Google Earth Contest #1

FriscoCharlie Jul 30, 2007

  1. FriscoCharlie

    FriscoCharlie Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Here's our first Google Earth contest.

    For those wondering, here is the applicable language from Google Earth's license:

    1. USE OF SOFTWARE

    The Software is made available to you for your personal, non-commercial use only. You may not use the Software or the geographical information made available for display using the Software, or any prints or screen outputs generated with the Software in any commercial or business environment or for any commercial or business purposes for yourself or any third parties. You may not use the Google Software in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair Google's services (e.g., you may not use the Google Software in an automated manner), nor may you use Software in any manner that could interfere with any other party's use and enjoyment of Google's services.

    We are conducting these contests strictly for fun and we believe that we are within the terms of service by posting the images.

    We have had to strip the copyright from the images as that could give away clues about the location, but at the conclusion of the contest, we will post another image showing the copyright.

    We'll be scouring the globe looking for interesting rail locations and posting two (maybe three) pictures.

    Your job is to play detective and try to figure out the location shown.

    Look at the buildings, roads, and other things you see in the image to try and learn about the location.

    You may not get the exact location, but you might be able to guess the right country, state, region, etc.

    TrainBoard staff members are not eligible for the first few contests.

    There are no formal prizes for this contest, although we may offer a DVD on occasion.

    Each contest will run 48 to 72 hours (normally) and then I will announce the answer.

    If someone has it exactly right, I may make the announcement early and start another contest.

    This is designed to be fun and to help us learn about locations around the world.

    I hope you find it enjoyable.

    We'll get started with our first contest in the next post.

    Charlie
     
  2. FriscoCharlie

    FriscoCharlie Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Here are our first two pictures. Good luck in figuring out this location:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Mr. Train

    Mr. Train TrainBoard Member

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    Well you have out done your self this time I am lost. Go ahead every one else tell me where this is and I hope you don't tell me it in NW ILL because I don't see any thing I have seen before.
     
  4. Stourbridge Lion

    Stourbridge Lion TrainBoard Supporter

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    Will you post any clues after the first 24 hours pass?

    :lightbulb: :lightbulb: :lightbulb: :lightbulb:
     
  5. Steve F

    Steve F TrainBoard Member

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    What can we see?

    It looks like some of the yard is/has been electrified but I don't see the electrification lines continuing west past the overpass or east down the main line, it's hard to tell.
    Mostly flat no distinguishing geological topography, nice roundhouse with a Wye to the east and the tank farm...RR property?
    There isn't much auto traffic so I think small town?
    Urban sprawl has come right up to the RR property but doesn't seem to have overtaken any of it like you would expect to find in the city.
    Maybe a longer/wider shot for a hint.
     
  6. Scott Stutzman

    Scott Stutzman TrainBoard Member

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    That's a very large roundhouse,And a large engine service building?,West of it.
    Clues please.
     
  7. sandro schaer

    sandro schaer TrainBoard Member

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    exactly this kind of contest goes on on www.mylargescale.com for months.

    nothing new.




    the tracks close to the roundhouse look like they're covered with coal. could be steam operation. or a coal unloading/loading facility.
    if you look close at the roundhouse you see a loco in front of it. it looks like a diesel.

    interesting yard.
     
  8. Keith

    Keith TrainBoard Supporter

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    Almost thought it might have been Harlowton, MT. One terminus of the MILW electrified territory.
    Checking my station map reprint, circa 1915, I'm proven wrong.
    Structures aren't correct.
     
  9. FriscoCharlie

    FriscoCharlie Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I didn't know that. I've never seen that site. I'm sorry if you thing we're copying them. I wasn't trying to come up with something "new", just something fun.

    Sorry if you can't handle it. Don't look at it if it bothers you.

    Charlie
     
  10. FriscoCharlie

    FriscoCharlie Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    No. I doubt it.

    Charlie
     
  11. FriscoCharlie

    FriscoCharlie Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Posting observations like this is a good thing because as more clues are posted, it will lead someone to find the answer.

    Charlie
     
  12. jagged ben

    jagged ben TrainBoard Member

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    Seems pretty impossible to me, if it's not someplace you know already.

    I'm still trying to decide if I think the location is in America. The cityscape looks rather American; lot's of individual houses and a gridded streetplan. OTOH, electrification makes Europe more likely. It also seems to me that the rolling stock is small for America, but I'm less sure of that. Also seems like an unusual number, for America, of structures with courtyards. Maybe.
     
  13. FriscoCharlie

    FriscoCharlie Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Okay, a hint. It may take people some time to get used to this contest... this location in not in the United States or Canada.

    Charlie
     
  14. Phil Olmsted

    Phil Olmsted TrainBoard Member

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    Hmmm ... even with my Opti-Visor I can't tell which side of the road the autos are using, but I'm guessing southern hemisphere, a great big island/continent.
     
  15. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    You can deduce a lot from observing which way the shadows fall.;)
     
  16. Old Reliable

    Old Reliable TrainBoard Member

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    I'm going with China based on the shadows, and what looks like a lot of coal on the tracks- indicating steam is in use. They use electric systems, as well. I really wanted to say specifically Taiwan, but I sure can't find it.
     
  17. FriscoCharlie

    FriscoCharlie Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    That's a good guess but no one is in the right country yet.

    We'll go around another 24 hours and then I will post the answer.

    Charlie
     
  18. Steve F

    Steve F TrainBoard Member

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    OK, we know where it ain't. That still leaves a lot of territory like Mexico, South America, India, Africa, Russia, and more.
    The rail line is basically heading in an East West direction (as far as we can see) The residential layout seems to have a Spanish/Mediterranean influence, I missed this until it was pointed out. It's hard to tell if the streets are even paved, it looks like some are not, and yet there is an overpass across the tracks. With enough time and clues we can keep narrowing it down until we come up with an answer.
     
  19. jagged ben

    jagged ben TrainBoard Member

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    I spent a little time looking at Cuba last night. The landscape seemed very similar but I couldn't find any roundhouses.

    I think Mexico or Spain are places to try.

    The shadows pretty much eliminate the southern hemisphere, although I think the tropics are still in play.
     
  20. FriscoCharlie

    FriscoCharlie Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Good luck guys.

    I'll be revealing the answer and posting a new one early tomorrow morning Eastern time.

    Charlie
     

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