There are lots of maps showing the system and main lines but I guess yards or sidings were never important.
Most public maps are made by people that really don't care about the details of the track, they mostly just want to indicate there are tracks there, the exact arrangement isn't really important to them. The railroads's maps are detailed, but they are circulated internally so are much rarer.
I assume that railway dispatchers would have had maps of all the routes and tracks? Or was it more general as in send the train to Cannington and the local guys will figure out where to put the train?
Dispatcher have access to the maps and generally know about the tracks that connect to the main but other tracks not connected to the main, not so much. Dispatchers are concerned about granting authority on the main track. Tracks other than the main track or sidings they have virtually no information on whats on those tracks and don't control or direct movements on those tracks. A dispatcher might know that there is an industrial lead that breaks off eastward at milepost 10.6, but may not know the details of the industry tracks on that lead since the dispatcher doesn't direct movements on the industrial leads.
Modelers quite often overestimate how much information the dispatcher needs or has access to. For example in CTC where the dispatcher controls train movements by signal indication, the dispatcher has only two options for signals, stop or proceed. He can set the signals to let the train go or to hold the train, but he doesn't know what specific proceed signal the signal system has indicated to the train (by the way, there is one signal that tells a train to stop, the stop signal, ALL the other signals are proceed signals.)
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
arvanlaa......and no track map
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I got that book "Narow Gauge for Us" and it has a section about Cannington but its the only section that has limited photos and no track map haha. Gah! Thwarted. Continuing my hunt for knowledge!
arvanlaa Richo, I have noticed that haha. There are lots of maps showing the system and main lines but I guess yards or sidings were never important. I assume that railway dispatchers would have had maps of all the routes and tracks? Or was it more general as in send the train to Cannington and the local guys will figure out where to put the train? I am not very familiar with the operational side of this business at all sadly :S
Richo, I have noticed that haha. There are lots of maps showing the system and main lines but I guess yards or sidings were never important. I assume that railway dispatchers would have had maps of all the routes and tracks? Or was it more general as in send the train to Cannington and the local guys will figure out where to put the train? I am not very familiar with the operational side of this business at all sadly :S
Someone may be able to provide information or a reference or even a drawing or diagram. It could come from their local library. It could come from an "old timer" who worked for the railroad. It could come from an interested citizen. Or, nothing could come from your inquiry. But, your best bet is to contact someone locally in Cannington. It is a very small village, so that is in your favor.
Rich
Alton Junction
Good advice from Ja Bear, there. Here's another tip that worked for me when I was doing research on an old narrowgauge line near where I'm from in southern Indiana. Put an ad in the classified section of the local paper advising that you are looking for information about the local railroad.
Now, when I did this 20 years ago, everybody tended to read the local paper.Wither the internet, not so much anymore, but those most likely to know something, older people, are also still the most likely to read the paper.
Also, best to keep it short and say you're just looking for info. People tend to get uptight if you get too specific like "want to buy old pictures" "collecter of RR memorabilia." If they intend to share anything, they'll bring that up and you can take it from there. Not saying to misrepresent, but even if you are legitimately interested in getting copies of pictures, etc, -- be honest about that and don't play games -- you're more likley to enter into an interesting conversation and learn things if your interests in both the ad and any resulting interviews forcus on information, rather than acquisition.
Another note in newspapers...if they do have local reporting, getting a reporter interested in what you're doing can lead to a story, which then can lead to more interesting contacts.
Just a note on the Steam Powered Video atlases, they do show all connecting tracks and major features like yards, but don't give specific track level detail in most cases, if that is the greatest need for what you're up to.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Hopefully someone will come up with the good gen to locate the map you’re after, I presume you’ve tried the Grand Trunk Historical Society? Looking at the Google Satellite Map, if you have no luck, you may have to carry out some railroad archaeology yourself, as the yard site while grown over at least hasn’t been built over. For instance I’d guess that there was a left turnout about 100 yards north of Laidlaw Street South which would bring the track to the station which I gather was located on the corner of Sheddan and Peace Streets. http://www.railwaypages.com/narrow-gauge-for-us This 1966 photo while helpful raises a couple of questions, is that another left turnout north of the station leading to the freight house(?) and is the track the boxcar is sitting on, the current Beaver River Wetland Trail?? Then, with another guess, was there a right turnout situated adjacent to the rear building at Nordstrong Equipment? If you are keen to find out more, I’d suggest you run up some fliers and post them at places like the local library, museum, supermarket, farmers merchants, and perhaps churches. You could strike gold or not, or end up with information that asks more questions than it answers, but unless you ask you never know what information the locals who had family in Cannington at the time may have. Good luck. Cheers, the Bear.
Cheers, the Bear.
That is EXTREMELY helpful thank you! I never thought of doing that before to be honest. I think my wife would be on board doing some archaelogy. We actually have an archaeologist (sp?) friend who could lend her eye as well. Richo, I have noticed that haha. There are lots of maps showing the system and main lines but I guess yards or sidings were never important. I assume that railway dispatchers would have had maps of all the routes and tracks? Or was it more general as in send the train to Cannington and the local guys will figure out where to put the train? I am not very familiar with the operational side of this business at all sadly :S
arvanlaa My question is if there is a way to find detailed maps (showing yards or siding etc) for lines of pre 1950's railroads? I know there was at least one line but I would really like to see exactly what sidings and yards were in the area.
My question is if there is a way to find detailed maps (showing yards or siding etc) for lines of pre 1950's railroads? I know there was at least one line but I would really like to see exactly what sidings and yards were in the area.
Steam Powered Video has an Ontario map book. I have no experience with their Canadian maps, but they're pretty darn good in the US considering they're based in the UK.
http://www.steam-powered-video.co.uk/acatalog/Canada.html
I have a 2008 copy of the Canada Back Road Atlas and it offers some limited documentation. For instance, it shows a CN line into Port Bolster from Mount Albert. Is that line still in operation? It also shows a number of rail-to-trail projects and railroad museums (I noticed the RLHS narrow gauge museum, but don't know anything about it), but I'm not usre it will be really helpful for you.
Do you have a GPS with topo data? Sometimes even without it, old rail lines will show up.
Fire insurance maps can provide the kind of information you are seeking. I rely on Sanborn Map Company fire insurance maps for Wisconsin. You might try the University of Toronto Libraries for fire insurance plans and atlases for Ontario.
Well, there's this:
http://nationalmap.gov/historical/
For me, the site works about as well as another famous government website. Perhaps you can get somewhere with it. Anyway, there should be old topo maps showing rail lines and buildings in your area.
There are also things called "sanborn maps" that show lots stuff like that. Again, do some searching and good luck.
Ed
Hello All,
I recently moved into a small town after purchasing my first home. The town and the surrounding area has a very important history as part of the Grand Trunk Railway. I live in Cannington which is in the heart of Durham Region in Ontario and close to a juntion of one of the main lines providing grain and fuel for the distilleries in Toronto.
My question is if there is a way to find detailed maps (showing yards or siding etc) for lines of pre 1950's railroads? I know there was at least one line but I would really like to see exactly what sidings and yards were in the area. The historical society has no information so I was wondering if there were any other sources I am not thinking of.