Altamont Pass maps?

[jacksonbarno]

Hello all,
I am a partial fan of the SP and I love the WP (even though i am a PRR fan). I am thinking about building the two mainlines over Altamont pass, starting with the WP mainline, which is still in service now, and then finishing with the SP line, as the two mains paralleled and crossed over each other for many miles. I was wondering if anybody could direct me towards some maps of the WP and SP lines over Altamont pass, circa late forties early fifties. Also, a DEM of the area would be nice to go with the maps, but I can create my own terrain if need be.
Also, has the WP trackage changed much since the UP took it over? If I can't find a DEM, I might build it from scratch, and it would be really easy to use Google Earth to see the former WP trackage.

A little background on this line as well, just to make this post interesting: Altamont pass connected San Francisco to its two main railroad lines from the East: the Southern Pacific (which had two ways in) and the Western Pacific. This route includes the famous Niles Canyon. The SP line was the first over Altamont, and because of this, it got the easy right of way, and was able to go around hills and go through Niles Canyon via the left bank of Alameda Creek (The ex. SP tracks are the Niles Canyon railway), while the WP was forced to tunnel through the hills. After the 1981 Union Pacific takeover of Western Pacific, the UP took over the WP main, and competed with the SP until three years later, when the SP opted to obtain trackage rights over the ex. WP and by extension, abandon the SP right of way and tear up the tracks. The ex. WP main is still operated today by Union Pacific.

Some pics from a quick internet search:
http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/cg14.jpg
http://www.railpictures.net/images/d1/1/0/0/1100.1167314400.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...n_Altamont_3-70....._-_Flickr_-_drewj1946.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ig9gvRJXj6w/T3ouaGUrweI/AAAAAAAACM0/ejDtz8ktTkM/s1600/PICT1601-001.JPG
http://trainwatchersjournal.blogspot.com/2012/04/altamont-pass-then-and-nowish-and-two.html

 

[pdkoester]

Just so you know, you will have support from me and probably a few others about the SP and especially WP. From Altamont Pass, down through Niles Canyon, Fremont to Milpitas, San Jose. The San Fracisco to San Jose peninsula would be very well, also. I have found a map called "Caltrain" that covers most of the peninsula stuff, but it is bare, just basic outlines, no rails, no buildings, no textures. That might be a start? Anyways, from one WP fan to another, I wish you luck. By the way, JointRail.com and RRMods.com both have nice Western Pacific equipment. Maybe 817Taylor could work with you on something, since he is able to create things.

Paul

 

[saramos]

You can use the National Map Viewer at http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ . You can get DEMS, topos, showing current track, and historical topos too. Geophil is also working on an upgrade to TransDEM which will be able to utilize GEOPDF files too.

 

[jacksonbarno]

Just so you know, you will have support from me and probably a few others about the SP and especially WP. From Altamont Pass, down through Niles Canyon, Fremont to Milpitas, San Jose. The San Fracisco to San Jose peninsula would be very well, also. I have found a map called "Caltrain" that covers most of the peninsula stuff, but it is bare, just basic outlines, no rails, no buildings, no textures. That might be a start? Anyways, from one WP fan to another, I wish you luck. By the way, JointRail.com and RRMods.com both have nice Western Pacific equipment. Maybe 817Taylor could work with you on something, since he is able to create things.

Paul

Thanks! Its always good to hear that people have my back on this kind of stuff. That route sounds like a good place to start, so I will get going once I get everything set up on my new computer. I was thinking about doing the peninsula before, but we'l see as this project gets farther along. Who knows, I may even attempt at third street and the Mole!

You can use the National Map Viewer at http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ . You can get DEMS, topos, showing current track, and historical topos too. Geophil is also working on an upgrade to TransDEM which will be able to utilize GEOPDF files too.

That looks like it could be a really good resource for this kind of project, especially because a complete DEM of the area seems to be hard to find.

 

[SuperFudd]

I am (still) working on my Stockton to Milpitas circa 1962. As per model railroads, it is compressed, about 3 to 1. This allows me to minimize the boring sections, in theory. I might have done 1:1 but I started it as a major rework of the compressed "Altamont Express" from the DLS. Some one (I will let him introduce himself) is doing a fine job on a 1:1 version circa now. Like mine, his is progressing slowly as of late. Mine uses many portals to simulate connection to the outside. Mine has portals entering Hayward on the 3 lines. Also at south Milpitas to San Jose and Draw Bridge to Santa Clara. also north end of Stockton to Sac. I also have the Santa Fe from east of Stockton to west of Stockton including Mormon Yard. I also have portals on the SP Moccoco and to Bakersfield. Also at Dublin on the line to Walnut Creek. Also west bound SP just before the Dumbarton Bridge. I also have the short lines that serve Stockton. I did not do the port at Stockton. You could do a whole layout on that alone. Enough for now.

 

[normhart]

http://nationalmap.gov/historical/

Has several years of USGS maps of the Altamont Pass. You should be able to find a close match to your goal.

 

[AJ_Fox]

I made this route from Tracy to Fremont, but it's not totally proto. It's on the DLS and you are welcome to use any parts of it in your route.

Cheers

AJ

 

[jacksonbarno]

Thanks! I'l tale a look at it!