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I've gone through Category:Wikipedia requested maps and Template:North America class I and tagged articles with Mapneeded=yes as appropriate (and a few, like Wisconsin Central Railway, with Mapdetails to give more information). There are quite a few more that still need to be tagged, especially when we look at railroad companies and train routes worldwide. We've got our work cut out for us. Slambo (Speak) 03:46, 13 August 2006 (UTC)
Category:Trains project articles needing maps now has 112 articles in it. Slambo (Speak) 03:47, 13 August 2006 (UTC)
For the maps I've been making I've been using http://www.bts.gov/publications/north_american_transportation_atlas_data/ as my source - does require GIS software to use. Note the date is 1998 so it doesn't include the most recent mergers. Kmusser 15:34, 13 August 2006 (UTC)
How accurate is it? The publicly available railroad GIS layers I've looked at for New York State are essentially worthless. They're very precise but not very accurate. For example, they list sections of the Rutland east of Norwood, even though that railroad doesn't exist. And they are missing sections of the New York and Ogdensburg which does exist. They're so bad that I created my own dataset for New York State. It's not as precise but it's far more accurate. RussNelson 02:56, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
I noticed that Slambo tagged Metra Electric Line with "maps needed". I wondered about making a bunch of Metra maps myself. Should they be real, to-scale maps, or are schematics more appropriate for commuter railroads? Gws57 16:58, 15 August 2006 (UTC)
So let talk about a consensus on how maps look. I not sure how many have made maps but it is not easy. I use photo-shop to make mine, but scale is the big problem. Most of the ones I had to make more then once were due to the problem of scale. I will be the first to say that I am not realy happy with the way they look. The problem is that old rail maps are not around of these railroads. Lazarus-long 16:05, 19 August 2006 (UTC)
I created Image:Nys-railroads.png and could create similar maps for individual New York State railroads with relatively little effort. I agree with Slambo that the Scott Special is a nice representation, particularly since it shows the stations along the route. It clearly requires a fair bit of hand work. However, that would not be appropriate for a map that shows a system map of the entire New York Central. For that, the BNSF map, or my Nys-railroads map is more appropriate.
Where should system maps be located on the page? I looked at a few pages, and whenever a system map exists, it is the top image in the infobox. However, some infoboxes have the railroad's herald there. Seems to me that there ought to be a standard place for displaying the railroad's herald as well.
I ask because I want to auto-generate a bunch of system maps for New York State, and I want to be able to auto insert them as well. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by RussNelson (talk • contribs) 22:17, October 7, 2006.
I've tried my hand at a few maps:
Now that I look back at these, I see I haven't been using a consistent style for these maps. Beyond that, though, I'm looking for feedback on a few things I've done:
I welcome any other comments on the maps I've drawn so I can be consistent and clear in what I'm doing. --Elkman - (Elkspeak) 21:26, 13 October 2006 (UTC)
'BnO': 'saddlebrown', 'BnM': 'limegreen', 'DnH': 'blue', 'DLnW': 'purple', 'EL': 'red', 'LV': 'peru', 'NYOnW': 'khaki', 'PSnN': 'palevioletred', 'NYC': 'green', 'NYNHnH': 'purple', 'PRR': 'dodgerblue', 'LIRR': 'dodgerblue', 'Rutland': 'plum', 'Shortline': 'orange',
I took these colors (more or less) from the New York State Railroad Network Map linked here: [1] The names of the colors are standard X Window System names; ask if you need to have RGB color numbers to go with them.
Obviously it is not completed; I would add trackage rights and other divisions and fix the labels. But is the general idea good? I also hope to distribute my changes to the BTS GIS data; I added columns for the divisions and subdivisions. --NE2 01:34, 14 November 2006 (UTC)
I decided to make a full map first, but I need a few questions answered: Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Trains#Questions for anyone familiar with CSX operations. Please help. --NE2 01:00, 20 November 2006 (UTC)
So my first attempt was on a whim for Black Mesa and Lake Powell railroad in northern Arizona. Before I add it anywhere, can people tell me if it is suitable? Thanks! Shorelander 02:01, 19 December 2006 (UTC)
Hi,
I am trying to improve the state of the article Rail transit in metropolitan Denver and associated articles. I have precise coordinates for all the stations and reasonably precise track coordinates. Any suggestions on a program that will generate a map based on this data? Ideally, I'd like something similar to the London Underground maps. I have not been able to find out how people are generating maps like that. --BetaCentauri 03:38, 20 December 2006 (UTC)
Since there's no bus wikiproject, I'm going to ask for comments on Image:Newark buses.svg here. Apologies if no one cares. --NE2 14:49, 31 January 2007 (UTC)
I'd be interested in joining this task force, if people are interested in the creation of route maps using the model used on the German Wikipedia. I have produced one as an example at St Albans Branch Line - any thoughts? AlexTiefling 19:25, 15 March 2007 (UTC)
Hello all! Sorry if this isn't the place for this ... the very nice map of the Baltimore Light Rail system (Image:BaltimoreLightRail.png) is now out of date, as the Maryland MTA has changed the routing. (An updated map is here.) I don't have the graphic skills with which to fix said map, and the wikipeidian who created it appears to now be inactive (a request posted to his talk page has gone unanswered). Wonder if any of you mappers would want to take on the redrawing effort! --Jfruh (talk) 13:45, 10 October 2007 (UTC)
Been working on a couple of related articles, Heartland Flyer, Lone Star (passenger train) (incl Texas Chief), Inter-American (Amtrak) among them. ALL need maps. The up side is that all share at least some trackage, which should make map-making easier.
I actually have taken cartography classes (in the early 1990s) but I'm not up to date on preferred tools. I have all three platforms available at home (and 2/3 at work), but would prefer something Open Source. I'm open to ideas.
OTOH, I would not object at all if someone else would care to make the maps ... :-)
I hope to add some timetable refs this weekend so that route differences (there are a few) will be clearer in the articles. --plaws (talk) 22:46, 14 December 2007 (UTC)
I have added a German style map to the Telford Steam Railway page, my first try at one. Comments and suggestions would be greafully received. --WaltTFB (talk) 19:31, 13 January 2008 (UTC)
Pyrotec has said that article Whitby and Pickering Railway is in need of a map (it already has a location map) and that it should be provided in conjunction with this task force.
I am willing to try and provide another map to meet this request but all examples given here deal with the USA and this is a very early UK railway (horse worked at that). Having no facilities to draw a map from scratch, I am thrown back on maps from the period (1830's). I do have a (slightly rough) JPEG file of the map submitted with the application to parliament - but the original is around 4ft long, very little detail could be seen condensing it to screen width. There is another slightly earlier map described as 'Map of the District connected with the Proposed Railway', which is still quite large and includes most of Yorkshire; however it is suitable for trimming to a smaller scope, which might then be suitable for use (providing a black and white map is acceptable).
If neither of these is acceptable, then please tell me what is?
Help and advice happily accepted.
XTOV (talk) 23:00, 8 March 2008 (UTC)
I just made Image:Union Pacific Railroad system map.svg. Should any of the colors or line styles be changed? --NE2 23:15, 26 August 2008 (UTC)
I would be interested in producing schematic maps for rail lines in the US in a similar manner to the UK and German lines. No one seems to be doing this except for some Amtrak Routes and similar. Is anyone else working on this? I was going to start on Wisconsin as that is where I live. Any comments anyone?--Wickifrank (talk) 00:05, 4 January 2009 (UTC)
I have added more info to the Green Bay and Western page to the point where it needs a route diagram. I have the info to do this but no matter how many times I read the route diagram template page I just don't get it. Is there a "Templates for Dummies" page - oops I am sure use of "for Dummies" is a copyright violation!. But I need a real simple how to guide. Please reply on my talk page. Alternatly I can list the info for someone else to do it. But would really like to be able to do this. Years ago it seemed to be easier to cut, paste and edit something someone else had done - that does not seem to work now. --Wickifrank (talk) 13:25, 28 September 2011 (UTC)
More Pittsburgh Light Rail lines need individual maps like that of Template:47 Drake. Actually, all of them should get those templates, just in case articles are written on all individual lines. ----DanTD (talk) 16:00, 24 January 2010 (UTC)
I have geographical (i.e. non-schematic) route maps for most of the New England (historical) railroads and I'm seeking guidance on how to introduce them into the Trains WikiProject. The routes are in the form of KML files which are suitable for Google Maps (and Google Earth) but posting these on a Google base would, I think, involve copyright issues. For an example, of this kind of map, see the Wiki page for Billerica and Bedford Railroad (look under the Maps section).
I like the look of some of the maps mentioned on this page, for example the one in Arizona. That looks really nice. But where did you get the base map? And how did you get the route to overlay the basemap?
Beowulf (talk) 17:58, 10 May 2010 (UTC)
James(talk) 20 December 2016 I am working on US 19th Century routes and I used cropped images of historical maps from the Library of Congress, which has state, county and year attached to the map, and the New York Public Library.
I currently search for the year and location on the Library of Congress site and crop the image with a CCS crop. I would like to have a tool that could go in the badge of a rail map request, that could look for maps from the years and locations of the railroad of the request and open each map up in a crop tool that would produce a CCS crop after the user positions the borders. First all maps would need to be imported from the Library of COngress and New York Public library, and libraries of other nations, with location and year information for more efficient searches.
Identify and categorize existing historical railroad maps (Need mass import, Library of congress and other libraries already have year and location data attached to the maps.
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How do I request a map be made? OR! How can I make one myself? The line is Raritan River Railroad. --Metallurgist (talk) 04:27, 19 October 2010 (UTC)
Just found this project, and it appears to be semi active, but you have a list of 3000 articles requiring maps for. Whilst I may not be able to draw maps very well, is there any way I can help you out? As you seem to have s big job ahead of you.
If you wish I could simply do something as come up with a list of articles that have a higher priority than others.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Lucas,
Lord Castellan Creed (talk) 22:31, 18 January 2011 (UTC)
The system map formerly used in the Amtrak article was deleted, due to it apparently being a copyright violation. The article now desperately needs a new map. Is there anyone here who can help? Thanks, BMRR (talk) 20:59, 4 September 2011 (UTC)
Hello, as member of a developments team of [ShareMap.org], Creative Commons Web GIS tool I encourage everyone to try using ShareMap for creating maps for railway or streetcar articles.
ShareMap can use geospatial data from Open Street Map and NORTAD railway maps (currently only Canada and Mexico).
All maps created with ShareMap are in SVG format and are licensed on CC-SA-BY 3.0 license, so it can be easily reused on Wikimedia projects (without any permissions);
Examples of maps created with ShareMap:
Railways | Streetcars | Other |
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Railways in Tanzania |
Arkhangelsk tramway network |
Pony Express Route |
For more informations check out ShareMap Wikimedia Commons page.
--Jkan997 (talk) 23:27, 12 November 2011 (UTC)
I found a KMZ file - open source - that contains a fairly complete list of railways in Southern Ontario. I'd like to use this as the basis of a series of maps for the articles I'm writing. Jan's post above seems like an ideal solution for the display side.
But first there are a series of very minor errors in the file I'd like to correct. Nothing serious, just minor mis-alignment of the lines with the underlying map data. So the first thing I'd like to do is perform the minor edits to clean this up.
The file naturally opens in GEarth on my machine, is this the editor I should be using? If so, can someone point me to an intro doc on editing? If not, can someone point me towards a Mac-based tool I might want to use?
Maury Markowitz (talk) 17:21, 15 August 2013 (UTC)
Hello members of WikiProject Trains ShareMap is a collaborative map creation tool (already mentioned at this page). It is currently applying for Wikimedia grant to continue project development. One of of ShareMap principles is to provide tool for create train maps on free licenses (both both existing and rail dismantled systems) that can be easily reused.
Currently there are a lot train maps:
Also this maps are often used at Wikipedia - just take a look to some Amtrak routes articles (ie. w:California Zephyr) or some coutry rail system maps (ie. w:Egyptian National Railways)
Here is video screen cast how to create railways map:
One of grant results will be creation free mobile off line map viewer application for maps created by Wikimedia community, which feature can be useful for train fans during outdoor trips.
I will be very happy for endorsement, opinions or even criticism from all community members on Wikimedia grant project.
meta:Grants:IEG/ShareMap#Part_3:_Community_Discussion
If you would like to learn more about ShareMap project please visit:
--Jkan997 (talk) 10:51, 15 October 2013 (UTC)
I shall be grateful for somebody creating maps for the following railway line pages in the Punjab area, India:
1. Ambala-Attari line
2. Jalandhar-Jammu line
Both the pages have Railway Route Templates showing important stations. Some of these stations are linked to pages with coordinates. - Chandan Guha (talk) 15:14, 8 April 2014 (UTC)
As far as I can tell (from the postings to this page) little work is being done on this railmaps project. If I am wrong please accept my apologies - I must be looking in the wrong place. If I am right and little new work is being done can I suggest a reason. The process of constructing a route diagram, as I would like to do for railways in Wisconsin and the Midwest has become incredibly burdensome. It used to be that you could just copy, edit and paste but that now seems impossible. The system no doubt is more pleasing to those whose interest is programming graphics but has likely put off the rail hobbyist who has the data but little interest in the minutiae of how it displayed. Thoughts anyone?Wickifrank (talk) 17:37, 1 December 2016 (UTC)
Hi Wikipedians. I've made maps of many U.S. and some world commuter rail, light rail and heavy rail lines using Template:Attached_KML template. For example, Metrolink_(California), Portland_Streetcar, SEPTA_Subway–Surface_Trolley_Lines (to see the maps click "Google" link at header of each article or "Display on Google map" in the KML box). Is it work useful? May I continue doing that work?
Sorry for my poor English Bluetram (talk) 23:03, 21 August 2017 (UTC)