Early 1900s Train Bag Leather Restoration

History Renewed: Train Bag Restoration Project

Various aspects of history are important to so many people. Specifically when it personal.  We are so happy to have been a part of bringing one family’s history back to life through the vehicle of leather restoration.  Yes, most of our projects are cars, boats, furniture, etc…  But there are so many other things made of Leather or Vinyl.  We look forward to many more opportunities like this one.  It brought as much joy to us as it did to the owner.

Grandfather’s Train Bag

 In 1900, our Grandfather joined the famous Klondike Gold Rush to Alaska and climbed the famous Chilkoot Pass finally settling in a mining camp near Fairbanks, Alaska.  Our Grandmother, traveled by boat to Fairbanks and eventually met and married our Grandfather.

Early 1900s Leather Train Bag

A bit of history

In May 1914, four months before our Mother was born, President Woodrow Wilson created the Alaska Engineering Commission charged with determining the best route from a southern ice-free harbor to the winter-bound rivers of Alaska's interior.  In April 1915, President Wilson chose the roughly 500-mile route from Seward to Fairbanks. 

On July 15, 1923, President Warren Harding drove the golden spike in Nenana, Alaska, marking the railroad's completion.  Our Grandfather was one of the first railroad employees hired for the 500-mile route to Seward from Fairbanks.  Grandfather purchased the Train Bag for his personal belongings.

For more than 25 years our Grandfather traveled the rails with this sturdy leather Train Bag as a breakman and conductor near their Daughters and Grandchildren in Washington State.  Since our Grandfather's death in 1957, the Train Bag has traveled from basement to basement finally ending up in the hands of Color Glo North Central Washington for restoration.  Our Grandfather's Train Bag now resides proudly and beautifully restored on display in a Granddaughter's home.

Train bag images

Here are some images before the leather restoration. Even though something may seem to be in a condition of being forever lost, magic can always be summoned. Leather, in particular, has a way of coming back to life and realizing its original state. A state of beauty and glory.

The Finished Leather Train Bag

At the end of the day, the leather train bag is restored and beautiful.

Restored 1900s Train bag

Do You have something from the past, made of Leather or Vinyl, that looks like it’s ready to toss?  A piece of your History that you wish you could be proud of?  Send us pictures of the item.  You may be surprised at what we can actually do.