History of Railroad Pocket Watches

Learn about Railroad Pocket watches as Conductor Parker talks about their history and how they were essential to the railroad.

[@winstonlanda7731]

My purchase of a Seiko SVBR003 brought me here. I sincerely hope you are still passionate about trains and railroad watches. You seem like such a lovely person and your happiness was contagious for me watching this at 8pm in Los Angeles. Cheers.

[@brianfuller7691]

Literally, it's about time. Railroad watches were so iconic in railroad history and horological history.

[@ronch550]

Wow this video taught me a lot. What a great time in history.

[@michaelbauers8800]

Nicely done video. Technically, I think for a second hand to be a sweep second hand, it must be concentric with the other hands.

[@Pindi44]

Very good thank you. I am so fascinated by American railroad grade watches that I have bought a few, Waltham, Elgin, Illinois, and Hamilton. They are wonderful pieces.

[@zioqqr4262]

the way he shouted All Aboard was phenomenal

[@hawkeyepierce3199]

Awesome history lesson! 👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@skipinkoreaable]

Awesome video. What a timeless masterpiece.

[@cowboy87smith3]

Railroads did so much to change America from the Civil War until the age of the United States Highway in 1950's on

[@Huitzinga]

What a lovely sound.

[@themaicky3209]

Great historical video

[@Midwestrailexcursions]

Thank You!

[@themaicky3209]

Midwest Rail Excursions You're welcome

[@user-ro9wm3ku1w]

good video , I really enjoy this video , the best

[@letsgetlucky_]

Excellent!

[@Welther47]

You most love your job :)

[@rickylandry9979]

I have this same Hamilton conductors pocket watch. It has all the engravings on the inside of the case from every year it was in service and got checked out by a watch smith to make sure it was working correctly. I actually had an appointment with antique roadshow to have it checked out and so they could tell me the history of the watch. But covid hit and they canceled it

[@Midwestrailexcursions]

Check out PocketWatchDatabase.com. You can enter the serial number stamped on the back of the watch’s mechanism and the site will provide you with a rundown of info on the watch.

[@rickylandry9979]

@@Midwestrailexcursions thank you so much I did not know this! I would love to learn the history on this watch. It has very fancy 3 letter initials engraved on the back of the case too.

[@GonzoJamie]

I recently bought my first pocket watch - 122 year old Tiffany dial Patek Philippe and I’m completely and emotionally in love.

[@blu-rae864]

lucky

[@Shannonbarnesdr1]

very cute video, i couldn't help but make my jokes while i did genuinely enjoy the video, all i could think was , ohh this guy is full on aspie lol... but seriously have you thought about hosting childrens educational shows? you have a good entertainment to you but atthe same time fun yet upbeat and calm way of presenting material, and your screen moniker, conductor Parker, youd be a shoe - in for a educational childrens show

[@tingowango2576]

I really liked this.but I wonder if civillain we're allowed to carry Hunter cased watches if they perhaps passengers riding from point a to point b

[@danieleastvedt3139]

Oh yes, the standards for railroad grade watches only applied to those used by railroad employees for official time keeping.

[@paducahandlouisvillerailro1694]

I have a westclox pocket watch

[@Stillrocks33]

I learned a few things!

[@asmrcreep8697]

whoa quality video. I'm surprised you only have 5k views

[@Midwestrailexcursions]

ASMR Creep, thank you sir! Feel free to share the video so others can see it, and don’t forget to subscribe!

[@captain_ravioli1514]

Ha dto set them every 30-40 hrs or every 10 days with some watches so how did they keep time?

[@DIYKAI]

Good video but you moved the hour hand and it was off set lol

[@larryblack5963]

For the railroad, can they carry watches that can close, or are they not allowed?

[@Midwestrailexcursions]

Christopher Platt, The General Railroad Timepiece Standards that were adopted in 1893 required all railroad timepieces to be open face, meaning that they were not able to have a cover or “close”. Prior to these regulations it is likely that some conductors may have used pocket watches with a cover.

[@larryblack5963]

@@Midwestrailexcursions Ok, thanks for the info. Is it still required today?

[@Midwestrailexcursions]

Christopher Platt, Today the use of radios, automatic block signals, and central computer tracking of trains has lessened the role of the railroad watch on many railroads, yet watch requirements still remain important to safe railroad operation. On the Union Pacific, for example: Rule 1.48 Time: While on duty, crew members must have a watch. Other employees must have access to a watch or clock. The watch or clock must: • Be in good working condition and reliable. • Display hours, minutes, and seconds. • Not vary from the correct time by more than 30 seconds. • Be compared with the time source designated in special instructions.

[@larryblack5963]

@@Midwestrailexcursions Thank you for the info. I would really like to become a conductor when I grow up and love hand-winding pocketwatches, but it is hard to find them with seconds.

[@quickhistory8633]

I don’t think that pocket watch he had was railroad grade because the railroads only used the crown setting watches in the beginning until lever set came out, because the crown could be pulled out and the time could be changed easily- other than that good video.

[@Midwestrailexcursions]

Quick History, I can assure you this is a railroad grade watch. It is a 21J lever set Hamilton.

[@quickhistory8633]

@@Midwestrailexcursions oh excuse me for that, I did not know it was lever set, but a 21j is a nice watch, sorry for that.

[@TheBlackSheepDiaries]

May get some fun from a history lesson of sorts about a FOB I found metal detecting recently. Just got it up at my spot here, it's got quite an interesting history. Grandfather was a train engineer/conductor in south Georgia.

[@Welther47]

Is it just me or is it impossible to get a new mechanical pocket watch with more than 17 jewels? Are they simple not made anymore?

[@G1NZOU]

They're still made, just the number of jewels are related to the amount actually needed by the movement for low friction bearing points, a lot of modern mechanical movements have settled on a set number. There was a time where watch companies were just putting extra jewels in where they weren't needed, just to boast a higher jewel count.

[@barrel_of_toast]

So. Many. Preferences.

[@illusion1188]

Did you got Wi-Fi

[@billyshipley6634]

So what is and a 1807waltham railroad watch worth

[@IR0N1]

I love history

[@Midwestrailexcursions]

Thanks for watching! Feel free to subscribe for more railroad history videos!