RARE CHRONOLOGICAL THREE-CARD RAILROAD ARCHIVE: 1934, 1938, & 1942 PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD ANNUAL PASSES ISSUED TO WABASH RAILWAY DISTRICT CLAIM AGENT RUDOLPH C. LEMKE

Up for auction is a magnificent, highly desirable piece of American industrial history: a consecutive, three-part run of original Pennsylvania Railroad annual passes spanning a pivotal decade in American transit (1934–1942).

What makes this lot exceptionally rare is its unbroken provenance. All three passes were issued as executive "exchange passes" to the exact same high-ranking rail official: Rudolph C. Lemke, District Claim Agent for the Wabash Railway Company.

About Rudolph C. Lemke & The Wabash Connection

Born in Indiana in 1893, federal census records place Rudolph Lemke right in the heart of American rail history: Decatur, Illinois. Decatur served as the ultimate operational hub for the Wabash Railway, housing their massive locomotive shops and divisional offices.

As a District Claim Agent, Lemke was a vital corporate asset. He acted as the railroad's chief field investigator, on-scene accident adjuster, and legal risk manager. Because the Wabash intertwined heavily with competing networks, the Pennsylvania Railroad issued Lemke these premium passes so he could travel seamlessly across state lines to settle high-stakes cargo disputes, investigate rail incidents, and secure vital transit lanes.

The Archive Includes:

1. 1934 PRR Annual Pass (Serial No. WE 22393): Features a striking coral/pink gradient border. Issued during the heights of the Great Depression, this card restricts travel to the "Western and Central Regions", reflecting Lemke's early regional mid-western territory.

2. 1938 PRR Annual Pass (Serial No. WE 19514): Features a beautiful mint-green border. This pass documents a major career milestone—Lemke's territory was upgraded to "OVER ENTIRE SYSTEM," granting him sweeping coast-to-coast travel privileges. Features a crisp hand-signed signature by Lemke on the right-hand margin.

3. 1942 WWII Era PRR Annual Pass (Serial No. WE 22053): A historic cream-bordered pass issued during the first full year of United States involvement in World War II. During this strict wartime conservation era, paper and clearance were tightly regulated. This pass features a fascinating, rare handwritten ink extension notation ("Feb 28-43"), proving Lemke was considered an "essential worker" whose travel clearance was extended by the railroad to keep wartime logistics moving. The reverse side features the authentic purple stamped restriction: "Not good for regular or daily travel between residence and place of business."

Condition Report

All three pieces of ephemera are in Excellent Vintage Condition overall. They feature perfectly crisp typography, vibrant original ink tones, and intact scalloped/perf edges. The 1942 wartime pass shows standard light age-toning and mild handling smudges consistent with real-world field use, alongside a tiny vintage piece of tape at the very top edge. All cards have been meticulously preserved and stored inside clear, protective collector's sleeves.

Shipping & Handling

This lot will be shipped securely in its protective sleeves, reinforced with heavy cardboard backing to prevent any bending or damage during transit. Tracked and insured shipping is provided.

Don't miss the opportunity to add this seamless, decade-spanning archive of Depression-to-WWII railroading history to your collection! Perfect for collectors of the PRR, Wabash line, or specialized employee ephemera.