Description
This artifact is an authentic Deutsche Reichsbahn eagle (railway emblem), identified as a PS LOK 600 type and measuring approximately 60 cm (23¾ inches) in width and 34 cm (13½ inches) in height. The piece exhibits surface wear and condition consistent with service use, reflecting its history as a mounted insignia on a railway vehicle.
Two of the original threaded mounting studs remain intact, while the others are absent, indicative of removal from its original setting. The reverse bears standard material composition and production markings, including “GAL – Mg – Si,” denoting an aluminum-based alloy, along with “LOK,” “RZA 5,” and “BERL,” referencing locomotive application, railway designation, and manufacture in Berlin.
Railway eagles of this type served as prominent identifiers on locomotives, symbolizing the national rail system. Examples showing evidence of use and removal provide additional historical context, illustrating how such objects transitioned from functional components to preserved artifacts.
