P.R.R. toy coal car (jan 1, 1894 – jan 1, 1929)

Description:

This cast iron toy train bears the letters "P.R.R." of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, started in 1846. It likely belongs to the Washington 44 Train Set. It would have included an engine as well as passenger cars with "44" and "Washington" in relief.

Whether the train was a nod to local pride in the Portsmouth, Great Falls, and Conway railroad (est. 1865), a hobby item, or a toy for a Welch grandchild we can't know. Similar to their collection of patriotic and military paraphernalia, the car shows the Welch's adoption of American identity through material culture.

This set was likely produced by Hubley, which created model trains in Lancaster, Pennsylvania between 1894 and 1909. Many 1950s and 1970s reproduction's of the original set exist today, shown in the third photo.

The toy train set was based off of a steam locomotive similar to the image from the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.