Railroad Geography Blog

Cascade Loops - OR

2008-07-13T21:09:00.001-07:00

View Larger Map
These double hairpin curves on the Union Pacific (former SP) were the site of a massive mudslide at Frazier on January 19, 2008. 1500 feet of mainline was covered with about one-million tons of debris. A massive effort by U.P. restored the line to service by early May.
Image Links (Opens a new window):

Tucson SP Roundhouse in 1958 - Tucson, AZ

2008-06-19T18:40:00.004-07:00

HistoricAerials.com is an excellent resource for looking up vintage aerial images of railroad facilities. The number of places that have older imagery is still limited, but growing. Here is an example - a 1958 view of the SP engine facilities in Tucson, Arizona in 1958. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Tucson 1958 at HistoricAerials.com

Gaviota Trestle, CA

2008-05-14T17:21:00.002-07:00

View Larger Map
A Union Pacific (former Southern Pacific) bridge along the scenic Pacific Coast at Gaviota State Park. In addition to the usual links, I have included a link to the California Coastal Records Project image of this location. I highly recommend this website for viewing the "Surfline".
Image Links (Opens a new window):

Rocket Sled Track - Holloman AFB, NM

2008-04-21T18:43:00.001-07:00

View Larger Map
This is the south end of a 10 mile long rocket sled track. The record for fastest speed obtained by a railed vehicle (10430 KPH) and fastest manned rail vehicle (1017 KPH) were set here. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Amtrak Train Locations

2008-04-06T15:09:00.006-07:00

AMTRAK STATUS MAPS

A very useful web site that displays the location of Amtrak trains. The positions of the trains, which are shown on each of the regional maps, is derived from Amtrak's website. The status of these trains is only as accurate as the information Amtrak's website provides.

Sometimes I have trouble getting access to the site (which redirects to a a dynamic address from the URL linked above), but it is well worth a retry or two if it does not load right away.

West Colton Yard, CA

2008-04-04T13:38:00.003-07:00

View Larger Map
Constructed between 1971 and 1973 by the Southern Pacific, now owned by Union Pacific. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Bensenville Yard, IL

2008-03-28T10:35:00.001-07:00

View Larger Map
Canadian Pacific Railway's Benesville Yard (ex-Milwaukee Road) is just south of Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Clinchfield Loops, NC

2008-03-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
Climbing the Blue Ridge required a series of sharp curves and tunnels for the Clinchfield Railroad (now CSX). Image Links (Opens a new window):

Essex, MT

2008-02-27T22:03:00.006-07:00

View Larger Map
Halfway between East and West Glacier, Essex is a BNSF helper station and home of the Izaak Walton Inn, built in 1939 for Great Northern train crews. The Izaak Walton is now a railfan haven. Served by Amtrak's "Empire Builder". Image Links (Opens a new window):

Google Earth

Google Maps

MS Live Search

Terraserver-USA

Yahoo Maps

Moffat Tunnel - East Portal, CO

2008-02-19T12:56:00.002-07:00

View Larger Map
This 6.2 mile long tunnel through the Continental Divide is 9,239 feet above sea level at its apex and is the 6th longest tunnel in the world. Opening to rail traffic in February 1928, Moffat Tunnel bypassed 27 miles of difficult railroad over the 12,000 foot elevation Rollins Pass.

The buildings at the East Portal house the power plant and equipment used for ventilation. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Union Station - St. Louis, MO

2008-02-19T12:14:00.001-07:00

View Larger Map
Opened on September 1, 1894 Union Station was, for a brief time, the largest in the world. An impressive 230-foot clock tower rises from the station's head house. Last used as a train station in 1978, it has been restored as a shopping mall and hotel.

Image Links (Opens a new window):

Argentine Yard - Kansas City, KS

2008-02-19T11:00:00.002-07:00

View Larger Map
The original Argentine Yard was constructed by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1906. Now part of the BNSF Railway, it has been modernized a number of times. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Dublin Trains in Real Time

2008-02-18T14:05:00.004-07:00

DartMaps displays realtime locations of Dublin's DART commuter trains on Google Maps.

Sunset Limited Accident Site - Big Bayou Canot, AL

2008-02-18T13:52:00.003-07:00

View Larger Map
The Big Bayou Canot train disaster of September 22, 1993 is the worst train wreck in the history of Amtrak.

This wreck occurred after a CSX bridge over the Big Bayou Canot was struck at approximately 2:45 AM by a barge being pushed by the towboat Mauvilla, whose pilot had become disoriented in heavy fog. The collision forced the bridge approximately three feet out of alignment and severely kinked the track.

At approximately 2:53 AM, Amtrak's Sunset Limited train, en route from Los Angeles, California to Miami, Florida with 220 passengers and crew aboard, crossed the bridge at high speed and derailed at the kink. Forty-seven people aboard the train were killed. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Note: The misalignment in the Google Maps image is a seam in the image mosiac, not from bridge damage.

Huey P. Long Bridge - New Orleans, LA

2008-02-18T13:01:00.002-07:00

View Larger Map
The Huey P. Long Bridge is the longest railroad bridge in the United States (22,996 feet). Opened in December 1935, the cantilevered steel through truss bridge was named for governor, Huey P. Long and is owned by the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad.

Image Links (Opens a new window):

Pecos High Bridge - Texas

2008-02-15T08:44:00.003-07:00

View Larger Map
PECOS HIGH BRIDGE. The 1892 high bridge had a total length of 2,180 feet and the rails stood 321 feet above the river. The bridge was thus the highest railroad bridge in North America and the third highest in the world.

Construction of the new Pecos High Bridge was begun in August, 1943 at a site 440 feet downstream from the 1892 bridge. The new bridge had a length of 1,390 feet and the rails were 322 feet above the river. It was opened to mainline traffic on December 21, 1944. The 1944 Pecos High Bridge is still in use, but the rails now stand only about 265 feet above the Pecos River, which has risen because of Amistad Reservoir. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Union Station - Washington, DC

2008-02-15T07:59:00.004-07:00

View Larger Map
At the time it was completed in 1908, Union Station covered more ground than any other building in the United States and was the largest train station in the world. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Tracking Swiss Train Locations

2008-02-13T15:35:00.008-07:00

The Swisstrains website shows the scheduled position on trains based on the system timetable and plotted on a Google Map. They plan to modify it to show real-time locations in the near future.

Enola Yard - Enola, PA

2008-02-13T15:29:00.002-07:00

View Larger Map
Enola, PA - Across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg are Norfolk Southern's Enola Yards (formerly Pennsylvania RR).

Amtrak Wilmington Shops - Wilmington, DE

2008-02-13T15:14:00.004-07:00

View Larger Map
Home base for Amtrak's fleet of electric locomotives. The remains of the former Pennsylvania RR roundhouse can be seen in the lower left. Image Links:(opens a new window):

Cincinnati Union Terminal - Cincinnati, OH

2008-02-13T12:48:00.002-07:00

View Larger Map
Completed in 1933, with a distinctive 200 feet in diameter arch, Cincinnati Union Terminal is one of America's greatest stations

Union Pacific's Bailey Yard - North Platte, NE

2008-02-13T12:32:00.002-07:00

View Larger Map
The World's Largest Railroad Classification Yard, Union Pacific Railroad's Bailey Yard in North Platte, Nebraska, covers 2,850 acres, is eight miles long, and contains 312 miles of track.
Image Links (Opens a new window):

Hiwassee Loop - Tennessee

2008-02-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
Former Louisville & Nashville (later CSX) helix in East Tennessee. The last freight train operated over the loop in 2001. The Hiwassee River Railroad now operates a tourist train over the line. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Union Depot - Opelika, AL

2008-02-12T13:48:00.002-07:00

View Larger Map
The Norfolk Southern (former Southern/Central of Georgia) line from Columbus, GA to Birmingham crosses the Atlanta to Montgomery CSX (former Western Railway of Alabama) here. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Memphis & Charleston Depot - Huntsville, AL

2008-02-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
This historic station was built by the Memphis and Charleston Railroad in 1860. When Union troops captured Hunstville in 1862, it was used as a temporary prison. The M&C later became part of Southern Railway (now Norfolk Southern). The station has been restored as part of a transporation museum. The freight depot on the north side of the tracks was once the oldest freight station in use in the United States. Unfortunately it was badly damaged by fire in 2004. The fire damage can be seen in the MS Live Search image. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Colorado Railroad Museum - Golden, CO

2008-02-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
The Colorado Railroad Museum has over 100 standard and narrow guage locomotives and cars on display. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Durango & Silverton Roundhouse - Durango, CO

2008-02-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
Roundhouse and turnatble of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The Denver & Rio Grande Railway reached Durango in 1881 and expanded towards Silverton. The line hauled frieght and passengers in the late 1960's and continues today as a tourist operation that has been featured in numerous movies. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Alaska Railroad - Anchorage, AK

2008-02-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
Alaska Raiload's Anchorage Depot. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Tehachapi Loop, CA

2008-02-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
The Tehachapi Loop on the Union Pacific (former Southern Pacific) line through Tehachapi Pass. A train more than 4000 ft long will pass over itself going around the loop. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Williams Loop, CA

2008-02-09T13:32:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
Western Pacific (Now Union Pacific) loop on the "Feather River Route" through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Amtrak Stations - USA

2008-02-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
(Above: Los Angeles Union Station)
"RockyRacoon" at the Google Earth Community has posted Google Earth and Google Maps placemarks for every Amtrak train and bus station. It is a bit out of date, since it is based on Amtrak timetables from July, 2000, but it is very useful.:

Google Earth Community

A map of the current Amtrak network can be found at the official Amtrak web site:

Amtrak Route Atlas

Horseshoe Curve, PA

2008-02-09T12:22:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
One of the most famous locations of the Pennsylvania Railroad (now part of Norfolk Southern). Image Links (Opens a new window):

Redondo Junction, CA

2008-02-07T20:19:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
Two Santa Fe RDCs derailed on a curve at Redondo Junction on January 22, 1956, killing 30 and seriously injuring 117. The roundhouse on the northwest side of the junction was demolished in 2000, but still appears in the Terraserver image from 1994. Image links (Opens in a new Window):

Fullerton, CA

2008-02-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
Fullerton Station - serves Amtrak and Metrolink Commuter trains.
Image Links (Opens a new window):

Gilluly Loops, UT

2008-02-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
Union Pacific (former Denver & Rio Grande Western - DRGW) double-horseshoe curves on the grade near Soldier Summit. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Union Station - Ogden, UT

2008-02-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
Ogden Union Station, home of the Utah State Railroad Museum.
Image Links (Opens a new window):

Dismantled Engine Facilities - Ogden, UT

2008-02-07T12:20:00.001-07:00

View Larger Map
Previous location of Union Pacific (UP) locomotive transfer table and turntable. The transfer table was south of the turntable. In the 1997 Terraserver-USA image, both appear to be intact. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Historic Maps and Aerial Photos

2008-02-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here are a few links to on-line resources for historic maps and aerial photographs:

Jackass Flats, NV

2008-02-07T04:23:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
Known un-officially the "Jackass and Western Railway", this a mysterious unconnected railroad was built in the 1960s and used to move an experimental, nuclear rocket engines from the an assembly building to a test stand. A locomotive from the railroad has been restored at the Nevada Southern Railway Museum.

Verde Canyon RR - Clarkdale, AZ

2008-02-07T01:52:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
The Arizona Central Railroad (AZCR) operates from a connection with the BNSF Railway at Drake to to Clarkdale, Arizona (38 miles). An excursion train also runs on the line through Verde Canyon and is operated by the same owners as the Verde Canyon Railroad.
Image Links (Opens a new window):

BNSF Railway Yard - Winslow, AZ

2008-02-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
Winslow, Arizona is a division point between the Gallup and Seligman subdivisions of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF). This former Santa Fe (ATSF) route is one of the busiest railroad lines in the U.S with more than 100 freight and two Amtrak trains passing through Winslow daily. The Amtrak station is east of the yard next to the historic La Posada Hotel. Image Links (Opens a new window):

Diablo Canyon Bridge - AZ

2008-02-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map

The spectacular Canyon Diablo bridge is in Northern Arizona between Flagstaff and Winslow on the BNSF (former Santa Fe). Unfortunately, this is a low-resolution area.
Image Links (Opens a new window):

Cienega Creek Bridge - AZ

2008-02-06T16:40:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
Cienega Creek, AZ - East of Tucson, the former Southern Pacific (now UP) lines cross over each other in a canyon.
Image Links (Opens a new window):

Santa Fe Turntable - Phoenix, AZ

2008-02-06T16:01:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map
BNSF Railway (Former AT&SF) turntable near downtown Phoenix.
Image Links (Opens a new window):

UP Rail Yard - Tucson, AZ

2008-02-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map

Tucson, AZ - Union Pacific (ex Southern Pacific) rail yard.

Image Links (Opens in new Window):

Introduction

2008-02-06T09:33:00.001-07:00

This blog will be dedicated to exploring the geography of the World's railroad networks.

Several years ago, I created a section of my website, RailwayStation.com, that provided links to interesting railroad locations on the Microsoft Terraserver. Since then, the addition of high resolution urban images and the appearance of Google Maps and Google Earth, have made exploring railroads online a far richer experience.

Most of these posts will inlcude links to Google Maps, MS Live Search Maps, Terraserver-USA and Yahoo! Maps, which provide online maps and aerial images. I will also be providing links to Google Earth, which is a free Windows application. Click here for information about Google Earth.