Spike and rail plaque

[Terry C]

Hi guys. I have no idea what this is or what it represents. See the photos. The text on the plaque says "S.W. 4 02 12 13" and "WEST OF 8th MERIDIAN". Any ideas what this object is about?

 

[CGW101c]

There is an east and a west meridian. The zero meridian is Greenwich, England. Both of the 8th's run through the UK Spain and west Africa. Could be a clue. Where did you find them?

 

[Terry C]

I got this in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. The square survey description does not seem to fit any format used in Canada or the US. Typically it is this format "SW 4 02 12 W". Meaning SW quarter of section 4, township 02, range 12, west of a given meridian. This square survey description has an extra two digits "13". In Manitoba, the prime (1st) meridian was established just west of Winnipeg when they first started the surveying western Canada. That would be the first meridian, and they also have designated a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh. The seventh being in Alberta. The "eighth" may be the Coast Meridian in BC where the 49th parallel meets the pacific ocean in BC.

There is an 8th meridian in Colorado or Idaho, but their square survey format also does not match the format of "S.W. 4 02 12 13". A bit of a mystery.