Need help with ID please

front reads WAY 2220
back reads NYCRR
measurement: 1 5/8" X 1 1/4"

Looks like it might be a baggage tag  The NYCRR probably stands for New York Central Railroad  Formed March 17, 1853
the other latters and numbers I can't help with. Sorry

Tool check tag?
 

Scott

Looks like it might be a baggage tag  The NYCRR probably stands for New York Central Railroad  Formed March 17, 1853
the other latters and numbers I can't help with. Sorry

Nice find. Yep. its an 1800's Way Check.  Could be New York Connecting RailRoad. Here are some baggage check examples. http://www.tagtown.net/robbins.html  They are collectible. Nice find.

Not exactly sure what a Way Check means but its definitely a baggage check tag used by railroads.

i figured way short for wayword 

way as in way station ( transfer point ) a bag (along with its owner / passenger) going from place A to place B might have to transfer at a station "along" the way -- thus its a transfer tag --it tells the porters to transfer the bag unto the other train

According to my brief research, the "way" number is the number of a particular train and/or final destination. Thus the bag(s) would be continually transferred along the "way" (as already mentioned) until they reached there final destination.

It might be of interest to research the no. 2220 and see which train/destination it refers to. Maybe there is still an unclaimed bag waiting to be picked up that contains some cold hard cash from yesteryear.  I know, I know ... I watch "way" too many old movies!  

History

The New York Central Railroad was formed on March 17, 1853 by the consolidation of a number of smaller railroads between Albany and Buffalo. In 1867 Cornelius Vanderbilt gained control of the New York Central Railroad and on November 1, 1869 he merged it with his Hudson River Railroad to for the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad.


This narrows the age gap down on your piece considerably I would think. Nice piece.

EDIT- I guess it could have still been used after the date of the merger.

Please bare with me here ... my ongoing research is a little sketcy at best.

(See photos below)

I discovered there was a Long Island Railroad train no. 2220 that went to the Central Islip mental hospital about three or four days a week. The Hospital was near the end (in 1906) of the railroad's line to Ronkonoma, New York (Long Island).

The photo of the time table shows the train no. 2220 to Ronkonoma.
The other photo involves the hospital itself, and is dated August 16, 1906.
The hospital is now closed and abandoned.

Of course, I can't be certain the way tag shown here was for the mental hospital station, nor if there was a connection between the NYCRR and the Long Island railroad, but my meandering around the internet suggest there may have been one. Plus, from what I've gathered, the Islip hospital was a popular destination on the rail line for visitors to the facility. Perhaps I need to be committed to that mental hospital myself!  Oops! I forgot ... it's closed!  Sorry - no can do!  

Was it found in Michigan?

        I may be on the wrong "track" here ... but it's been a fun ride so far!

  The attached photos show the railroad line and location of both Ronkonkoma and Central Islip, New York.

           Just say the word and I will commit myself into that mental hospital!


                                                        

cool stuff guys!!!!! crazy....?                         

way as in way station ( transfer point ) a bag (along with its owner / passenger) going from place A to place B might have to transfer at a station "along" the way -- thus its a transfer tag --it tells the porters to transfer the bag unto the other train

Great "Complete" ID

I recant my earlier connection with the number 2220 as being connected to the Central Islip mental hospital. Central Islip and Ronkonkoma were two seperate train stations, and the 2220 seems to be directly connected to the Ronkonkoma station only. Plus there is still a little confusion on my part regarding the NYCRR vs LIRR.

        Please don't hold it against me ... remember ... I'm a mental patient!

And just to show my intent is in the right place, here's a photo of the Ronkonkoma station as it looked in 1900.

Final P.S.   If I have to spell out and type R-O-N-K-O-N-K-O-M-A one more time, I will go crazy!   ( Not to mention, I'm still not exactly sure how to pronounce it! )

Here's another train schedule from the same time period showing a reference to the Ronkonkoma station under the number 2229 ... so if I wasn't confused before, I am now!  At least the 22 part is the same, and the differation in the numbers 20/29 seems to refer to AM vs PM.  I just dunno ... and I'm calling it quits with this one before I go totally bonkers!  

 

That's quite cool, actually. I think the tag is definitely "New York Connecting Railroad", and the guy who lost it might have transfered to the LIRR at Jamaica? (It's still hell doing that today!) I don't believe the New York Connecting Railroad went out onto the Island like the LIRR, it's also interesting to note that the LIRR was taken over by the Pennsylvania Railroad around 1900, and a "connecting railroad" would probably have been obsolete by 1911 when the Pennsylvania Station opened in Manhattan, along with Alexander Cassatt's tunnels under the Hudson and East Rivers. I would say it's pre 1900, but what do I know?

Hope that helped,
 - Teddy

sodabottlebob it shows your research is crazy....uhhhh difficult...you know.     

really it's wonderful to read. i sure couldn't have done what you've done and doubt few others could do what you have done. it's going to take a railroad collector expert to identify the reason for the #2220.

i would like to offer my GUESS on why the numbers change for the stations. the tokens had to be distributed at many stations so they could label baggage going to station 2220. then a majority of all the 2220 tags would eventually arrive in the hands of station 2220. at some point causing other stations to run low on #2220. then it would be assigned to another station. and the number would be distributed again only station #2220 already has their allotment.
or not....?

Scroll down for some good maps of the NYCRR which appears to have gone to Michigan where it was most likely found. Was it found in Michigan Jerry/MI?   http://www.answers.com/topic/new-york-central-railroad

Brass baggage tags were going out of style to paper soon after the turn of the century.

here's a site that explains the tags & numbers came in pairs. one to the passenger and one left on the bag. for id at destination. may be that simple?

http://railroadiana.org/hw/pgBaggageTags.php

here's a site that explains the tags & numbers came in pairs. one to the passenger and one left on the bag. for id at destination. may be that simple?

http://railroadiana.org/hw/pgBaggageTags.php

I think you are correct. It is simply a baggage number.

it may only be a baggage  number,  but what an excellent find

First I would like to thank all of you for your help it has been very interesting to say the least.
Second: yes it was found in Michigan, approximately 20 miles south of Grand Rapids.

Thanks again

You may surprised at the value. Check them out on eBay.

Check this out.  http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,249336.html

Thanks intimer,    and to all the rest as well. I told you I was an escapee from a mental hospital, but no one would listen to me. I was on the wrong track all along, but I now know "way" more about railroad lines and baggage tags than I did when I woke up this morning. Which is a good thing considering I never even heard of a baggage tag before today. By the way, if anyone ever finds anything related to the Long Island Railroad, let me know. I'm kind of a suedo expert on it after today's research.

Thanks again to all for putting me on the right track, and for not repremanding me for my erronious information. Well, I guess I better quit while I'm ahead. Besides, that's all the big words I know anyway!

P.S.  Why didn't somebody tell me the darn thing was found in Michigan? I thought MI stood for "Mental Institution!"  

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,259097.0.html

If you feel this is solved,

Go back to your original post,

Click on Modify,

Click on Message icon down arrow,

Click on Solved,

The Green Check will appear


Here is a photo tutorial to help you through that process.

thanks for the tip on tagging solved.  This is my first time posting here so I didn't know this.

Jerry

thanks for the tip on tagging solved.  This is my first time posting here so I didn't know this.

Jerry

I have to remind people that have been here for 5 years lol.  Welcome to TN.

And for those among us who are technically minded, or should I say technically "re-minded," this may help.  

Just bored here! Please don't take me too seriously!

SOLVED

     I get the "picture," and like your's a whole lot way more better than mine!

                 Here's a photo of me in the 1970's ... need I say more?

        P.S. That Deodora Cedar tree I'm standing next to is over 50 foot tall now!


Thanks.

SODA"JERK"BOB

               I just couldn't resist this one ... but I promise this is the last!

              And if anyone wishes to use this for a future post, you're welcome to do so.

                                                    

..but this is solved.     

  
I knew that. I just posted the photo of the Life magazine for the heck of it because we (I) got side tracked with those other images regarding the reminder to mark a topic solved.  I was just emphasising the difference between Solved and Not Solved . My morning coffee hadn't kicked in yet, and I'm really not sure what I was thinking. I guess I was just trying to use my alien form of communication, which requires imagery, to say it was a mystery to me that someone who has been a Tnet member for five years would need reminding to check-mark a topic solved. And seeing as how I'm just sticking my foot farther and farther in my mouth, I'll leave it at that and thank you for not yelling at me.  

  

  

as I say to the waitress --check please.