Old Maps

[GSC]

I've always been a fan of maps. Just to look at them mostly. Fascinating info. Sure beats a little GPS box on my dash any day.

Once upon a long time ago, while in high school, I was doing a history project on local railroads. I needed some info, such as track layouts at junctions and such, so I wrote to CNJ asking if any maps were available. Maybe a week later, I received a couple cardboard tubes with maps enclosed! The man who sent them wished me luck on my project.

I had junction maps of Red Bank, Long Branch, Matawan, Farmingdale, Sea Girt, Bay Head, even the Atlantic Highlands pier layout. Great to-scale maps with measurements, almost like copies of blueprints.

Is there a source of maps like these online? I've looked but can't seem to find the detailed maps I once had from CNJ. Satellite shots are okay, but I prefer maps.

I know there are map nuts like me out there. What have you found?

Thanks!

[RailsEast]

Gary,
The Sanborn Maps are a great source, but perhaps not as super-detailed as a genuine RR generated track map. The Library of Congress has a great collection of 'some' of the old Sanborn material, click on New Jersey here.....https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/

I have a hand-drawn map of the Conrail system at the NS/CSX merger, but that is from 1999 and I'm sure you are looking for maps from 'back in the day'. As you probably know, the book Trail of the Blue Comet also has very detailed maps of some junction points along the old CNJ.

You could try this as well, but again, not super-detailed.....http://raildata.railfan.net/index.html

That's it for me......
Chris

[CLamb]

https://www.openrailwaymap.org/ shows some no longer exists rail routes. Unfortunately the CNJ archives were discarded when the railroad was incorporated into Conrail.

[GSC]

Thanks for the info, Chris and CLamb. I will check them out.

"Trail of the Blue Comet" does have some nice detailed maps, especially the Whitings track layout. That was a real spider web until realigned.

[CharlieL]

Try this site; it's a little hit or miss, and they are USGS (topography) maps.
You may find some interesting stuff :http://historicalmaps.arcgis.com/usgs/

Also at https://nationalmap.gov/historical/

If they have fine resolution (tight scale) maps of the aea you wish to view,
they are detailed down to individual sidings.

[many19]

Try this site and let me know if you ever finish. lol

https://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/MAPS.html

Now if you are into RR maps. Check out what Liberty State Park used to look like

https://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/JCplat_boo ... /index.htm


Enjoy.

[GSC]

Try this site and let me know if you ever finish. lol

https://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/MAPS.html

Now if you are into RR maps. Check out what Liberty State Park used to look like

https://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/JCplat_boo ... /index.htm


Enjoy.

Fascinating. Send coffee and sandwiches, I may never come out of here LOL

People make fun of model RR layouts that look like "bowls of spaghetti". The Jersey City waterfront is a 1:1 scale example of it!