How do I figure out which railroad runs near my house? I did try to look up such a resource on-line but was unable so far to locate anything. Is there a website for this look-up? Thanks for your help.
Any crossings nearby? There should be a placard on the crossbucks indicating who owns the line (or is at least responsible for it).
Failing that, find yourself on http://mapper.acme.com/ and check the TOPO map to see who owned the line when that map was drawn. Depending on the map’s age, it could be a predecessor listed. You might have to scroll along the line to find it.
I would suggest going to the nearest grade crossing and looking for its identification tag. The railroad will be named, by reporting marks, if nothing else. And if the crossing is equipped with flashers and/or gates, there should be an emergency number posted for the railroad in question.
And, if we knew where you lived, there’s probably some know-it-all on this Forum who could identify the railroad for you! [;)]
The number Tree is talking about is a six-digit number followed by a check letter. Each crossing (and bridge) has a unique number assigned to it. (no other crossing in the country has that number) The number can be found stencilled on an instrument signal case at a signallized crossing, a panic number sign, a license plate like steel tag strapped or nailed to a post and sometimes (rarely survive anymore) a laminated white with black numbering cardbord tag.
May I offer the following in the spirit of fun?
Next time you hear a train coming (the Weather Channel says they make a sound like tornadoes) go outside and stand within sight of the train. Read the name on the locomotive. That’s probably the name you’re looking for. (cue foamers about run-through power)
Or, rather more seriously, you might call your local police department and ask them the name of the railroad. I’m sure they know.
See? Not every problem in this world lends itself to a computer or digital answer; sometimes analog works.
OK. We now return you to your regular program.
The question is not necessarily as dumb as it sounds. I grew up about 150-200 yards from the main lines of the South Shore, NKP and an unknown road over which trains of Monon, Erie, C&O and occasionally EJ&E ran. Not until I saw an aerial photo on the back page of the “Chicago Daily News” in 1961 which showed proposed improvements to navigation to the Calumet River did I learn that this unknown road was the Chicago & Western Indiana.
And then, after the police give you the name of the oldest predecessor or some such, thank them politely, then run it by us know-it-alls and see what the correct answer is.
Seriously, the problem with the flaming wreck on a washout in Rockford, Illinois, last year was that the police (or other law enforcement) identified the wrong railroad, and by the time they found out whose tracks they really were, it was too late.
There’s a series of Railroad Atlases published by Steam Powered Video for each region of the country. That may be way more than you want to know or pay for, but it does provide a lot of the predecessor line information.
Check the websites of each of the ‘usual suspects’ - the 7 US Class 1’s, and any local commuter or transit agencies, as well as regional railroads. Almost every one has a map of its system on-line, including lines that it operates over but does not own, such as by ‘trackage rights’. They may indicate connections such as short lines as well.
If it is a short line, they may not have a website or publicly available map. Sometimes state agencies will have maps of them, though. Pennsylvania’s Rail Map is especially good, at - ftp://ftp.dot.state.pa.us/public/pdf/BPR_pdf_files/MAPS/Statewide/parail.pdf
EDIT: For instance, try a Google Advanced Search for “Your State’s Name” as a phrase if needed, plus "rail
In this day and age of hair trigger reactions based on homeland security, I would think the last place I would seek an answer is with any police department. Placard on crossbuck is probably best bet. Or ask you neighbors. Yeah, you might see an engine, but with run throughs and leased units, you really can’t tell. Unless there is one name you see more than others. And, yes, maps are good…in fact try any of the map services on line here and see what they put on as a name…and with that report back here as to your location and the name given on the map and we might better come up with an answer for you.
Given that I have a rough idea where the poster lives, it’s entirely possible that they live near a line that currently sees no traffic. Which is why I didn’t suggest the same thing…
The rail line that runs by our lumberyard sees approximately 6 trains per day. In the last month or so, I’ve seen locomotives from BNSF, CSX, NS, CN, and D&I. So, from reading the names on the locomotives, whose railroad runs by my place of work? I know it’s not DM&E, because I didn’t see any DM&E locomotives. [;)]
I guess I should have been much more specific. The line runs NEAR my house, not BY my house. (Sorry to those of you I confused and caused you to think I do not have a brain.[:O]) I cannot see the locomotives pass by on the line from my residence. Also, they are very infrequent and there is no LEGAL place to watch. I actually believe I have it figured out now, so to those of you who offered serious answers, thank you again for your help. I do appreciate it. EDIT: For those interested, it’s a shortline, actually a trio, I guess. They are LA&L, B&H, and WNY&P. EDIT
Where do you live ?
OK. OK. Uncle!!
The Jury will disregard the (my) previous remark.
attn: WMNB4THRTL…I never meant to impugn your intelligence. Sorry if I gave you that idea.
(This is a tough room to work! LOL)
Are you sure it’s not DM&E? After all, aren’t they going to run their coal trains over the Big Sioux in Sioux Falls on the bridge that the city wants to move?
We have the N&S through our little hamlet, four full crossings, two underpass(on the rail side, one on the road side) and one crosswalk. Three sidings, a MFA elevator, a copper recycler and a cut to a soda cannery and lumber yard/wholesaler. We get around a train every two hours to hour and half.
PM’s with the OP indicate that they have figured out the railroad. In this case, your advice would have been appropriate as it’s not often you’ll see “foreign power” on that line, but their traffic density is in the one per day range, so catching a train in the first place can be a challenge.
I’ll let them tip their hand on the name of the railroad, if they so choose.
Maybe that rail is the Buffet & Munger? Their locomotives can be identified by having a gecko as part of the corporate logo!
To be clear, I was poking fun at NKPguy, not at the original poster WMNB4THRTL. If that was unclear, I apologize.
Another source for this info would be a local library. You can call them and if they don’t know it right off the top of their heads they can usually find it for you pretty quickly.
The same can be said for the city or county administration offices. They really don’t mind finding info for you. Really. Have to keep the constituents happy and it is a nice change from the daily grind. I speak from experience.