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Sites for downloadable Valuation maps

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  • Member since
    July 2017
  • 71 posts
Sites for downloadable Valuation maps
Posted by Nevin on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 11:44 AM

I've been tring to find a site that has scanned blueprint valuation maps for the B&O and WM in West Virgina.  I've checked the historical societies and I can find their track diagrams but not the valuation maps which are much more detailed.  I've been to the US Archives web site whcih clearly has both (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/562366) but I can't figure out how to download or even look at them on line.  Any suggestions for sites that might have these scanned and available on-line?  A long time ago I made a 200 hundred mile trip to copy some railroad maps in Washington DC., but I now live in Las Vegas!  Thanks for any suggestions you might have.  .  

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 11:58 AM

You have to "search withing this series"  When you get to B&O you again have to "search withing this file unit."

There are 4 files but only two are online and those are in IL.  I don't see much useful information in those.  Fire barrel locations and names of businesses.

Nothing online for WM

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Potomac Yard
  • 2,767 posts
Posted by NittanyLion on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 7:19 PM

If they're not available online via the Archives, it is likely they've never been scanned by anyone. The only entity that could have digitized them would be the Archives themselves.  Such it is in a world where we're very good at documentation and retention. There's always going to be titanic volumes of information trapped in file boxes in NARA facilities. For instance, all of the technical data and drawings for the Saturn V rocket are taking up enough space to literally fill a tractor trailer. Odds are pretty low that they'd ever get digitized just from the volume. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Georgetown, TX
  • 31 posts
Posted by Dean S May on Thursday, August 2, 2018 9:34 AM

You may know that most public libraries have access to Sanborn Insurance maps but those are only for the state in which you reside.  But I did have success getting PDF files from a librarian at the University of Iowa as I wanted Iowa maps of the town I was born in.  I currently live in Texas so was overjoyed at the helpfulness of someone that I contacted out of the blue.  You also might asksomeone who lives in West Virginia to assist you via their local library. Good luck as the Sandborn Maps have a wealth of information!!

Dean S May

  • Member since
    July 2017
  • 71 posts
Posted by Nevin on Saturday, August 4, 2018 8:10 AM
Thanks for the responses. Despite the obvious usefulness of valuation maps for model railroading the problem of finding the ones that you need remains. Maybe someday someone will set up a website depository where people can upload these maps when they find and scan them. This way others can share.

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