Farmville Line Questions

[NW Mailing List]

Bruce, 

Wonderful mapping resources; I’ve added them to my various bookmarked resources.  

I’m in the process of building Google maps of various removed lines in the area that I live; my tools have been http://historical.mytopo.com/, combined with Google maps search ability, satellite and topo(terrain) views.  Many of the same base maps that are available through the USGS site you linked below are available in mytopo, but without the ability to search them directly; I find in many cases, I have had to find a landform in the historical topo map, then find the same landform in Google’s terrain view in order to find some historical place name on a current map.  Being able to search on the period map is a nice plus.

I’ve seen the transparency slider on another site, but that was limited mostly to cities and was a bit clunkier than this.

Thanks again, 

Matt Goodman
Columbus OH


On Sep 15, 2014, at 9:56 AM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

On Sun, Sep 14, 2014 at 8:51 PM, ​Jeff wrote:

with the assistance of old topographical maps, I was able to locate the signal bases at the west end of the siding at Prospect.  However I could not see anything were the east end was.

​For those who use topo maps to track changes and locations, your tax dollars provide some great tools. Start with this USGS "Tricks and Tips" newsletter that lists a number of resources that are available: http://www.fdlp.gov/all-newsletters/community-insights/2045-tricks-and-tips-for-finding-and-using-usgs-topographic-maps (or http://tinyurl.com/kfn8rxt). The first entry there, "the new USGS Historical Topographic Map Explorer," is one of the better tools that have been created. Go to that site (http://historicalmaps.arcgis.com/usgs/) and enter a location to search for. Click on the map and you will see a timeline of past maps that are available. Click on one of the maps and it is overlaid on the current image. Use the slider in the left column to adjust the transparency of the map to compare changes. You can click and drag the map to adjust the location and zoom in and out.
​
Overall I'm disappointed with the amount of infrastructure they removed during the abandonment and transformation process.  It would have really added some character to at least have left all of the mileposts in place.

​How much of this was NS pulling up stakes vs. the contractors who works on various parts of the project (from clearing the right of way to conversion to a trail) vs. "collectors" who uprooted souvenirs?  There are still many places trackside along the N&W where one can find concrete bases for signals and structures long gone; it is possible to see a lot of the infrastructure (some foundation pieces and lots of signal bases) where the previously discussed Arthur tower stood. Same goes for the area around both ends of the Lynchburg cut-off; there is still enough trace of structures (water tanks, towers, etc.) in the weeds that with historical photos one can get a good idea on the ground of what was where. So it seems odd that NS "sanitized" this area, unless that was part of the agreement to turn the line into a trail.

Bruce in Blacksburg
​

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