Use modern Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and extensive historical sources to scene and plan a model railroad based on prototypes.  Also learn about the ICC nationwide railroad valuation maps started in 1916-1918 and projects to digitize and organize these documents.  Utilizing right-of-way drawings with GIS elevation data, historic maps and aerial photos to understand terrain and track arrangements of a railroad to model.  The author uses digital railroad research sources and physical archives, and maintains the RailsandTrails.com website

Presentation as PDF (11MB)

NMRA Cleveland Convention 2014 Clinic Handout

GIS Historic Railroad Projects:

• Stanford University Spatial History Project | Shaping the West | HistoryPin
• University of Connecticut NY,NH&H Railroad Valuation Map Index

Valuation Map Collections

• Check State, County, and Township Departments such as Engineer, Recorder, GIS, Economic Development, Map. Some have been scanned and are online.
  Allen County, OH | Belmont County, OH
• Many railroad historical societies have linens or paper copies in their archives. Often they are being scanned and made available on DVD or via the web.
  NYCSHS | ELHS | C&OHS | FEBT |
• National Archives and Records Administration College Park, MD ICC Records

General Map, Geology and Aerial Photo Collections

• Check State, County, and Township Departments including: GIS, Engineer, Recorder, Map, Soil & Water Conservation District, etc.
• Google Earth Maps Gallery USGS | NED | Shaded Relief | Topo | Earth Survey Quads | Overlays
• Historic Aerials: Penn Pilot | HistoricAerails.com
• Plat & Insurance Maps: Cleveland Historic Maps (ESRI) | Cleveland Maps (railsandtrails.com) | HistoricMapWorks
• USGS Topographical Maps Map Locator | ESRI USGS Historical Map Explorer Intro

Techniques

• Using Acrobat measuring tools Acrobat Help
• eTech Presentation
  • Creating Image Overlays
  • Digital Elevation Models
• Creating a DEM from a paper topographic map USGS

Software:

• PDF: Adobe Acrobat Reader | TerraGo Toolbar | Avenza GeoPDF App
• ESRI: SmartPhone/Table App | ArcGIS Online
• OpenSource GIS: QGIS | OpenDroneMap | PostGIS
• Blue Marble: Global Mapper Forum 10% discount

Searching for Online Primary Source Documents:

• Google Books Advanced Search | Mike Good's Railroad Sources on the Internet
• Archive.org Wayback Machine
• HaithiTrust
• Newspapers: Google | Library of Congress: Chroncicling America | Newspapers.com |
  Check local libraries: Cleveland Public Library: Historical Plain Dealer | Massillon Public Library: NewspaperArchive