They are what we call Switchman or Trainmen lanterns and we still use them today to give the engineer hand signals for train movement at night.
Yours are the old kerosene style used from the 1800's up through the 1970's until they were replaced by electric versions in use today they are pretty common depending on what railroad they came from there should be a railroad's initials stamped into them usually on the top or bottom such as UP, DRGW, GNRR, CNW etc... some do not have any railroads name on them and some have it etched into the globe.
Value will depend on the Railroad as well as color and shape of the globe also the condition as well as originality such as the fount, burners and the Pyrex chimney I have several of them and some have been electrified which lowers the value Ebay is a good place to look at current or past sales for value.
A good site is JeffPo's railroad lantern page as well as The Krise Depot lot's of good info on both sites as well as parts.
Hope this helps Bob.
Last edited by Let er' Buck; Sun Aug 24 2014 08:35 PM.