Chasing Ghost Railroads

Discussion in 'General' started by Karl, Feb 2, 2023.

  1. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    There are those among us, who relish walks in the literal weeds or virtual weeds of long abandoned railroads. Roger Taylor has done a great job of compiling the entire Frisco into Google Earth readable .kml/.kmz files. I believe that Roger used Google Earth itself as his “drawing tool”. Google Earth has the capability to measure distances, create labels, and measure curve radii; all very useful tools, when trying to trace old rights of way. In Google Earth, one can also overlay jpg files to add detail. Such work in Google Earth can be tedious; creating a jpg layer takes a bit of work. Lastly, I have not not been able to figure how to generate a profile in GE.

    My cycling hobby introduced me to the various apps that cyclists/runners/hikers use to create routes and courses. I have used three, i.e., Strava, Garmin, and Ride With GPS. These apps are smart in that the user can direct the software to follow existing roads and trails, or the user can direct the route manually. Each of these apps are available for smart phones, which can be used as recording devices or or as guiding devices. For example, if one is exploring, one can record his walk through the weeds, and then create an exportable route, or one can conduct the exploration virtually, import the route to the device, and then hike the route. The apps export to .tcx files, .gpx files, .fit files, and .kml files. I use Apple OS, so it’s easy to use a bit of linux and vi to edit and cat the files. I find it useful to export the routes from the the “apps” and then load them to GE.


    Roger’s impressive digital, GE layers
    RT_frisco_kml_overlay.jpg


    My JPG file layer of the Aurora engine facilities.
    keb_aurora_engine_facilty.jpg


    This is a Ride With GPS route of the Chadwick Branch displayed on a Hybrid maps-satellite image. In this app, the route may be displayed over a satellite image, hybrid map, USGS topo maps, OSM (open street maps Cycle and Outdoors), and ESRI’s arcGIS topo maps. The profile in includes the route elevations (left scale) and the grade per cent (right scale)
    Screen Shot 2023-02-02 at 10.32.34 AM.png

    I have made a couple of my Ride With GPS routes public, and they may be viewed at the following url’s:

    Chadwick Branch https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41557901

    Greenfield & Northern - Stockton Extension. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36603218
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2023
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  2. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    The Zalma Branch was a challenge. It required a Jeep and a canoe but I found relics and evidence of its existence like a cut through a hillside (Lauderdale Cut), trestle timbers cut down to the waterline (Castor River) raised roadbed (rare) and rusty rail connectors. It was removed in about 1934 but the exploration was fun!
     
  3. rjthomas909

    rjthomas909 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    This is fantastic Karl! Any chance I could get a screenshot of the Cherokee/Weir City area on the map? I don't suppose that the data is available somewhere online?

    -Bob T.
     
  4. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Now how cool is that?

    Since my discovery of steam (originally via the Freedom Train), I've enjoyed history and finding old roadbeds. Some of them I could ride portions (motorcycle for me, no peddling), or hoof n' it afoot. The one I spent the most time exploring was the Black Mountain & Eastern aka Combs, Cass, & Eastern. This would have been in the early 80s and early 90s. THAT was fun. I've eventually covered every foot of the roadbed. As I was hiked/explored/rode (one could ride it on a motorcycle then, now illegal) I found all sorts of artifacts: Spikes, rusted remains of black powder cans, timber trestle remains, concrete footings (at the bottom of a ravine where a large/tall trestle had spanned the deep ravine), and more.

    Even now, when traveling, I perk up when I detect an old road bed running alongside (or having crossed over it) via the road I'm on, and such as that.
     
    Karl likes this.
  5. WindsorSpring

    WindsorSpring Member

    Have you tried the "Tools>>Ruler>>Path" tool in Google Earth? It does require placing way points on the chosen path with mouse clicks. After tracing a path, clicking on the "Show Elevation Profile" in the >>Path window splits the display. The upper part displays the path at an angle while the lower part displays the profile.

    The Garmin GPS used to be able to place a track into Google Earth for an animated review of the information gathered. I never looked for a way to display a profile when using that feature. Many operating system upgrades have probably obsoleted it, anyway.
     
  6. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    +1

    The ruler function is one of the best tools in Google Earth. I use the "Show Elevation Profile" function for work quite a bit and I've found it's pretty accurate.
     
  7. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    Google Earth is one of my favorite tools.

    Roger's file is one of the best I've seen.

    Here's a good source for maps of every railroad: https://www.msrailroads.com/Google_earth.htm

    For those of you that aren't sure how to use the program, here's a quick starter video:

     
  8. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    Karl,

    You can see an elevation profile of an existing line by simply right clicking on it. A menu will pop up. Second to last option is "Show Elevation Profile". Select that and you'll get a new box with a 2D rendering of the elevation. You can move your mouse along it to show the elevation of a specific spot.
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. fredman23

    fredman23 Member

    Now you've got me trying to chase down the Fort Smith and Western. Which ain't so easy nowadays!
     
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