RAILforum: Anyone know what this is???????

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Posted by KBM (Member # 1133) on :

I was at an antique store a few days ago, and in it they had a five -pointed iron star, about 1 1/2 feet in diameter that sat on top of a pole. The thing weighed a ton!!! The store owner thought it came from some railroad. Anyone have any idea from where it came, and what its purpose was? I appreciate your help.

Regards,
KBM

Posted by brakie (Member # 1131) on :

That sounds to me that star may have been a ornamet that was used to decorate the front
of a steam engine cylinder.This was practice
in the late 1800's. But, I have no way of knowing for sure.This is just a guess.