Subway Keys

[Subway_Keys]

Here are a few keys I have from the New York City Subway.
NYCT MDC Vapor key


NYCT HAFCO MDC key, same as the Vapor key but made by a cheaper provider


Old BRT cab key


IRT Gate key, used to unlock the gates between old subway cars


BMT cab key, the CTA in Chicago still uses a version of this key today without the cut out


I'll post more photos as I find them or if there is interest in them.

[MBI]

Nice assortment, thanks for sharing the pics.

Also, if you want you can upload pics directly into your forum post so you don't have to worry about keeping them in the same folder location in your external hosting account, to avoid the problem of broken links. That way if anything happens to any of the photo hosting sites, members here will still be able to enjoy the pictures.

[railtech]

Interested. Please post more pics and info.

[railtech]

I have some old brass keys that are marked ICRR (Illinois Central Railroad) that look very similar to that BMT cab key.

[darksim905]

Why does that first key have such an awkward bow? Make it goofy to carry or it's in a specific spot in a building key box?

[Riyame]

NYCS key. Anybody know what it is for?

[mercurial]

Here is a padlock that uses such a key : http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74&products_id=3170

Here is a link that(incorrectly?) describes it as an "Oiler's Key" : http://northshoretradingco.com/store/index.php?cPath=46&osCsid=vyxlubpnwpknra

...Mark

[Riyame]

Here is a padlock that uses such a key : http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=74&products_id=3170

Here is a link that(incorrectly?) describes it as an "Oiler's Key" : http://northshoretradingco.com/store/index.php?cPath=46&osCsid=vyxlubpnwpknra

...Mark

Oh, nice find, thank you.

[Papa Gleb]

Hey sweet to see NY stuff. I personally own one of those BMT cab key but without the cut out. I dont know about Chicago but they are still used in NY trains but not the brand new Kawasaki train all most all older ones. The key opens the doors between the train cars and also into the conductors boot

[Revinous]

Nice nyc keys. I my self live in NYC and looking for keys as well. Hopefully my collection can match or at least come close to what I've seen on here.

[railtech]

NYCS is New York Central System; the old freight and passenger railroad.

I believe "oiler key" may be accurate. I think it's describing a key to a lock that fits a flange lubricator. A flange lubricator puts oil on the rail/wheel interface to reduce friction (and wear) on the rail, usually on a very sharp curve or set of curves, where the rails would otherwise wear excessively.

[mercurial]

NYCS is New York Central System; the old freight and passenger railroad.

I believe "oiler key" may be accurate. I think it's describing a key to a lock that fits a flange lubricator. A flange lubricator puts oil on the rail/wheel interface to reduce friction (and wear) on the rail, usually on a very sharp curve or set of curves, where the rails would otherwise wear excessively.

Thankyou for your insight, I know very little about railways, or the locks and keys associated with them. I have now seen a few instances of that key being for a padlock, do you think it's possible that it is both a padlock key & an oiler's key?

...Mark

[railtech]

NYCS is New York Central System; the old freight and passenger railroad.

I believe "oiler key" may be accurate. I think it's describing a key to a lock that fits a flange lubricator. A flange lubricator puts oil on the rail/wheel interface to reduce friction (and wear) on the rail, usually on a very sharp curve or set of curves, where the rails would otherwise wear excessively.

Thankyou for your insight, I know very little about railways, or the locks and keys associated with them. I have now seen a few instances of that key being for a padlock, do you think it's possible that it is both a padlock key & an oiler's key?

...Mark

Flange lubricators are usually secured with a padlock.

[PhoneMan]

Railroad keys are cool, awesome info!

[escher7]

A hundred years ago when I was a bored little delinquent living in a small town, my co-conspirator and I found some railway keys in a junk store. Turned out they fit every lock in the local CPR yards' giving us access to the shacks full of flares and all kinds of other goodies. Back in the pre-computer days they used torpedoes to signal train engineers as they passed them. These things contained a very substantial charge of explosive that hooked onto the track and exploded when the train ran over them. Not being very smart back then, we decided to clip one on a rail and throw rocks at it until it exploded; which it did, blowing us both back about ten feet and deafening us for about a week.
Fortunately, my old man found the keys and confiscated them before we derailed a train.