prototype track map

[Duckadder]

Do's anyone know where i can obtain a track map of the NY,NH&H Bay Ridge Line from East New York Junction to Bay Ridge Yard. A map that shows all sidings, the yard at bay Ridge, The carfloat area, and the street trackage near the waterfront.

[orsonroy]

Railroadania swap meets. I sometimes see NYC and PC track charts for sale, in the $200+ range.

I'd join the NH and PC Yahoo Groups online, and start asking nicely. I've gotten most of my track charts (several hundred page's worth) for free, just by asking around and trading copies of what I do have with people who have what I need.

[Anonymous]

Is there not a digital, online database with US track plans? In Holland we have a railfan who offers a website with all trackplans of the Dutch Railways, for free! Very handy when modelling!

[jimrice4449]

Depending on your location and the level of bureaucratic arrogance (very low here in God's country but highly variable as you go East) you might be able to get photocopies of the relevant paltt maps at your local assesor's office.

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mathieuholland

Is there not a digital, online database with US track plans? In Holland we have a railfan who offers a website with all trackplans of the Dutch Railways, for free! Very handy when modelling!

Nope. SOME of the USA's track charts are online, but not most. Mostly, people who own track charts don't want them offered for free online; they want you to pay them for the originals. I've had to scrounge long & hard for my originals or copies. Personally, I'll give away or trade copies of anything I've got; I'm not all that concerned about making a buck out of something that I didn't create.

And, scanning, storing, and paying for online space for American track charts would be a massive undertaking. No offence, but there's more miles of track in Chicago than in all of Holland!

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jimrice4449

Depending on your location and the level of bureaucratic arrogance (very low here in God's country but highly variable as you go East) you might be able to get photocopies of the relevant paltt maps at your local assesor's office.

Platt maps are VERY different than either track charts or track diagrams (or even railroad valuation maps). While public maps, or even Sanborn fire insurance maps can be useful when researching a specific line, they'll lack a huge wealth of information that the RR maps contain. The best option, of course, is to use ALL the sources you can find (including a site walk if you can swing it) and pool all that information into one large database.

[Duckadder]

   I have approached the NY,NH & H, Historical society thruough their website, But they required joining and a membership fee before they would answer my inquiries.  Somewhere during my websurfing I came across an email address for arrogant lunatic who offered me the requested info and then went into some off the wall tirade about my not asking in the proper fashion.  I could not understand his motivation for what he did but rather then argue I wrote back apologizing for anything that he might have found offensive and then kissed his ring in penance.  Never heard from the sicko again .  Ya know this is getting so ridiculous I might just as well walk over to the tracks and spend a day walking them from one end to the other with camera and notepad.

[sfcouple]

The following link is for railroad maps from 1828 up to 1900:  

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/rrhtml/rrmap.html

You may also want to try Google Earth.

 Good Luck, 

Wayne 

 

[sfcouple]

Here are two more sites that may be helpful for you.  I found these when researching railroad maps for my model railroad. 

http://www.railsandtrails.com/Maps/default.htm

http://www.topozone.com/

[csmincemoyer]

If you're a NMRA member might want to try the Kalmbach Library.

[marknewton]

   I have approached the NY,NH & H, Historical society thruough their website, But they required joining and a membership fee before they would answer my inquiries

So why not join? It's not an unreasonable request.