Gathering information for routes

[DrewG]

I'm not sure where to post this but this seems like to appropriate spot. Anyway when people start a route how do you get information? I'm working on a shortline near where I live but I can't find information on it. So how do you find information on your routes? Do you go to the line itself? Contact the lines operator?(Currently they're ignoring all form of contact with me)? I'd love to know how everyone gets information on the routes you make.

[JohnTrainHead]

The best way to start is probably with a simple google search of the line. Contacting the railway's operators is unnecessary.

[buzz456]

Check it out on Google Earth. That is an amazing resource.

[DrewG]

I contacted them as a kind of last resort because there is sadly almost no useful information on the route online.

[Toripony]

Check a local heritage museum, railroad preservation society or libraries along the route. Maps and books can be found on Ebay. Local model RR hobbyists often have a great collection of knowledge/info. Archives.gov has maps (http://www.archives.gov/research/topics/maps.html) and other corporate information. I've done Google searches on towns along a line and found links to personal blogs and picture archives composed by folks who lived by the tracks, worked on the line, or road a passenger train there. If it's a well-traveled area, Google Street View can help with current era visuals.

[DrewG]

Thanks for the help tori!

[buzz456]

If you tell NSrailfan9130 what you are looking at he will find you everything you ever wanted to know and then some.

[Celidude]

I'm curious how one could find out what the grades are like on a particular route, specifically where they begin and end and the percentages between them. I've looked up a few topo maps but they are'nt as exact as I'd like in certain areas.

If anyone wants a good topo online resource: http://www.mytopo.com/maps/

[barnez]

A track chart for the route will have all the grade information on it.

For purposes of grades, even a an old chart can be fairly accurate, railroad grades tend not to change a whole lot



-barnez

[jonmorrie]

A track chart for the route will have all the grade information on it.

For purposes of grades, even a an old chart can be fairly accurate, railroad grades tend not to change a whole lot



-barnez

Question then: do most track charts have track speeds? I bought an FEC track chart from 1999 and it has everything a route builder would want/need EXCEPT track speeds. How would one find that out?

[barnez]

I'd say yes ... but clearly not all Charts have them ...

They may have buried the speedlimits in a general section, index or some place like that rather than nicely labeled along the track diagrams.

If you can get a hold of a timetable for the route, that will have all speed limits and should have information for speeds on all sidings, crossovers and so forth.

-barnez