@pennsyl936 ,it only took me 3 1/2 years to respond to your question and my answer is “Perhaps”.

I acquired this Railroad Official Standard recently and the digital extract just arrived. 24 Hour railroad dial, Reference 165.002, caliber 552, 1964 production for Canada but no specific mention of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. What you say?

 

I need help to determine the value of this watch . It has a 550 movement Silver second hand with case number 165.001 its an Railroad official standard . I've worked for BNSF for years but this is first Omega that I've found like this . The back has the raised seamaster on back its not engraved like the other watches I've owned any help is appreciated.

 

I say, "Very cool". Nice to see an extract at least showing shipped to Canada - first I have seen. And I like the 13 - 24 inner minute circle - you don't see this variant often.

Does this one have a 4 digit case number on the back? ...and/or possibly between the lower lugs?

 

Unlike my 165.070 Railmaster (USA) and 165.001 Railroad Official Standard (USA) , which have 4 digit case back codes, this 165.002 does not have any case engravings other than “Seamaster”.

 

That dial is nice, which I’ve never seen before! The 13-24 inner track is actually military time...13:00hrs is 1:00pm, etc....

 

Omega may have “borrowed” this dial format from others. In the 1960’s, Ball Watch Company sued Omega and Omega was required to end Railroad Official Standard production

 

As someone who many many years ago spent a night in the Bologna train station because a 20:00 train does not depart at 10pm, I can assure you it’s train time as well.

 

Aren’t there a lot of places in Europe where 24hr. time is the norm. So it wouldn’t necessarily be military time it would just be the time.

 

I am the grandson of the former Santa Fe Assistant General Watch & Clock Inspector, Ralph Gooch, and am the recipient via my father of an heirloom Omega watch which appears identical to the model pictured at the top of this thread. Accompanying the watch are two important documents, a Santa Fe time service card (required by Time Service Rules to accompany all watches worn by ATSF employees), and a letter of provenance. I am sharing the contents of this letter, as I believe it may be interesting and provide insight to the readers of this thread.

"To whom it may concern:

The history of the Model 600, 17-jewel spring-wound wrist watch, in stainless steel case no. 1304, is as follows:

Assigned to me May 20, 1964 by Omega Watch Company through F. Dale Herman, local time inspector in our department at Wichita, Kansas, and a franchise dealer of the Omega Watches. On the same day Omega 500, 17-jewel automatic wind watch, case 1061, was assigned to Mr. Strobel (General Watch & Clock Inspector).

These two watches were for test wearing by Mr. Strobel and I with a view of having them approved by our department for use by employees required to comply with Time Service Rules over the System Lines. The watches performed within our standards and were approved for Santa Fe service, but by the time we did so the Omega Watch Company had discontinued manufacturing the spring wound model 600 and decided to make only one model, which was their model 6100 automatic wind, the successor of the watch tested by Mr. Strobel.

Ralph W. Gooch"

 

Welcome and thanks very much for the watch pics and historical insight. Perhaps, if you have this watch serviced, you might consider posting additional pics of the inside caseback and movement. As you read through related threads you will be advised to NEVER have vintage watches serviced through Omega. Another useful idea is to consider ordering an Extract from Omega’s archives.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations on where I can take my vintage Omega 500 Railroad Official Standard in Dallas for clean & service. Also interested in replacing the bracelet with original design. Does anyone know which braclet / size came with this model? Thanks in advance!

 

*bracelet

 

Welcome to the forum Dan. Check out https://omegaforums.net/threads/vintage-omega-servicing-im-in-dallas.82549/. The search function on the forum is good, but sometimes doing a site search on the Googles is more focused, ie type this into your browser

site: omegaforums.net watchmaker dallas

 

I think the RR Official Standard was originally sold with a leather strap. The lugs are rather thin and not the meaty variety you usually see with bracelet. OJTT pics show a fitted strap. My extract for both a 165.001 and 165.002 do not indicate any original bracelet.

 

ATSF Dan's watch is most likely case ref 135.005 and I agree was most likely sold with leather strap.

However regarding the other Railroad Official Standard and Railmaster Official models with case ref.s 165.001 and 165.002 did have original bracelet options. (https://omegaforums.net/threads/case-bracelet-endpiece-list.81618/#post-1045310)

case 165.001 : Bracelet/end piece 1036/511
case 165.002 : Bracelet/end piece 1037/570

Here is an example 165.002 with bracelet

 

Keeping this great thread alive, attached are some photos of a Railmaster Official that I recently came across that was being sold for spares/repair. Movement is missing parts and at some point it would seem different hands have been fitted. I've also been led to believe this is an early model due to the non - Seamaster logo case back.

Does anyone know where I can find a set of replacement leaf hands and a red seconds hand?

Have sent it off now to be brought back to life!

 

Not sure there is much I can add to the conversation but here are some images of my Railmaster which I like dearly.

 

Automatic variety