Mile marking the Polar Bear Express which is 186 miles long and at the 20 mile marker of placing a mark each mile I decided...THIS SUCKS. I googled but could not find an answer, do railroads in North America mark each and every mile? Of course, it is my route and I can do as I please, but I am curious and could not find an answer online or here. I was thinking of going every 5 miles using a 5 mile long consist.
I was wondering if railroads mark each and every mile?
- Thread starter Chris750
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cascaderailroad
New member
I think they either stencil a sign on a bridge pier, or on a signal, using partial decimal places, of where important control points (signals/switchs/interlockings) are located ... I am not sure though.
I wouldn't sweat the small stuff, as that meticulous stuff will drive you crazy
I wouldn't sweat the small stuff, as that meticulous stuff will drive you crazy
norfolksouthern37
what's a normal map?
Yes there is a mile mark somewhere for each item along a line; not just mileposts. In times past this was an important tool for crews to know their speed and location (a clock/watch and mile markers) since there were few speedometers or GPS systems. 
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Not forgetting the importance of accurate distance markers (actual or stenciled onto structures) for the track maintenance crews. Also the positioning of the markers (left or right of the track) was sometimes used to indicate the UP and DOWN track directions.
JackDownUnder
Active member
I understand that UK practice is to mark every 1/4 mile..
Less so today, since locomotives are equipped with GPS, than in past eras in the US. Until about 20 or 30 years ago, most US railroads had company communication equipment and wires which were routed along trackside, and most railroads often used the poles to designate distance, both by mile markers, and by "poles". On the RI, the communications poles were spaced about 50 to a mile, so the pole closest to a mile point would have two boards mounted on it—one visible from each direction of the track—on which was posted the mile point. Four other poles, the 10th, 20th, 30th, and 40th would have similar boards, but bearing 1, 2, 3, and 4 horizontal bars. When the roadmaster issued a slow order for a stretch of track, the slow order would show the start by the mile post, and pole marker, so a slow order would read something like "Train speed restricted to 10 mph from mp 238 pole 30 to mp 248 pole 10", or "Train crews to be alert for track materials alongside track from mp 265 pole 20 to mp 285 pole 40."
Because at 50 to the mile, the actual mile post location might vary by as much as 50 feet from the actual location of the mile, on each division, there were two "standard miles", one near each end of the division, demarcated at each end by actual mile posts. These were used by engineers and conductors to calibrate the odometers on locomotives. By measuring the elapsed time to travel the standard mile, the speed of the train could be determined, and compared with the speedometer readings.
Distances were marked on other places, too, for example on at least one end of a bridge, at grade crossings, at siding control boxes, and similar points.
ns
Because at 50 to the mile, the actual mile post location might vary by as much as 50 feet from the actual location of the mile, on each division, there were two "standard miles", one near each end of the division, demarcated at each end by actual mile posts. These were used by engineers and conductors to calibrate the odometers on locomotives. By measuring the elapsed time to travel the standard mile, the speed of the train could be determined, and compared with the speedometer readings.
Distances were marked on other places, too, for example on at least one end of a bridge, at grade crossings, at siding control boxes, and similar points.
ns