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The item you are viewing is an antique cast iron plaque, an authentic cast emblem from the original 1883–1889 \"Brakemen\" era. This is an original piece minted during the union\'s first six years before the 1889 name change makes it a highly coveted piece of early American railroadiana. The Center Star & Lantern: A five-pointed star frames a traditional railroad conductor/brakeman lantern at the direct center, which signifies vigilance, safety, and direction. An authentic cast iron emblem from the original 1883–1889 \"Brakemen\" era, Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen (B.B.R.R.), prior to it\'s name change to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (B.of RT). This piece dates back to the late 1910s to the 1930s. The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was founded in 1883, but the specific styling of the eagle, the bold serif lettering, and the thick, heavy sand-cast brass composition are textbook characteristics of railroad union pieces produced during the height of the rail era between WWI and World War II.
When this labor union was first founded in Oneonta, New York, in September 1883, it was originally named the Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen. In 1889, the union officially expanded its membership to include conductors and switchmen, changing its name to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (B. of R.T.).
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