Ruby Lane and other online stores offer a good selection, but general line sellers may not be railroadiana experts – check out their claims before buying. We advise newcomers to avoid flea markets because that is where so many fakes originate.

eBay is a good source for authentic railroad china, but it’s buyer beware because fakes and bad deals abound. Before you bid, spend some time looking at dining item category listings. If there are numerous auctions for similar pieces (example, the tiny phony butter - sugar and creamer sets, often with different logos but always the same ware), that’s a red flag because railroad china shouldn’t be "that" common! Remember that an eBay seller’s feedback isn’t foolproof. Some sellers may not be knowledgeable; others may be less than reputable. Look for sellers who guarantee satisfaction and money-back returns.

In general, fewer high quality pieces create a better collection than larger numbers of lower end, less valuable ones. Railroad china value is determined by balancing the rarity and condition of each individual piece. Some badly damaged items are worth next to nothing; an incredibly rare piece may be valuable in any condition. Some light surface wear is expected/acceptable because most of these pieces were actually used aboard dining cars, but heavy scratches and glaze loss seriously reduce value, as do cracks, chips and repairs. Railroad collectors are more forgiving of manufacturer’s flaws: color runs, kiln stand scars, glaze misses, a small spot of dirt in the glaze.

These are just a few tips for getting started in a difficult but highly rewarding collecting field. Good luck!

Jane Silvernail
Times Treasures Railroad and Country Collectibles on Ruby Lane
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/timestreasures