First of all, when in doubt, Google Earth's hi-res photos seem to be a good resource. I've used it myself to figure out this area because Google Earth goes where pedestrians and cars can't. That said, Google Earth will not show you a track that's no longer there unless it was ripped out recently. The exception to this is when a roadbed can be inferred from a rails-to-trails project or other such effort. Such is the case with much of the former ATSF roadbed that runs on a municipal bike path through Colorado Springs. The existing grade that once served the ATSF Colorado Springs starts near the intersection of S Wahsatch and E Fountain. Follow that grade north to the former depot east-southeast of E Pikes Peak and E Colorado Ave. From there, the trail continues north, crossing an underpass with a bridge at Platte. Near the intersection of Lilac and Weber, the grade crosses the former CRI&P grade. From there north, you can infer the grade north along the I-25 business loop (N Nevada) and follow it to where it parallels I-25. New construction has obliterated some of the grade, but you can pick it up going north-northwest from here into the Air Force Academy. One notable spot on the Air Academy grounds is the remains of this overpass here where the old highway crossed over/under the grade. The rest of it follows the "New Santa Fe Trail" up to Palmer Lake, where it runs on the east shore of the town's namesake lake. This would have been joint line double track if it weren't ripped out. I'm sure the D&RGW and ATSF successors (UP and BNSF) are wishing they had that one back.
I wonder how often these images are updated? I do enjoy using these satalite images to help me figure out things and wish we had more detailed images of places that are more outside of cities. Still, this is a great tool to trace lines as if you were in a small airplane. :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up:
I recently constructed a mosaic of images and overlaid the route of the old Sugar Land Railroad using Google satellite images.
Google Earth is a great resource! I've used it to trace the old GN right-of-way in the Trinidad,WA area, and all of the former railroad lines in Spokane. Some are hard to find, but you can infer where they were. My favorite was finding the line of the Seattle, Lake Shore, & Eastern or the Central Washington Railroad west of Coulee City, WA as it climbed up the side of the Grand Coulee, making turn after turn, loop after loop, to gain elevation at a reasonable grade. No rail was ever laid upon it. I would not have been able to see all of it without Google Earth.
Using GoogleEarth, I was able to follow much of the route of the Denver, Salt Lake and Northwestern "Hill Route" which went over Rollins Pass at 11,600 feet, before the Moffat Tunnel was opened. The line was abandoned in 1927 or thereaboiuts, but I could still follow it.
Google maps with the Satellite images is an AWESOME tool for finding fallen flags/ghost lines. I have used it to trace much of the no longer extant portions of the Tidewater Southern line here in Modesto.
I've been using the actual download application, Google Earth and using it to trace routes for a couple of years now (off and on). I enjoy it because it gives me something to concentrate on when I need a diversion. :tb-confused: What I'd really like to do when I'm feeling better is get out and photograph POV shots from the grades I trace. :camera: Right now, that's a dream, but I have it right next to my imaginary model railroad. Eventually, I'll start sharing portions of my tracing, if anyone besides myself is interested. There's always the chance someone could prove me wrong too. :tb-rolleyes:
The google maps with satellite imagery on my Blackberry can come in really handy when I am out in the field.
One of the things about Google maps is you can not really always see the route of the rr but if you zoom in the map is out of scenic and a map that shows the old route of the rr. I was able to track the old layout that way. Zoom out and you can see pretty much looks like now. Man can you see the difference on a fallen road.....
:thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: I never thought of posting about Google, retracing Railroad tracks though. Great job, letting the others know.:tb-biggrin: I've retraced most of the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad using Google. Though I've noticed Google doesn't update the pictures as much as I would like............
Just so you know, Google Earth isn't the only mapping resource out there for us modelers to use to retrace a long-lost route. The other day, I learned of a website for Historic Aerials, which lets one examine aerial photographs taken in different years, and you can view how that area looked in a particular year that photo was taken by clicking on a year in a box to the left of the image. The earliest year I've found is 1931, and the resolution isn't that great, given the film technology of the time. Later ones are better, with improved resolution, although it's still not fine enough to make out specific small details. Some of the more recent ones, such as from a few years ago, are even in color. The website's URL is http://www.historicaerials.com Dieter Zakas Time Warp, NJ
Niiiiice. I never had any idea SH6 paralleled a former RR ROW. Too bad they didn't preserve it... that woulda made a great commuter rail line, much better then the more southern route through Crabb to Rosenberg.
As you can see, much of the old right-of-way goes right through what are now housing developments. In the early 70's, the state wanted the railroad to help pay for a Highway 59 overpass where Williams Trace now runs. They could get track rights on the SP into Houston for much less money. The dirt that the railroad was on was quite valuable and MoPac was strapped for cash when they abandoned and sold the first stretch of it between the sugar mill and the old feed mill that was at Dulles Road. When the feed mill shut down, they ripped the rest up back to Arcola.
Continuing my work Thanks for that link! I've also added a poll just in case anyone wants to vote. :tb-smile: In case anyone's still interested, I am continuing my work in Google Earth on Colorado's railroads and their history. The problem is figuring out how much detail to include. I know I want to include old routes, current routes, stations and sidings, but I am wondering if anyone is interested in the little details. For example, did you know that Stage, CO was named for Billy Stage, a brakeman on the Denver Pacific? :tb-nerd: Stuff like that is always popping up in my research. Would anyone be interested in that? On a related note, I also happen across anecdotes, stories and histories that are offline or otherwise not readily available to the public. They're almost always tied to a location I can attach to a map. Some information is okay, but wholesale capture or otherwise reproducing the work is not (unless the copyright is expired). Including any of it makes for a larger file (woo woo woo's instead of KB's). Is that a real factor for mobile devices? Please chip in your comments, anyone! Thanks! :tb-biggrin:
Google maps can be a great resource, but they show my current house that is 4 years old as a dirt lot and my old house still has my Mustang in the driveway....
Yeah, that's a bummer when you're trying to give folks a tool to find your place or trying to find a new restaurant. Still, it's good for finding stuff that's been there for decades, and although I wish it were otherwise, railroads aren't in a track laying frenzy. Anyone been to the USGS maps site? :tb-cool:
I recently stumbled on your map when researching the SLRR. My family moved to Sugar Land in '83 (just before Alicia) and I left 12 years later when my folks moved to the Hill Country and changed the locks. Anyway...I marveled at the history of that road and was astonished I'd never heard of it until just a couple of months ago. All that time, I lived just off Williams Trace where it crosses Oyster Creek and I never knew it was an old ROW. Fascinating...
I've never created a mosiac as has Russell. But have spent many an hour tracing various lines of assorted ghosts railroad. Quite entertaining and a very interesting perspective. Following terrain has explained why a line was built as it was, instead of seemingly just wandering. Boxcab E50
My profession allows me to wander anywhere in the Houston area, so I occasionally hunt for old ROWs I find on Google Earth. Some are easy, as lines like the old Katy line through The Heights and T&NO near downtown are now hike & bike trails. Others aren't so obvious if you're not looking, like the I&GN.
I use it to keep track of old ROW and structures in my area. I like that you can attach html and pics to each location too. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=206395824348483576292.000001132bac7861c5597&msa=0
