[PRCo] Re: Introduction

[Fred Schneider]

Shame you were not around when Tom Phillips drove us out there about ten years ago.   


On Oct 1, 2010, at 9:13 AM, Stephen Titchenal wrote:

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> I just joined the Pittsburgh railways group and thought I would introduce
> myself. I worked with Derrick more than 10 years ago on the project to scan
> the historic topos now on the maptech website. I scanned most of Ohio at
> 600dpi. Has anyone scanned the PA 15' topos at that resolution? I have also
> been scanning the first editions of the 7.5' topos which were done in 1953
> for much of the Pittsburgh area. They show the rights of way of the in
> operation or recently abandoned interurbans when they were not using
> streets, plus now abandoned railroad lines. The 7.5' topos are done to a
> more modern standard and easy to georeference.
> 
> 
> 
> I have recently begun tracing the railroads, trolleys and interurbans of
> Ohio and Western PA very accurately using GIS tools. The GIS resource that
> has helped me to put everything together is the LiDAR Digital Elevation data
> that has recently become available for much of Ohio and Pennsylvania. This
> is radar elevation data accurate to within a couple of feet even through
> tree cover. It allows you to see long abandoned rights of way that do not
> show up as easily on aerial photos.
> 
> 
> 
> I have attached a sample showing the Trafford - Irwin area.
> 
> 
> 
> Is anyone else using GIS tools (Google Earth is a consumer level example) to
> trace historic transportation routes?
> 
> 
> 
> I am just starting my Pennsylvania research. I have been surprised at how
> few historic maps (1890-1940) I can find once I leave Allegheny County and
> the wonderful Historic Pittsbugh online collection. In Ohio there are a few
> detailed county/township map sets state wide (1910,1919,1925,1940) and many
> county atlases. I have mostly been looking online so far, but hope to get to
> Pittsbugh later this fall for more research.
> 
> 
> 
> A couple of route questions to start out.
> 
> 1. What route did the Webster, Monessen, Belle Vernon and Fayette City take
> through Fayette City to Arnold? There was an old P&LE branch that Johnson
> Hollow Road probably uses now. Did it use the same right of way? How far
> down Schoonmaker Ave did it go into Monessen?
> 
> 
> 
> My website, railandtrails.com has resources for transportation history. Most
> require you to install the free djvu plugin.
> 
> 
> 
> Stephen Titchenal
> 
> www.railsandtrails.com
> 
> www.titchenal.com
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