Description

Item Description For your consideration is an original 1955 Rails and Sails trading card issued by Topps (printed under their "T.C.G." trademark). This is Card #6, featuring the distinctive Camelback Loco of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. This iconic set is beloved by collectors for its vibrant, travel-poster style illustrations and detailed historical information on the reverse. Card History & Specs Year of Issue: 1955. Set Size: 200 cards total (130 "Rails" and 70 "Sails"). Subject: The "Camelback" or "Mother Hubbard" locomotive was a unique American design where the engineer’s cab was placed over the center of the boiler to accommodate a massive "Wootten" firebox designed to burn cheap anthracite waste coal. Train Stats (from card back): * Type: 4-6-0 Tractive Effort: 38,318 lbs Weight: 387,400 lbs Built: 1914 The "Land Grant" Fact The back of the card features a great educational "Did You Know?" snippet regarding railroad history: What was a Railroad "Land Grant"? Land given to railroads by the Government that they could sell to help pay construction costs. Condition Report Overall: Very Good (VG) vintage condition. Surface: The colors are bright and the registration is sharp. There is very light surface wear consistent with its age. Edges/Corners: Minor corner softening and light edge wear are visible. Reverse: The card back is clean and the text is fully legible. Please refer to the high-resolution scans for a detailed look at the centering and physical state.