Rail Maps

[stevegregory79]

1. Where are the best places to find old railway route maps?
2. Would anyone have any knowledge of how to identify an old railbed about 2.75 miles NE of Delmar DE? Center of visible grade is at 38°28'58.68"N 75°31'40.03"W.

 

[Cliffs]

The University of Texas at Austin has some USGS Topographic maps digitized and available online. Some go back to the 1940s or earlier. Many of these will show the locations of routes which have been abandoned.

Grid key index map for the U.S.:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/250k/txu-pclmaps-united_states-index.jpg

List of maps with clickable links:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/250k/

Salisbury, DE quadrangle from 1947, showing Delmar and surrounding area:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/250k/txu-pclmaps-topo-us-salisbury-1947.jpg

 

[stevegregory79]

Thank you. Good info for sure. Unfortunately, the RR grade that I am looking for is too old and/or obscure for these maps. For all I know it was a temporary logging grade/ siding instead of a line from a continuous service.

 

[SDJeff]

Steve, logging railroads were rarely kept up with. There maybe a collection in a larger library in your state or the state of that railroad. I'm unable to find stuff in my own backyard from 100 years ago. The USCG maps may have something, some times they have marks on it noted "old railroad grade".

 

[PLS28409]

Steve,
A good source of local maps will be the County court house. Not knowing the dynamics of your state, if there is a County Surveyor or Engineer that is where I would start. They should have access to historical maps that may have the information you need.
Alternatively, visit a Land Surveyor's office and ask them, they are usually helpful.
Are you sure that this is not a pipeline right-of-way?

Dan

 

[stevegregory79]

Dan,
Thanks! I had not thought of the courthouse/county engineer.

I am pretty sure that it's a rail bed. It is consistent, 12 ft wide and about 1/4 mile long, with a nicely done curve. It is 2+ miles from the main rail line that has been there for over 150 years.

 

[CSXYM]

I have found old RR grades noted in maps from Maptech...