What would be the best resource for maps showing current rail lines with highways also indicated?
DeLorme state maps are a good place to start.
I second the DeLorne Atlases. They don’t show every last detail, but they show the main and branch lines, and locations of most yards.
Nick
I’ll be buying at least one new DeLorme atlas before embarking on my trip west next month. Those are probably the best hardcopy maps of both rails and roads available, in spite of the fact that they don’t always have the most up-to-date railroad information. If you’re lucky, you might find that they show that abandoned railroad grade you’re looking at (an SPV railroad atlas will help nail it down for you).
Online is a different story. With the maps from somebody like Google, there is even less correct identification of the railroads–but if you use the combination map/photograph feature, you’ll see plenty. I have heard other people talk about better programs out there, but haven’t tried them yet.
DeLorme can be quite good IF the state you want has recently been updated (it seems like they try to update every state on a four or five-year cycle). Iowa’s was last updated in 2004. To determine how recent the edition for a state is, look on the first page inside the cover in the lower right-hand corner under the Table Of Contents.