Lantern & Globe Surveys: A&W "Reliable Lanterns

Following are known markings of "Reliable" railroad lanterns manufactured by the Adams & Westlake Company. Our thanks to everyone who has sent in markings! We welcome new markings. See Contact Us page.

Entries in the table have been modified for easier presentation. The following abbreviations are used to describe major style characteristics:

FV = Flat Verticals
RV = Round (wire) Vertical
1H = 1 Horizontal
2H = 2 Horizontals
WB=Wire Bottom
BB = Bell Bottom

Also, note that the type of fount (insert vs. drop fount or "twist-off" fount) is mentioned for only a few lanterns under "Comments." By the time Reliables were introduced, just prior to WWI, drop founts were falling out of favor (because they were falling out of lanterns), and most Reliables were made with insert founts. Finally, no distinction is made between the "1- piece" and "3-piece" top. Perhaps future versions of this list can include these additional distinctions.

MARKING

STYLE

COMMENTS

A&BB RR RV,1H,WB Akron Barberton Belt
A&WP RR RV,1H,WB
A Ry EXP Co FV,1H,WB
A Ry EXP Co RV,1H,WB
AA RR RV,1H,WB
AB&A RR RV,1H,WB Atlanta Birmingham & Atlantic
AE Ry RV,1H,WB Arizona Eastern or Arkansas Eastern?
AE&C RR FV,1H,WB Aurora Elgin & Chicago
AM Ry EXP Co FV,1H,WB
AT&SF Ry FV,1H,BB Adlake on fount
B&LET Co RV,1H,WB Buffalo & Lake Erie Traction
B&M RR FV,1H,WB
B&M RR RV,1H,WB
B&M RR RV,2H,WB
B&O RR FV,1H,WB
B&O RR RV,1H,WB
B&O RR RV,2H,WB
B&O RR FV,2H,WB
B&O RR FV,1H,BB
B&O RR LOCO FV,1H,WB
B&O RR LOCO RV,1H,WB
B.B.& B.C. RR. RV,2H,WB Bellingham Bay & British Columbia
BC&A Ry FV,2H,WB Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic
BC&A Ry RV,2H,WB Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic
BELT Ry RV,1H,WB
BT CO RV,2H,WB Beloit Traction Co.
BURLINGTON ROUTE FV,1H,WB
BURLINGTON ROUTE RV,1H,WB
C&A RR RV,1H,WB
C&A RR FV,2H,WB  
C&A RR RV,1H,WB 4" globe; Adlake 100 Globe Retainer
C&DT Co FV,1H,WB Cin Dayton Tract
C&EI RR RV,1H,WB
C&ET Co FV,1H,WB Clev & Erie Trac
C&IT Co FV,1H,WB Chicago & Interurban
C&IW RR FV,1H,WB Chicago & Illinois Western
C&JE Ry FV,2H,WB Chicago & Joliet Electric
C&NRR RR RV,1H,WB Columba & Nehalem River RR
C&NW Ry RV,1H,WB
C&OPE Ry RV,2H,WB Chic & Oak Park Elev
C&PS RV,2H,WB Columbia & Puget Sound
C&S Ry FV,1H,WB
C&S Ry RV,1H,WB
C&S Ry RV,1H,BB
C&W Ry RV,1H,WB
C&WI FV,1H,BB
C&WI BELT RR RV,2H,WB
C Co FV,1H,WB Connecticut
C o fG Ry RV,1H,WB
C RR FV,1H,WB
CR Ry RV,1H,WB Chestnut Ridge Railway
C Ry&LT Co RV,2H,WB Cairo (Ill)
C Ry P&Lt Co FV,1H,WB Columbus Ohio
CA&C Ry RV,2H,WB Cleveland, Akron & Columbus
CA&E RR RV,1H,WB  
CA&MV RR FV,1H,WB Clev Alli Mah Val
CARNEGIE STEEL Co RV,1H,WB
CC Co RV,2H,WB
CC Co RV,1H,WB
CC&CS RR RV,1H,WB
CCC&STL Ry RV,1H,BB
CD&ME Co FV,1H,WB Clmbs Del Mar Elec
CF&I Co RV,1H,WB Colorado Fuel & Iron Co.
CG&P Ry FV,1H,WB Cincinnati Georgetown & Portsmouth
CG&P Ry RV,2H,WB Cincinnati Georgetown & Portsmouth
CGW FV,1H,WB
CGW RR FV,1H,WB
CGW RR RV,1H,WB
CH&D Ry RV,1H,WB
CH&D Ry RV,2H,WB
CH&D Ry LOCO RV,1H,WB
CHICAGO ELEV RR S FV,1H,WB
CHT RR FV,1H,WB Chicago Hgts Term
CI&S RV,1H,WB Chicago Indiana & Southern
CI&W RR FV,1H,WB Cin Indpls & Wst
CI Ry RV,1H,WB Central Indiana Railway
CITY OF CHICAGO FV,1H,WB 1-piece top
CJ Ry FV,1H,WB
CJ Ry RV,1H,WB
CLS&SB RY RV,1H,WB  
CM&G Ry FV,1H,WB Chgo Milw & Gary Ry
CM&StP RR RV,1H,WB
CM&SP Ry FV,1H,WB
CM&StP Ry FV,1H,WB
CM&StP Ry RV,1H,WB
CMStP&P Ry FV,1H,WB
CN&ZE Ry FV,1H,WB Clmbs Nwk Znsvle
CN RR RV,1H,WB Cinc No- T/O Fount
C.N.R. RV,1H,WB Canadian National or Canadian Northern
CNE Ry RV,2H,WB
CNE Ry RV,1H,WB
CNO&TP Ry RV,1H,WB
CNS&M RR FV,1H,WB
CO&P RR RV,1H,WB Chicago, Ottawa & Peoria
CPR RV,1H,WB
CQMY FV,1H,WB
CRT Co FV,1H,WB Chgo Rapid Trans
CS&CCD Ry RV,1H,WB
CSL RY RV,1H,WB Chicago Short Line
CStPM&O Ry RV,1H,WB
CStPM&O Ry RV,2H,WB
CStPM&O Ry FV,2H,WB
CSW&C Ry FV,1H,WB Clev Swstn Colum
CSW&C Ry RV,1H,WB Clev SW Columbus
CT Co RV,1H,WB Conestoga Traction
CTH&SE Ry FV,1H,WB Chicago, Terre Haute & South Eastern
CV Ry RV,1H,WB
CV Ry FV,1H,BB "Shorty", Wood Bail
CV RR FV,2H,BB (Probably) Cumberland Valley
CWP&S RR RV,1H,WB Chicago West Pullman & Southern
D&H Co RV,2H,WB
D&H Co RV,1H,BB
D&H Co FV,2H,WB
D&H RR RV,2H,WB
D&H RR FV,2H,WB
D&I RR FV,1H,WB
D&I RR RV,1H,WB
D&SL RR RV,1H,BB
D&SL RR FV,1H,WB
D&SL RR RV,1H,WB
D&Sl RR FV,1H,BB
D&TE Ry FV,1H,WB Dayton Troy Elec
DC RR Co FV,1H,WB Delray Conn
DL&W RR FV,1H,WB
DL&W RR A RV,1H,WB
DM&N Ry FV,1H,WB
DM&N Ry RV,1H,BB
D.P & T. Co. FV,2H,WB Dominion Power & Transmission Co.
DRI&NW Ry RV,1H,WB Dvnprt, Rock Isl & NW
DSS&A Ry FV,1H,WB
DT&I RR FV,1H,WB
DU Ry FV,1H,WB Detroit United
DW&P Ry RV,1H,WB  
E&I RR RV,1H,WB Evansville & Indianapolis
E&OE Ry FV,1H,WB Unknown
E A Kinsey Co FV,1H,WB
EBT RR&C Co FV,1H,WB
EBT RR&C Co RV,1H,WB
EJ&E Ry FV,1H,BB
EJ&E Ry A RV,1H,BB
EMS Ry RV,1H,WB East Mass St
EP&SW FV,1H,WB
EP&SW RV,1H,WB
ERIE RR FV,1H,WB
ERIE RR RV,1H,WB Twist Off Fount
ERIE RR RV,2H,WB Twist off Fount
ES&S Ry FV,1H,WB E. St. Louis Sub
F&CC RR RV,1H,WB Florence & Cripple Creek
FEC Ry Co FV,1H,WB
FTDDM&S RR RV,1H,WB
FTW&DC RR FV,1H,WB
FtW&DC Ry RV,1H,WB
G RR FV,1H,WB Georgia
GC&SF Ry FV,1H,BB
GH&SA Ry RV,1H,WB Galveston Harrisburg & San Antonio
GN Ry FV,1H,WB
GN Ry RV,1H,WB
GN Ry RV,2H,WB Twist Off Fount
GR&I RR FV,1H,WB
GR&I Ry RV,1H,WB
GR&P Co. RV,1H,WB Georgia Railway & Power Company
GRH&C Ry RV,2H,WB Grnd Rpds Hlnd Chic
GS&F Ry FV,1H,WB Georgia Southern & Florida
GT Ry RV,2H,WB
GT Ry RV,1H,BB
GT Ry FV,1H,BB
GTR FV,1H,BB
GTW FV,1H,BB
H&TC RR RV,1H,WB
H EXP CO RV,2H,WB Hastings Express Co.
HV RR FV,1H,WB
HV Ry FV,1H,WB
HV Ry RV,1H,WB
I&CT Co RV,1H,WB Ind & Cincin
I&GN FV,1H,WB
I&GN RR FV,1H,WB
I Ry&Lt Co RV,1H,WB Indlps Ry & Light
IC RR FV,1H,WB
IC RR RV,1H,WB
IC RR RV,2H,WB
IGN Ry FV,1H,WB
IHB RR FV,1H,WB
IHB RR RV,1H,WB
ILL T SYS RV,1H,WB Illinois Traction System
IN RY RV,1H,WB Illinois Northern Ry - 3-piece top
INT Ry Co RV,1H,WB
IS Co FV,1H,WB Inland Steel
IT Co RV,1H,WB Ill Traction
IU RY RV,1H,WB Indianapolis Union
K&M Ry RV,1H,WB
KCM&O RR RV, 1H, BB Kansas City Mexico & Orient
KCS Ry FV,1H,WB
KCS Ry FV,1H,BB
KCT Ry RV,1H,BB
KCT Ry FV,1H,BB
KI&T RR FV,1H,WB
KST Co FV,1H,WB Key System
L&A Ry RV,1H,WB
L&M RR FV,1H,WB Lakeside & Marblehead
L&N RR RV,1H,WB
L&PS Ry FV,1H,WB Lond Port Stnly
LA&S RR RV,1H,BB Lorain Ashlnd Sou
LA&SL RR FV,1H,WB Los Angeles & S alt Lake
LC&N CO FV,2H,WB Lehigh Coal & Navigation
LE&W RR FV,1H,WB
LEF&C RR FV,1H,WB 4 inch Adlake 100 Globe
LH&StL Ry FV,1H,WB
LH&StL Ry RV,1H,WB Louisville, Henderson & St Louis
LS&I Ry RV,1H,WB Lake Superior & Ishpeming
LS&MS Ry RV,1H,WB
LSE Ry FV,1H,WB Lake Shore Elec
LSE Ry Co FV,1H,WB
LV RR FV,1H,WB
LVT Co FV,1H,WB
LVT Co RV,1H,WB Lehigh Val Trac
M&O FV,1H,WB
M&O RR FV,1H,WB
M&O RR RV,1H,WB
M&W RR RV,1H,WB Montpelier/Wells Rive
M Ry FV,1H,WB
M Ry RV,1H,WB
M Ry Co RV,1H,WB Monongahela (both 1-piece and 3-piece tops)
MC RR FV,1H,WB
MC RR RV,1H,WB
MC RR RV,2H,WB
MC RR RV,1H,BB Michigan Central
ME Ry&LT CO RV,1H,WB Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light
ML&T RR&SS Co FV,1H,WB
ML&T RR&SS Co RV,1H,WB Morgans La & Tex
MN Ry FV,1H,WB Milw North
MN Ry RV,2H,WB
MONON ROUTE RV,1H,BB
MONON ROUTE FV,1H,BB
MP FV,1H,WB
MSW Ry FV,1H,WB Unknown
MTH FV,1H,WB Mt Hood
M.R. R.R. RV,1H,BB Mineral Range
MWSE RR FV,1H,WB Metro WestSide El
MWSE RR RV,1H,WB
N&SS Ry FV,1H,WB Newburg So Shore
N&W FV,1H,WB
N&W RV,2H,WB
N&W FV,2H,WB
N&W RV,1H,WB
N&W Ry FV,1H,WB
N&W Ry RV,2H,WB
N&W Ry FV,2H,WB
NC&STL RR FV,1H,WB
NC&StL Ry RV,1H,WB
NCB RR RV,2H,WB Nevada Copper Belt
NJ&P TRACT Co FV,2H,WB NJ & Penn Tract
NMP&T Co RV,2H,WB No Mass Pwr Tract
NO&NE RR FV,1H,WB  
NOGN RR FV,1H,WB New Orleans Grt No
NOP&L Co FV,1H,WB N. Ohio Pwr & Lt
NOT&Lt Co FV,1H,WB
NOT&M RR FV,1H,WB
NOT&M Ry FV,1H,WB
NP RR RV,1H,WB
NP RR RV,2H,WB
NWE RR FV,1H,WB No Wes Elev
NWO Ry&P Co RV,2H,WB NW Ohio Ry & Power
NYC&StL RR FV,1H,WB 4 inch globe Adl 100 Glb Rtnr
NYC&STL RR RV,2H,WB  
NYC&STL RR RV,1H,WB
NYC RR FV,1H,WB
NYC RR RV,1H,WB
NYNH&H RV,2H,WB
NYNH&H RR RV,2H,WB
NYO&W Ry FV,RV,WB 6 inch globe
NYO&W Ry FV,2H,BB 6 inch globe
NYP&N RV,1H,WB
NYS Ry FV,2H,WB New York State Railway
O RR&N Co RV,2H,WB
OE Ry RV,1H,WB Ohio Elec or Oregon Electric
OR&W Ry RV,1H,WB Ohio River & Western
OSL RV,1H,WB
OSL RV,1H,WB
OSL RR FV,1H,WB
OW RR&N FV,1H,WB
OW RR&N Co FV,1H,WB
OW RR&N Co RV,1H,WB
OW RRN Co FV,1H,WB
P&LE RR RV,1H,WB
P&PU Ry RV,1H,WB
P&R Ry RV,2H,WB
P&R Ry FV,2H,WB
P&R Ry RV,2H,WB 6" globe; also version w/ interleaving base bands
P&S FV,1H,WB
P Ry Lt&P Co FV,1H,WB Portland Ry Light & Power (OR)
PAC ELECT Ry FV,1H,WB
PB&W FV,1H,WB
PB&W RR FV,1H,WB
PB&W RR RV,1H,WB
PE Ry FV,1H,WB
PE Ry RV,1H,WB
PEN Ry FV,1H,WB Peninsular
PENNSYLVANIA LINES FV,1H,WB
PENNSYLVANIA LINES RV,2H,WB
PEP FV,1H,WB
PEP Co FV,1H,WB
PERE MARQUETTE FV,1H,WB
PERE MARQUETTE RV,1H,WB
PLE RR FV,1H,WB
PNWT Co FV,1H,WB Pacific Northwest
PPRL&P FV,1H,WB Unknown
PRR FV,1H,WB Logo
PRR RV,1H,WB Logo (1923 model)
PRR RV,1H,WB
PRR FV,1H,BB
PS FV,1H,WB 3 1/4 logo globe
PS RV,1H,WB
PS FV,1H,WB Logo
PS Ry FV,WBBB
PS RyCo RV,2H,WB
PS&W RR RV,1H,WB  
PSR RV,2H,WB Public Serv (NJ)
P.S.T.Lt.& P Co RV,2H,WB Puget Sound Traction Light & Power
RF&P RR FV,1H,WB
RF&PWS RV,1H,WB Drop Fount
RF&P-WS FV,1H,WB Twist Off Fount
RI Co FV,2H,WB Rhode Island
ROCK ISLAND LINES FV,1H,WB
ROCK ISLAND LINES RV,1H,WB
RUTLAND RR FV,1H,WB
RUTLAND RR RV,1H,BB
S Ry Co RV,2H,WB  
S Ry Co RV,1H,WB  
S Ry Co FV,2H,WB  
SANTA FE FV,1H,BB
SANTA FE RV,1H,BB Adlake on Pot
SANTA FE A FV,1H,BB
S-BC Ry RV,WB,BB Sonora-Baja California Railway
SD&A Ry FV,1H,WB
SDE Ry RV,1H,WB San Diego Electric
SE RR FV,1H,WB Unknown
SE RR Co FV,1H,WB
SE RR Co RV,2H,WB
SFOT Rys RV,2H,WB San Fran Oklnd Term
SI Ry FV,1H,WB Spokane Int
SIRT RR FV,1H,WB Stat Is Rpd Tran
SIRT Ry RV,2H,WB
SL&U RR FV,1H,WB Salt Lake & Utah
SL&U RR RV,1H,WB Salt Lake & Utah
SOO LINE RV,1H,WB
SOUTHERN Ry RV,1H,WB
SP&S FV,1H,WB
SP&S Ry RV,1H,WB
SP Co FV,1H,WB
SP Co RV,1H,WB
SPS FV,1H,WB
S. Ry & E. Co. RV,2H,WB Sheboygan Ry & Electric
SS Ry RV,1H,WB Unknown
SSE RR RV,WBBB South Side Elev
SSt Ry FV,2H,WB Springfield Street
SSt Ry Co RV,2H,WB Springfield St
STLB&M Ry RV, 1H, WB St Louis Brownsville & Mexico
STLSW RV, 1H, WB St. Louis Southwestern
STLSY Co RV,2H,WB Twist Off Fount
S.V. R.R. FV,2H,WB Sumpter Valley
S.V. RY. FV,2H,WB Sumpter Valley
SV Ry & P Co FV,1H,WB Scioto Valley
SVT Co FV,1H, Scioto Valley
T&NO RR FV,1H,WB
T&OC Ry FV,1H,WB
T&OC Ry RV,1H,BB
T&P FV,1H,WB
T&T RR FV,1H,WB Tonopah/Tidewater
T&W RR FV,1H,WB Tidewater Wst
TA&G RR RV,1H,WB Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia
TBG&ST Co RV,2H,WB Tol Bowl Gr Sou
TC RR RV,1H,WB Tenn Cent
TC RR Co RV,1H,WB Tenn Cent (3 pc top)
TH&B Ry RV,1H,WB
THE NOT&L Co RV,1H,WB N Ohio Tract & Lt
TT RR FV,1H,WB Toledo Terminal
TT RR Co FV,1H,WB Toledo Terminal
UIC RR Co FV,1H,WB Utah Idaho Central Railroad
UNION PACIFIC FV,1H,WB
UNION PACIFIC RV,1H,WB
UP FV,1H,WB
US FV,1H,WB 4 1/4 Flat Lid
USY Co of O FV,1H,WB
UT Co. FV,2H,WB (with marker lamp bracket)
UT CO of IND RV,1H,WB Union Traction Co of Indiana
V&T Ry FV,1H,WB
V RR FV,1H,WB Virginian
V Ry FV,1H,WB Virginian
VRy RV,1H,WB Virginian
V Ry RV,2H,WB Vandalia
VC Co RV,1H,WB Ventura County Ry
VE RR FV,1H,WB Visalia Electric
VS&P RR FV,1H,WB Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific
VS&P Ry 1H,WB
W&LE RR FV,1H,WB
W&LE RR RV,1H,WB
W&LE Ry FV,1H,WB
W Ry&ECo RV,2H,WB Washington DC
W Ry of A FV,1H,WB
WABASH RR RV,1H,WB
WABASH RR RV,2H,BB
WABASH Ry RV,1H,WB
W-B & H Ry RV,1H,WB Wilkes-Barre & Hazleton Railway
WCF&N RR RV,1H,WB 4 1/8" globe Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern
WC St. Ry Co RV,1H,WB West Chicago Street Railway
WF&CO EXP FV,1H,WB
WIM FV,1H,WB Washington Idaho Montana
WM RR FV,1H,WB
WM Ry FV,1H,WB
WM Ry RV,1H,WB
WMW RV,2H,WB Unkwn (Mrkr Brkt)
WO Ry FV,1H,WB Western Ohio
WO Ry FV,1H,WB Western Oregon
WP RR FV,1H,WB Western Pacific
WP Ry RV,2H,WB West Penn
WP Ry FV,2H,WB Western Pacific (found in CA long ROW)
WS&AT CO RV 2H WB Wavery, Sayre, & Athens Traction Company
WT Co FV,1H,WB
WT Co RV,1H,WB Wash. Terminal
WT Ry RV,1H,WB Wabash Terminal
Y Rys FV,2H,WB York Rys

Footnotes:

  • All markings are reported as collectors have identified them. No attempt has been made to verify authenticity of any marking. The accuracy of this material is not guaranteed.
  • No ownership information is maintained with the survey listings. All new markings sent in for addition to the list are treated anonymously, and no ownership information will be disclosed.
  • Markings were originally published in "Key, Lock and Lantern" (#74, Winter 1984, p. 1251-1266) and have been modified here for better web presentation. Markings were originally published without periods although typically periods are included on the actual lantern (e.g. B&O RR = B.& O. R.R.). Matching initials with a specific railroad can usually be done by consulting one of the railroad name references by Edson or Gross. However, sometimes there is ambiguity due to the fact that the same initials (e.g. B&A RR) may stand for more than one railroad (e.g., Boston&Albany Railroad or Bangor&Aroostook Railroad).