Does anyone know what this key is!!

[JeanneCurt]

Hi again!  This is another auction box item that I can't seem to find any information about.  I have looked up the names on the key and these are towns in England but I don't know what the key is for.  It is about 7 1/2" long and it seems to be made of aluminum.  I think they said at the auction that they thought it  was an English locomotive key!

Thank everyone!
Jeanne

[waywardangler]

It is definitely a specialized key.  Not sure if it is a RR key as it is unlike our RR switch keys.  I wonder if it is not for the old time clocks that watchmen used that had to make the rounds?  They would put their key in the timeclock and it would record when they were there.

[fancypants]

What you have is known as a 'token key' , used on railway systems .

You can find out how your key was used , in conjunction with a Token Instrument at :

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/tokens.html

A token key & a Token Instrument in images below .