Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
Here's a link to the area I think you are looking for on Google maps. The line is just south of the bike path. You can follow it west, but it looks as if it goes on quite a while.
The Roadbed
[Edit-I fixed the link]
At the top right of the map, click on the button that says hybrid. That will give you the map with sattelite photogrphy under it. Just follow the roadbed west from there. It's usually pretty easy to see as a big groove in the trees.
[Edit-I followed the line as far west as I could. It looks as if it ends just south of the White Bear Yacht Club and Golf Course. Here is a link.]
End of the Line
The Zepher line connected years ago to the west with the old Soo line. It is now a state trail, the Gateway Trail.
The original line started in St. Paul, MN near I-35E and Arlington. The tracks ran northwest to and split. Their was a junction in the City of Maplewood. The trail follows the old road bed through the City of North St. Paul. At the North St. Paul High School, it followed Highway 36 west all the way into northern Washington County to Pine Point Park. The Gateway Trail ends here after 19 miles.
The Zepher line comes within one mile of the Gateway Trail near Kimbro and McKusick. The old depot foundation is covered with grass. The Zepher has several grade crossings, all up to date. The rails are warped, poor cross ties and the sub grade needs reinforcing. I rode it once and speed was under 5 miles per hour.
The Zepher line travels six miles directly east into Stillwater reaching the St. Croix River and turns south into downtown where BN had a freight house, yard and barge traffic was interchanged. The line was tore up south of the Zepher depot for about a mile.
The tourist train is land locked. After traveling south a mile along the river, the rails are still there leading into Bayport. It is over run by 4" diameter trees and brush. The line in Bayport south to the UP (Stillwater Sub) connection are CWR. There is a NSP coal plant and Anderson Windows plant which is served by rail.
I hope this helps all!
....I think it's great, the abilities of the satellite maps and images, as how one can "find" old RR ROW's, etc....I've been doing it now for some years, starting with TerraServer, etc...
I've followed WM RR over the Alleghenies starting at Meyersdale, Pa. and worked my way all the way down to Cumblerland.
Also later finding and checking out coal branches and some other lines in my Pennsylvania home area. Some abandoned 60 years ago.
Used it to follow the long ago abandoned {construction}, of South Penn RR across Pennsylvania. That route roughly, became the route of the original part of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. That construction was stopped in 1885 and much of it is still visible. Someone with a bit of knowledge of it might start at the Somerset area and follow it up to Laural Hill and to the location of the Tunnel. All very interesting to anyone interested in finding and seeing old RR ROW's.
Over on Allegheny range where the original railroad route mastered the climb up and over {and through}, the mountain at Gallitzin is visible. Believe the State of Pennsylvania did that {Muleshoe Curve route}, and opened right before Horseshoe Curve route was finished. Pennsylvania RR eventually owned it too.
If a fan knows just a bit of where "his" favorite route went, the satellite images are really great to seek them out....
Quentin
Google Map/Google Earth is a fantastic tool. My only issue is there are areas in which the resolution is really poor.
Does anyone know when they will be upgrading those areas?
ed
MP173 wrote: Google Map/Google Earth is a fantastic tool. My only issue is there are areas in which the resolution is really poor.Does anyone know when they will be upgrading those areas?ed
Upgrades depend on the availability of the source photography -- which is totally unpredictable.
jchnhtfd wrote: MP173 wrote: Google Map/Google Earth is a fantastic tool. My only issue is there are areas in which the resolution is really poor.Does anyone know when they will be upgrading those areas?edUpgrades depend on the availability of the source photography -- which is totally unpredictable.
I would suspect that anticipated demand would also be a factor - Lots of woods out there with low-resolution imagery, while built-up areas are sharp as a tack.
I believe both Google Earth and Google Maps use the same imagery - the difference is in the presentation.
A nice adjunct to the Google products is good old Terraserver. The images are aerial photos, not satellite, and sometimes dated, but a really handy feature is the ability to switch back and forth between a topo map (which will often have railroad info on them) and the aerial photo. Not as high tech, but definitely useful!
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
I heard resolution is better in metro areas and recent where the major population resides. The rural areas are older photographs with less demand or "hits" to the google website.
Just an assumption.
....It is a fun way to take a look at items one may have not seen for some time. I personally have looked at places I was familiar with growing up and haven't seen since.
Here at our home now, we can see the patio at the back of the house and even the sidewalk into the front door area and the "green's" up and down the golf course we're next to...
Found the condo we stayed in, in Florida, and looked at RR's down there too....Some abandoned. Thinking of the one from Mt. Dora to Sandford...near rt. 46.
Street level view is a really neat feature on Google maps that I believe is fairly new. It's only available near major cities and their suburbs but it gives you an eye level veiw of the area.
Hopefully this link will take you to it if not click the street veiw button at the top of the map window and put the little yellow guy on a blue street to get the street level veiw there.
Street level veiw of IMS steel plant
By clicking on the arrows on the roads you can actually drive around to see different areas.
....That "street level" stuff with Google maps is pretty wild....!
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