America’s early railroads held a sense of adventure that’s hard for us to imagine. The thrill of watching a steam locomotive pulling into a station, connecting lives and places that might as well have been distant islands before the “iron horse” arrived.

This 1887 Elgin Model 5 pocket watch’s decoration shows a steam train on its journey from and to who-knows-where. The fact that the stately dial is partially obscured shows just how far both the country and watchmaker had come – to the point where a pocket watch could become an artistic keepsake.

Make no mistake: this Model 5 is a wonderfully preserved, fully operational timepiece, as accurate and reliable as the day it was born. But much of its value lies in its ability to transport its owner to another time and place. If you’re ready to ride those imaginary rails, this Elgin is calling. All aboard!