Railroad Maps

[C&O Fan]

I downloaded some Maps of the area i Model { Thurmond WVA }

and to my suprise they were created by the US Parks Dept

I thought it would have been done by Some other Dept like Interior or Geological Survey

or Transportation

Anyone know why ?

[Anonymous]

What scale are they at?  If they aren't at 1:100,000 or 1:24,000 or 1:500,000 the USGS wasn't really intrested in doing "specialty" scales.  The Parks department and US Forestry and US Fish and Wildlife because they deal with smaller areas, could and do produce thier own cartography. 

[C&O Fan]

What scale are they at?  If they aren't at 1:100,000 or 1:24,000 or 1:500,000 the USGS wasn't really intrested in doing "specialty" scales.  The Parks department and US Forestry and US Fish and Wildlife because they deal with smaller areas, could and do produce thier own cartography. 

Good question I'll look 

[cacole]

Take a look at the new MapQuest site.  You can type in a geographic location and they now have satellite photos available.  There are also zoom and scroll features.  I have been able to trace the entire Union Pacific Sunset Route across Arizona and into California and New Mexico.  I was even able to see areas where the track has been realigned over the years because the original roadbed is still faintly visible, and former rail lines that were removed over 30 years ago.

[wva roots]

The New River Gorge is now owned by the National Park Service.  They are responsible for places like Thurmond, Kaymoor, etc.  That is why those maps are created by the NPS.  A great undertaking, and gift to us modelers.  I grew up near Thurmond, and am pleased to report that on a recent visit I found the C&O station there newly refurbished and sporting a nice collection of photographs, scale model of the area, and ranger that was very receptive to visitors!  Sadly, some of the railroad things around Thurmond are disappearing...the engine house burned a vew years ago (probably arson), the water tanks removed by CSX because of liability, the post office closed, and other details fading away.  The great coaling structure and the remaining "town" buildings are still there and being watched over.

A few years ago Georgia Pacific built a plant in Mt. Hope, a dozen or so miles up Loop Creek. That line has been restored, and strand-board, and some coal once again moves from that area down to Thurmond.

The C&O Historical group sponsors a train through the gorge each fall, sadly no longer steam powered, but never-the-less a great rail fan trip from Huntington to Hinton and back.  The line passes through Thurmond, Sewell, past Kaymoor, coke oven remains -- all those places noted in coal mining history of the area.

see  http://www.cohs.org

 

[C&O Fan]

The New River Gorge is now owned by the National Park Service. 

{SNIP}

Seem like the Federal Goverment is buying up all the cool Railroad places

I think they also own the PRR horseshoe bend

[wva roots]

Maybe, but Thurmond is a good thing.  The place was falling apart, and being vandalized out of existance.  At least (as long as funding holds out of course) now someone is looking at it as something to preserve.  CSX still controls the right of way I'm sure.