Does anyone here know where to find some track diagrams of the Soo Line. I tried SLHTS. I need it to design my Soo Layout?
Wasn’t the SOO Line merged into the Canadian Pacific? Try CP’s web site, if they have one, because the former SOO trackage should still be in use by them. But after 9/11, getting information about any North American railroad’s operations or routes has become a rather touchy subject.
Googling the Soo Line brought up LOTS of hits, but as usual, they almost all dealt with pretty pictures of the railroad, but virtually ZERO hard data of any sort.
That’s not unusual though. While the internet is becoming a fantastic RR research tool, it’s still up to the whims of people actually posting stuff. And collectors of railroad maps are notoriously greedy about either keeping their collections secret, or selling copies of what they’ve got. That’s why there’s virtually no real RR track charts online.
Your best bet is still the Soo historical society. Email or write them asking for information on where to obtain copies of the charts, and you should come up with some useful information. There are several Soo-related Yahoo Groups as well, which would be worthwhile to join. Read the archives for information, pay attention to the online conversations, and ask a few questions; you’ ll be surprised at all the stuff you’ll dig up!
I googled “Soo line railroad Maps” and got lots of hits. Try that you may find what you are looking for…
Here is a link to a site with some maps on it: http://sooline.railfan.net/ Go to Soo Line Resources and then Maps.
Jim
Those are MAPS, not track charts. Two completely different animals…
Thanks for the info guys! Yes orsonroy I need track charts. I have looked at the maps on http://sooline.railfan.net/
What part of the Soo Line are you intending to model? I was at a train show in Lansing, MI and bought a photo copy of the track charts for the DSS&A (merged into the Soo in 1961 or 62). A good place to check for these type of things is http://trainsite.8m.com/. Unfortunately at this time they do not have Soo Line track diagrams, but they do have SOO Line station diagrams from 1961. (See page 16 of their catalog.) These show every track and their lengths at various stations. These diagrams have much more detail that track diagrams. The only thing the track diagrams have that the station diagrams do not is the elevations, rail size, and ballast info.
Your best bet is to contact the Archives at SLHTS, attention Larry Easton. He was able to find detailed maps of the Houghton/Hancock area for me and make copies at a reasonable cost. I don’t think these are actually track diagrams, as they are labeled “Station Maps” but they are plenty detailed enough for modeling purposes, as they show all trackage, many track lengths, curve radius, right-of-way signage, bridges and structures, and other nearby structures and streets.
BTW, I also have the DSSA set of track charts, but the station maps are far more detailed as Eric just noted.
It may take a few months depending on what they have on their plate and what they actually have available. They seem to have a pretty good collection of DSSA stuff – Larry told me they had these available for most of the Copper Country trackage – but their coverage of other Soo and predecessor lines may not be as complete as it is in the Upper Pennisula.