Category: Railroad Memorabilia
Approximate Date: 1900-1930
Location: Roanoke, Virginia
Description
The Norfolk & Western Railway (N&W) predominantly used “pancake” brass locks (or push-key padlocks) from the late 1800s through the 1930s.
These flat, round locks were largely manufactured for N&W by companies like the Miller Lock Co., Slaymaker, and Yale, and were opened by pushing a specialized key into the bottom slot and pushing it in firmly rather than turning it.
Historical Significance
The Norfolk & Western Railway played a central role in the growth and development of Roanoke and the surrounding region. Founded in the 19th century, the railroad transformed Roanoke from a small community into one of the most important railroad centers in the United States. Thousands of local residents worked for the railroad, and generations of families built their livelihoods around its operations.
Brass “pancake” locks such as this one were used throughout the Norfolk & Western system to secure railroad property, equipment, switch stands, storage facilities, and other operational assets. While small in size, these locks were essential tools that helped keep the railroad functioning safely and efficiently.
Today, surviving N&W locks are tangible reminders of the railroad’s impact on the Roanoke Valley. They represent the workers, craftsmen, engineers, conductors, and railroad families who helped shape the region’s economy and identity. Artifacts like this help preserve the story of Norfolk & Western’s legacy and its lasting influence on Roanoke’s history as a railroad town.
Collection Notes
This brass Norfolk & Western Railway lock was part of the J.W. “Josh” Holcomb Collection in Roanoke, Virginia. The lock was acquired by J.W. Holcomb from the late Chris Spraker of Salem, Virginia, a respected collector who maintained one of the largest railroad lock collections in Southwest Virginia. Today, it serves as a reminder of the region’s rich railroad heritage and the collectors who helped preserve it.
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