Hi I am looking for track alignment maps for the Tehachapi Loop, Horseshoe Curve, Spiral Tunnels, Keddie Wye, and Cascade Tunnel areas. Any ideas on where to find these?
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
This one is fun...
http://www.openrailwaymap.org/?lang=en&lat=53.083301544189&lon=9.6000003814697&zoom=10&style=standard
This site has a bunch, too, but mostly eastern roads:
http://www.railsandtrails.com/diagrams.htm
This site you have to dig for it but the curve is in there somewhere. (I made a link that's easier to find)
http://sbiii.com/prrtrkch.html#hshucurv
Good Luck, Ed
Thanks!
What I meant though is actual paper maps like an atlas.
I'm not absolutely sure about Google maps, but I think they do have rail lines on the maps. Find the place you want, zoom in (or out), then switch to satellite view, and it should give you a picture of the actual trackage as it exists today. Then print it out. For areas like Tehachapi or horseshoe curve, those are current and not much has changed in the basic layout. Eg: horseshoe curve has three tracks now, but used to have four. It's still within the same space.
But, if you want trackage plans from a specific time or are no longer there, then you have to dig for it. Sometimes old city maps will show track layouts. Some sources like USGS and universities will have archived photos. Also, check the railroad's historical society for maps.
I hope this helps.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Thank you!
Yes, Google maps will show everything that is there, and you can zoom in enough to count the ties. I use it a lot.
Mike.
My You Tube
Wow! Thanks for the advice. Check out my other prototype info forum threads I have and my website: cascadenorthernrr.webs.com
Just curious what would be a good railroad atlas?
cascadenorthernrrJust curious what would be a good railroad atlas?
Rand McNally used to produce a pretty decent one but I don't know how recently.
https://www.amazon.com/McNally-Handy-Railroad-United-States/dp/0528210653
I like the SPV's Railroad Atlas:
http://www.steam-powered-video.co.uk/acatalog/USA_Railroads.html
You might find them on Amazon or Ebay.
https://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Railroad-Atlas-North-America/dp/1874745137/ref=pd_sim_14_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1874745137&pd_rd_r=GDD1S0TPCCXH2G1KV4BG&pd_rd_w=rYziA&pd_rd_wg=e18Tu&psc=1&refRID=GDD1S0TPCCXH2G1KV4BG
Ed
Ive got a couple of railroad atlases (not sure where they are at the moment). You can pick them up at large train shows (got mine at the national train shows). Look for the tables with old railroad artifacts (timetables and the like).
You might also check USGS topographic maps, and sandborn fire insurance maps.
By chance what would be the closest train show to the pelican state?
Try this:
http://www.easttexas-modeltrains.org/trainshows/
The US Geological service has maps that go back to the early 1900's. They usually show all the railroads that were operating when the map was made.
You can download them and print them out for free.
SouthPenn The US Geological service has maps that go back to the early 1900's. They usually show all the railroads that were operating when the map was made. You can download them and print them out for free.
Actually, they tend to show the railroad tracks; not the operating railroads or, necessarily, what railroad was using which tracks. The earliest USGS maps are from the 1880's in some areas.
https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/maps/TopoView/viewer/#4/39.98/-100.06
Cool!
You might also try the Library of Congress. They most likely have a complete set of the circa 1918 railroad valuation maps.
You might also check universities in state where your specific maps would be located, sometimes they have the valuation maps as well. Google: New Haven Railroad Valuation Maps. It will take you to the UCONN website, where you will find a map of new England with a bunch of little red squares on it. Those are valuation maps. They are surveys that show tracks and trackside structures.
Ed (gmpullman), thanks for the railsandtrails.com link. While the track chart info. is written in a language I don't know ("rr engineeranese"), I think I can figure out much of what is relevant for modeling.
Twenty yrs. ago rail-trail sites didn't have such nice RR info. so it didn't occur to me to check back with them.
olson185 Ed (gmpullman), thanks for the railsandtrails.com link. While the track chart info. is written in a language I don't know ("rr engineeranese"), I think I can figure out much of what is relevant for modeling. Twenty yrs. ago rail-trail sites didn't have such nice RR info. so it didn't occur to me to check back with them.
I knew that sounded familiar. http://www.railsandtrails.com/NMRA/Research/index.html
I went to that clinic.
gmpullmanI like the SPV's Railroad Atlas: http://www.steam-powered-video.co.uk/acatalog/USA_Railroads.html
They are not very detailed. They show the lines, junctions and yard locations but not actual track arangements. Also I have found some mistakes.
For instance on the California map (just south of Marysville) they show a connection running east from the Western Pacific (an unnamed location) to Dantoni Junction on the Southern Pacific. Dantoni Jct is south of the Yuba River which is not shown. This connection does not exist and never has. A short branch (not shown) used to run from Dantoni Jct to Dantoni which is east of Dantoni Jct.
On the north side of the river there was a spur running east from the WP to a sand plant (dredging the Yuba River). I believe they mistook this spur for a connection between the railroads. The east end of the spur was about 100ft short of the SP and at least 30 feet below the SP track.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Ok, cool!