24″ Railway Eagle

Product Description: This 24″ Railway Eagle is a stunning display piece. It has never been cleaned or polished, and has beautiful age patina that has built up in the recesses in a way that gives this bold-looking eagle a look of depth. This piece almost certainly saw use during WWII, as it shows typical weathering, with some slight corrosion in a few small areas. The details on the obverse are crisp and textbook for an original piece. This 24″ railway eagle is well marked on the reverse, with the maker mark of the firm “APAG” (a well-known maker of these). It’s also marked “G. Al. Mg. Si.” for metal content (galvanized aluminum, magnesium, silicon), ZA7 (presumably for “Zugadler 7,” Railroad Eagle 7), and “OLN” or possibly “BLN” for Berlin. The cast mounting lugs on the reverse of this eagle have been very cleanly removed, which was possibly period done to allow for an alternate mounting style. In the places where the mounting lugs were located, holes have been drilled and countersunk on the front, for mounting hardware. These railway eagles are extremely desirable and popular among collectors. This is a very striking example, in excellent condition.

Historical Description: During the Third Reich, all rail transport was nationalized and organized under the German Reichsbahn. Reichsbahn rail cars were state property and included everything from the locomotives used for transporting freight, to passenger cars, street cars and trolleys. In the Nazi era, and during WWII, the Reichsbahn adorned their locomotives and passenger rail cars with large metal decorative German eagle and swastika national emblems. These were made in various sizes and had a variety of finishes to suit different purposes and vehicle types. Generally, these eagles were manufactured from aluminum or zinc alloy, with integral threaded studs on the reverse that were used to affix these to the fronts of rail cars. These eagles had a striking and imposing appearance and were an iconic part of Nazi regalia. After the war, Allied denazification policies required these to be removed. Many were destroyed, though these were eagerly sought after by Allied troops hunting for souvenirs. They are extremely collectible and desirable artifacts today.

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