Description:

Railroadiana- RARE Wooden Train Order Hooks and Hoop
One of the great things about this auction gig is what you learn and even though I come from a RR family (Grandpa was a Conducter, Uncle was an Engineer, Cousins were Gandy Dancers) I had no idea that these even existed. In an effort to keep the train a' movin railroad train orders (waybills, change in plans, additional freight to pickup, etc.) were passed from the station clerk to the train operator while the train was still moving! The clerk would attach the orders to the wooden hoop (shaped like a letter P) and hold it up close to the train. The train operator would catch the hoop over his extended arm, then take off the order and throw the hoop on the ground where the clerk could retrieve it. Later designs just attached the order to a string that was held on a forked stick. The operator would snatch the order and the string which would easily release from the fork. We have both styles of forks. All in good condition and ready to display. The earlier version hoop measures 41" in length and wood looks to be willow. The later versions measure 56" and 65" in length with forks willow as well. As you might guess, these are very rare to find, especially intact. The last photo shows this activity and is dated 1943. And if you want to read more.......
An excerpt on Trainsorders.com: Orders were "hooped" up by hand with a train order fork on the fly at all stations and train order offices in the early days of BN's Orin Line in the Powder River Basin and lines eminating from it, by diminutive female clerk operators, and we would bear down on them at the full 50 mph. Running the train, you'd lean way out and aim your arm for the middle of the fork, with fingers closed. Upon snagging it, the thick train order string would slap your arm so hard it would sting. Those female operators would stand right at the edge of the ballast with their lantern by their feet, sometimes visibly shaking. They would have both arms outstretched as high as they could with the orange train order fork for the head end, then stand right next to the train whooshing past to raise a second fork lower for the waycar crew. I always thought that would have had to be particularly unnerving at night and/or in inclement weather, and woe to anybody who missed the orders or didn't tie them to the string right!

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Items won will be available for pick up at our Auction House on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (September 5-7) from 3:00- 6:00 pm and again on Saturday, September 9 from 10:00am- Noon. Payment can be made by check, cash or credit card at pickup or online prior to pick-up. IMPORTANT: Please bring your own packaging and additional help if needed for loading items. All removals must be completed in a professional and tidy manner. Not responsible for accidents.

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September 4, 2023 6:00 PM EDT
Mt. Sterling, KY, US

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