Mapping of U.S. Railways

Mapping of U.S. RailwaysThrough the use of GIS InformationData Systems1895 Montparnasse Station Train Wreck

ObjectivesGive a little historyCompare the ways of the pastWith the world of todayImportance of GIS Data Systems with Railway

Railway HistoryThe golden spike ceremony at Promontory Point, Utah in 1869

modern locomotive - Trans continental railroadCompare the past with the presentToday the United States has more than 250,000 miles of railroads.Speeds approaching 200 miles an hour are becoming common on some lines.At the present time, trans continental railroads carry more freight than passenger traffic

Leviathan 4-4-0 Steam Locomotive No.631807: The very first passenger train ran from Swansea to Mumbles on March 25th1862: President Abraham Lincoln signs the Pacific Railway Act, which authorizes the construction of the first transcontinental railroad.1900: Casey Jones rode the "Cannonball" into history on April 30th.

"North Coast Limited" passenger train

1916: saw peak mileage at over 254,000 and railroads held virtually 100% of all interstate traffic1934: Construction of the first streamlined electric locomotives begins.1970: Congress passes the Rail Passenger Service Act creating Amtrak

Right Half of James Hayward's 1828 plan of a survey for the proposed Boston and Providence Railway. Surveys took any where from weeks to monthsInfluences upon the Surveyor could and did affect the results of the map

Railway right of way SurveysWith the use of GIS surveys are able to limit the amount of problemsto arise, except those from operator error

The Last Coal Burning Steam Engine on display in downtown Trinidad, Colorado. Engine 683 was manufactured in 1906 and put into service with the Colorado & Southern

GIS Data Exchange CapabilitiesRailroad Service Across Iowa

Grand Trunk Railway ca.1867This map shows the connections at various points,The railway tracks were used in both directions and Time was standardized to the nearest major city.

GIS based Railway Station Management SystemWith the use of GIS data systems items like B-class stations and the existence of foot over bridgescan be managed effectively.

Delaware & Hudson "Adirondack" powered by ex-Santa Fe, Alco PA diesel locomotives at Montreal Station.

With a GIS data system time schedules, products, material goodsare easily tracked.

In the past tracking passengers, products, material goods, and time schedules were done by clerks on paper..Amtrak Railway map

The importance of GIS data systems for the Railway has helped improve performance, safety, maintenance plus other aspects of the railway system.

Railroad map of the US ca. 1918

Sources:http://www.mapindia.org/2005/papers/Transportation/268.htmhttp://members.kos.net/sdgagnon/te3.htmlhttp://railpassengerusa.com/events.phphttp://www.neiu.edu/~rgutierr/red_city/trains.htmlhttp://www.flickr.comwww.historicalstockphotos.comwww.oursurprisingworld.comhttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leviathan_63_Train_Festival_2009.jpgwww.americanghostsandhauntings.comhttp://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/rrhtml/rrintro.htmlhttp://www.sdrm.org/history/timeline/>http://www.american-rails.com/railroad-history.htmlhttp://railpassengerusa.com/events.php>http://www.mapindia.org/2005/papers/Transportation/268.htmhttp://clintoncountyohgis.org/surveys_railroad_row.htmhttp://www.ctre.iastate.edu/educweb/ce352/lec24/gista.htmhttp://wikipedy.com/trans_continental_railroad_facts.htmhttp://ptatransitauthority.blogspot.com/2009/03/modern-locomotives.htmlhttp://www.esri.com/industries/railways/index.htmlhttp://www.trainweb.org/mdamtrak199/trainsounds.htmlhttp://www.dieselairhorns.com/sounds.html?album=5null33907.16Train_Passby_AmtrakThe Recordist Mp3The Recordist Free Sound FX2000Sound Effects30459.004eng - Copyright owned by Frank Bry. All rights reserved.eng - iTunPGAP0eng - iTunNORM 00000202 0000046F 00002AE1 0000303F 00001E00 00001DCB 00007663 0000772D 00001E34 00001E34eng - iTunSMPB 00000000 00000210 00000733 00000000001475BD 00000000 0007629D 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000