I have several layout duplications of real life locations in mind. Are there maps of either past or existing railways available?
It depends. Several years ago I would have referred you to the US Coast & Geodetic Survey maps from the Dept. of the Interior. They've changed their policies so that they are now available online only, but I haven't been happy with what I've found. Many of the old maps showed railroad lines, often simplified. Abandoned lines were often included, and contour lines could be used to help determine railroad locations. Last time I looked at these maps, I found that they had eliminated many of the dotted lines that showed abandoned trackage; and they had even changed the contour lines so that you couldn't identify the previous locations of tracks. This was true even in places where an onsite inspection would show that the ground contours had NOT been changed!
Sanborn insurance maps can show commercial/industrial areas, but track arrangements are often simplified and not entirely accurate.
I would try both of the above; then I would suggest checking with the historical society that focuses on your prototype. They may have copies of track charts or surveys.
City or County maps, available through local government, vary widely. Some are excellent, with very good detail. Others are practically worthless as research sources.
Tom
Thanks Tom!
If you know the location then you can use Google or Bing maps..This will give you a excellent view of the area.
I have followed short lines and have use street view to get a better idea of a industry or a point of interest.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
If the line that your modeling still exists, a call to the railroad to ask about track diagrams and maps can't hurt anything. If your chosen line is a fallen flag, do a quick google for a historical society for that line. If that desn't lead anywhere, look for historical societies in the area where the line ran, they generally have info about railroads that existed in their towns.
Do Google Earth for today's railroads.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
ACY It depends. Several years ago I would have referred you to the US Coast & Geodetic Survey maps from the Dept. of the Interior. They've changed their policies so that they are now available online only, but I haven't been happy with what I've found. Many of the old maps showed railroad lines, often simplified. Abandoned lines were often included, and contour lines could be used to help determine railroad locations. Last time I looked at these maps, I found that they had eliminated many of the dotted lines that showed abandoned trackage; and they had even changed the contour lines so that you couldn't identify the previous locations of tracks. This was true even in places where an onsite inspection would show that the ground contours had NOT been changed! Sanborn insurance maps can show commercial/industrial areas, but track arrangements are often simplified and not entirely accurate. I would try both of the above; then I would suggest checking with the historical society that focuses on your prototype. They may have copies of track charts or surveys. City or County maps, available through local government, vary widely. Some are excellent, with very good detail. Others are practically worthless as research sources. Tom Tom
Tom! You sent me to the motherload! I had looked at Google Maps/Earth however the distances and correctness just wasn't there. But, with the USGS I can go way back on many locations and see the growth through the years. Many Thanks to ALL for their replies!
Glad it worked for you, but I'm still an old goat who prefers the tactile feel of a real paper map.
Or, you could try...
http://www.historicaerials.com/
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
ACY Glad it worked for you, but I'm still an old goat who prefers the tactile feel of a real paper map. Tom
Ditto on that!
Tom,Even though I am a old coot I like Bing and Google maps since they give me a detailed bird's eye view of the area in question instead lines drawn on paper..
I do like the railroad maps one can get from their State's DOT.These are excellent for finding short lines and places to railfan.
For the record I don't like a GPS device..
Depending on the state you're in the Bordner Survey maps (also called the National Land Inventory) might be online. Think of them as a cross between a USGS topo map and the Sandborn Insurance maps with the detail being at 100K USGS quad levels, and the landuse being catergorized. The best part about these is that are contemporanious with the 1938 aerial photos so interpretation becomes easier for the air photo interp newbie.
Just remember that USGS and Sandborn maps only show generalized positions of the railroads. The numbers of tracks, switches, crossovers, etc are not shown in detail. For actual accurate maps you have to use railroad (or historical society) resources, ZTS/SPLIC maps are are often quite detailed but not necessarily to scale. Profile maps are usually to scale but might not have all the industrial tracks (especially if the tracks are privately owned).
I have been looking for a good map of the Reading's tracks in Wilmington, DE before WW1 for over a decade and haven't found anything definitive, so its often not that easy.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
dehusmanJust remember that USGS and Sandborn maps only show generalized positions of the railroads. The numbers of tracks, switches, crossovers, etc are not shown in detail. For actual accurate maps you have to use railroad (or historical society) resources, ZTS/SPLIC maps are are often quite detailed but not necessarily to scale. Profile maps are usually to scale but might not have all the industrial tracks (especially if the tracks are privately owned).
Even at that its hard to beat Google or Bing maps for a detailed look of a given area still in use.
As far as ghost railroads and long gone road bed I still find it hard get a detailed picture of the way it was 50,60 or more years ago and when things was changed.
As far as historical societies I am only interested in the hard evidence like employee time tables,MOW charts,railroad documents and quility photos that shows more then 2-6-0 #9 crossing Kinniconic Creek in July, 1955 and not so much as HH&W railroad authority John Doe stated yada,yada,and so on.
Research like this involves all the maps you can find; all the photos you can find; a personal visit to the site; written records; interviews with people who were there (especially if you can find somebody who actually did the work); and anything else you can think of. Answers are often elusive, but there's a great feeling of satisfaction when you find them.
Just out of curiosity, I'm wondering what area is of interest to the O.P.
Tom, thanks for the reply. Let me begin with this; I am an import from Germany right after WWII ended. My Father, Col. N. P. Prime was in the Army and I was adopted. Has no relavance other than Daddy was born in Emporium, PA. His sister Ann's husband, John Villela was an engineer for the local rail there in Emporium and when we visited (I as a child) Uncle John would take me to the yard and I would go with him on trips out of the rail yard. Their home, along with the Prime home was directly across from the yard. I would sit and watch for hours at all of the movement/operations. Hooked at an early age. I have given thought to this location on many occasions. I also love the yard in Nashville along with the Colorado area.
In addition to the above sources, you might like to look at some of Pete Lerro's paintings of railroad subjects in Emporium. They are very well researched, so that they show a lot of details that may not exist today. The PRR Historical & Technical Society might have info that would be helpful. Can't help you on Nashville or Colorado, but there are certainly others who can.
Not sure about where in Colorado you are interested, but, esp in the mountains and rural plains, you can often still pick out the right of way for routes there were abondoned decades ago on Google or Bing.
I love old maps, and history, and now you got me started! Just a quick (an hour ?) worth of searching and I learned just how massive the PRR was. Emporium was in the "Northern Region/district" with it's offices in Buffalo, and the main line it was on ran from Philly to Emporium, where it split, with a line going to Buffalo, and the other line to Erie. The lastest Google map shows lots of R/W's where the track has been removed, including most of the yard tracks. It's currently operated by the Western NY and Pennsyvania RR, which would be a great modeling project for Alco fans!
I found a lot of info, including a track diagram, current for 1955. The more research I do on various projects, the more I understand the passion of the modelers of the steam era. The massiveness!, and the extreme labor and work force required to run the everyday operations. I was never around it, even though my age might suggest other wise.
"Steam on" my friends.
Mike.
My You Tube
mbinsewiI found a lot of info, including a track diagram, current for 1955.
Sweet Mike! Could you share the link possibly?
Nick
NickPPJR I started out on Google, "old railroad maps pennsylavania" and found tons of stuff. What caught my attention was a site called www.pennsyrr.com That takes you to a site called Keystone Crossings. From there you can find the track diagrams. They are actually schematics, and not photos. There is a lot of info out there on the PRR. Have fun! Mike. mbinsewi I found a lot of info, including a track diagram, current for 1955. Sweet Mike! Could you share the link possibly? Nick
I started out on Google, "old railroad maps pennsylavania" and found tons of stuff. What caught my attention was a site called www.pennsyrr.com That takes you to a site called Keystone Crossings. From there you can find the track diagrams. They are actually schematics, and not photos.
There is a lot of info out there on the PRR.
Have fun!
mbinsewi I found a lot of info, including a track diagram, current for 1955.
I have no idea why that came out the way it did. Must have been the way I tried to add the quote.