Star Union Line PRR Brass Car Key SU Line

Notes

The Star Union Line was chartered in 1863 as a freight forwarder line connected to the Pennsylvania Railroad. Prior to the Star Union Line, freight had to be transferred between freight cars when traveling between different railroads. The Star Union Line pioneered the “through freight” service when freight remained with the originating car and the whole car was carried along various railroads to its destination, eliminating or reducing the number of freight transfers along the route.
This Union Brass key may have been one of the original Star Union keys used on a Union Brass freight lock, which is different from the known Watt & Co. freight lock. This key may date back to the Civil War era, though there is scant data to confirm. The 1884 Union Brass catalog does show this key as their #2 key, as it is longer than the standard switch key.