My friend Cynthia Keith’s grandfather N. P. Kemp was a railroad sheriff for Pinkerton around 1900. She showed me paraphernalia from his days riding the rails.

The wallet holds his ID cards and large stack of free rail passes so he could travel any rail for free. The watch is probably a railroad grade watch, subject to multiple required cleanings and adjustments every year. I especially like the worn badge.

One can imagine the many harrowing experiences N. P. must have had.