My Pere Marquette Lantern Collection
Pere Marquette Lanterns
I love the history, and who doesn’t love the Pere Marquette 1225 in the Polar Express? The Flint / Pere Marquette started in the late 1800’s While the PMRY started in 1900. Their trains ran the rails across Michigan, Canada, Illinois, and New York. The Lanterns pictured below all have one thing in common. They all were used on the Pere Marquette Railway. I love the simplicity of design and the longevity of the railway lanterns. They served their purpose and manage to withstand the test of time. At over 100 years old, they look great restored as well as preserved and all work as they should. I would collect them all, but decided early on that there are too many railroads and too many versions to collect, so I settled on collecting primarily the Pere Marquette. Below is probably one of the largest collections of Pere Marquette railroad lanterns. Enjoy…
“The Adams” 1897 PMRR X 2
Two Adams and Westlake: (1) PMRR and (1) Pere Marquette Stamped lids. Older Bottom Twist-off Burners with Flat-Wire Frames and Pere Marquette Embossed Globes. 127 Years Old and both still look good as new. The one on the left with the dark patine was won in a Rail and Road Auction.
1910 Dietz #39 Standard Bell Bottom
Squat model version, called the "X.L.C.R." with an extended tall globe—etched PM RR.
A Rail and Road Auction Win.
Three of my favorite restored pieces. Cleaned to as close to factory condition as possible. (2) 1913 Reliables and (1) 1903 Adams (middle). They are beautiful to display and hard to believe well over 100 years old.
My favorite lanterns are the ones that tell a story and these two due exactly that. I cleaned them up, but I didn't wash away the story. They are preserved rather than restored. (2) 1913 Reliables. The comfortable leather wrapped grips, to the holes drilled in the lid to warm their hands, the paint used to protect them from rust all tells a lot about the life on the rails in the early days. Lanterns were a very important tool back in the day, every slight modification had its purpose. Now, they are works of art, filled with stories and history.
While the lanterns were great for giving off light and heat, the different colored glass globes gave off signals for the trains to operate at night. Each color has its own meaning. For example; White (clear) - Safe to proceed. Green - Proceed (white and green could be used together in certain circumstances). Yellow (Amber) - Proceed at reduced speed. Red - Stop or danger ahead, and Blue meant that men were working in the area. Pictured with a HO gauge or the Pere Marquette 1225 hauling freight.
Pictured above: Adam Westlake (AW, Adlake, Adams) Reliables (1912 double guard Reliable, many 1913 Reliables), 1895/1903 Adams (transitional), Adlake 100, 200, 250(s), Kero(s), a Dietz #39 Standard (Bell bottom) and two Adams 1897, all with embossed/etched and/or stamped with PM(s), PMRY(s), PMRR(s) and/or Pere Marquette. All railroad, dead-flame lanterns have original burners & founts with either wire, leather wrapped, or wooden bails.
Other PM, PM RY or PM RR Memorabilia
Pictured here is a step ladder used on the Pere Marquette Railway along with a Smudge Torch (PM RY embossed on the bottom) used for melting ice and an Oil can (PM RY embossed on the bottom) used on the engines. The ladder (PM RY Stenciled on both sides) is extreme sturdy (compared to today’s models. Steps are higher and farther apart.), made of oak and supported by a wide center leather strap. I use it for display as pictured.
PM RY Galvanized Oily Rag Waste Container
Repurposed and used as a waste basket in my home office. This item is fully functional with a little surface rust and some minor dents that could probably be bumped out, but I tend to like to leave things the way I find them, minus the dirt and grime of course. I’ll clean them up, but I like to leave the stories (the wonder) in them whenever possible; preserved rather than restored is my preferred choice and it usually ends up being one of my favorite finds.
Size: 24”T x 20” Diameter. Estimated date: Pre-1920 (There is no foot pedal to open lid hands free, and T hinges instead of the continuous piano hinge in later models.)
My entire collection of Pere Marquette Railway lanterns to date (13qty 8/23/24). I'm sure more have been added since and add to the carousel above. (Update 20qty 11/10/24).
Added hooks to the cabinet doors to display the “double guards” together (From left to rIght: Adams 1897, Adams 1897, Dietz #39 Standard 1910, Adams 1903, and Adlake Reliable 1912.)
A photo I took of the Pere Marquette 1225 (December 2023). It hangs proudly in our living room. It took First Place in the Best or Steam photo competition (Huckleberry Railroad & Crossroads Village 2024). Two 1913 Adlake Realible Lanterns with embossed globes bracket the photo. The Polar Express train displays on the shelf below. More info here.