Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Trains/Maps task force

message: 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)
replies: text: Category:Trains project articles needing maps now has 112 articles in it. Slambo (Speak) 03:47, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

text: There's the articles listed on , now we're up to 124 maps needed.  Slambo (Speak) 04:09, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

text: I got a start in going through the articles on , getting up through the reporting marks that start with C.  It's getting late here, so I'm going to bed now and plan to get back to tagging in the morning.  If anyone else wants to finish off the class III lines, feel free (just leave a note here on how far you get). Slambo (Speak) 04:21, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

text: Tagged D, E and F on .  We now have 178 in the map needed category. Slambo (Speak) 15:14, 13 August 2006 (UTC)

text: There, I'm through that template now, and I went through  as well.  We're up to 313 articles that need maps now, and we haven't even started on the list of railroads and trains operating outside of the US.  Slambo (Speak) 19:42, 13 August 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Initial tagging

message: 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)
replies: text: I'm not sure really - I've been using it for national scale maps, so detailed accuracy isn't really important.  I haven't checked it against any other sources to see how good it is.  I have noticed that many lines are missing data, that is the location is shown but without any ownership information.  Kmusser 05:21, 8 September 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: Data Source

message: 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.
:What you're seeing is a difference in the presence of specific infobox parameters.  Where a railroad logo is added, it will always appear above the map area in the infobox.  Both the logo and map parameters are optional and their respective rows are hidden if the parameters are not specified. Slambo (Speak) 14:35, 8 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: W00t!  Okay, what do people think of this one:   Delaware and Northern RussNelson 17:05, 8 October 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I'd brighten up the color used for the route, I think it blends into the background a little too much.  Otherwise, it's nice Kmusser 16:28, 9 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  System Map Location? 

message: I've tried my hand at a few maps:
* :Image:DMIR Map.png (Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway)
* :Image:BNSF Map.png (Burlington Northern Railroad and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway)
* :Image:RRVW Map.png (Red River Valley and Western Railroad)
* :Image:CNW Map.png (Chicago and North Western Railway)
* :Image:MNNR Map.png (Minnesota Commercial Railway)
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've been using dotted lines and/or different colors for trackage that has since been abandoned.  (Except for the RRVW map, where I used dotted lines for trackage rights on other railways.)
# For the most part, I've used thich red lines for the primary railroad, and other colors for other railroads in the area.  An exception is the BNSF map, where I used BN's green color and ATSF's blue color to show those lines separately.  Do we have any sort of color standard?  Actually, can you help me come up with a color standard for consistency?
# Should I show the names of major cities along the route?
# Is it useful to show the highways in a metro area along with the railroads, like I did with the MNNR map?
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)
replies: text: There hasn't been any standard.  I've been using red for the primary railroad as well.  I noticed that many of the railroad companies use dotted lines for trackage rights on their own maps, so that may be a good way to go.  For cities I'd say it depends on the scale, for the railroads that cover large regions I've left them out, but if it just covers 1 or 2 states they make a useful reference point.  On the MNNR map I think the highways are a little confusing, they could easily be taken for other railroads - just having cities is probably good enough.  Kmusser 15:58, 17 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  A few undecided features in maps 

message: 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)
replies: text: Well, that's a showstopper. I'll get back to the lab tomorrow or Wednesday and fix it up. I wasn't thinking about thumbnail-sized images at the time, but you're totally right. I wish I could take a cartography course in addition to so many GIS courses. Shorelander 04:26, 19 December 2006 (UTC)
replies: text:  I uploaded a new version (that can be seen above). Comments? I changed it so that I think it looks better than the original in shrunken form.Shorelander 00:29, 21 December 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I think it is an improvement.  Taking out the smaller streams and labels was a good move.  I'd draw in the road connection between 89 and 98 (they do connect, it's just not highway for that little bit).Kmusser 02:07, 21 December 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Just got back to the lab from break and got that done (got rid of the extra polygon lines in Lake Powell as well). I'm going to add it to the page! Shorelander 22:28, 18 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  First time making a map for Wikipedia 

message: 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)
replies: text: By the way, I am curious.  How are people obtaining the track data for underground railways if there is no GPS access?  --BetaCentauri 06:18, 20 December 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Program to generate map? 

message: 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)
replies: text: I think it looks good, if you have it available it could use another feature to help people orient themselves (Interstates maybe?), but really it's fine as it is.  Kmusser 17:27, 31 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Bus route map

message: 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)
replies: text: See Wikipedia:Railway line template, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_UK_Railways#WP:TRAIL and Wikipedia talk:WikiProject UK Railways/TRAIL Pickle 20:18, 15 March 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Map style from German Wikipedia? 

message: 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)
replies: text: I'll update the existing one, though if anyone wants to make a brand new SVG version, that would be better yet.  Kmusser 14:07, 10 October 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Looks great, thanks so much! --Jfruh (talk) 15:18, 10 October 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Request for assistance 

message: 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)
replies: text: For the maps that I made, such as on California Southern Railroad and Scott Special, I used the public domain map of the US state outlines and then GIMP to draw the line and label the points.  Slambo (Speak) 16:15, 15 December 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Cool, thanks.  I see the base map.  How did you add the dots in the correct spot?  Eyeball it? Also, any advice on particular tools within The Gimp? --plaws (talk) 18:23, 15 December 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Need some help ... 

message: 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)
thread_title: 1st Attempt

message: 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)
thread_title: Map Needed - work with this task force - Hiow?

message: 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)
replies: text: I think it looks good, a definite improvement over the one I had made.  Kmusser (talk) 13:20, 27 August 2008 (UTC)

text: I really like it.  I'm wondering if there is (and if not, why not) an Open Source cartography tool.  Or should we be looking to the [OpenStreetMap.org] project for these tools?  They do make nice map tiles. RussNelson (talk) 00:38, 7 October 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: It looks nice, but you might want to add some more background data - a few cities and different colours for USA, Mexico and Canada, for example, just to make it a real map instead of just a plot of routes. Classical geographer (talk) 15:57, 7 October 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: The only problem with that is that (other than the different colors) I'd need to redo the additions each time I find an error. --NE2 16:57, 7 October 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  How's this style? 

message: 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)
replies: text: You mean something like this: La Junta Subdivision? I've been wondering why this has not been made earlier or more widely. --Tve4 (talk) 15:00, 7 March 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: So if somebody makes a line template for an article with a "Needs Map" tag, does that mean I can removie the "Needs Map" tag? I recently tagged the R1 (SEPTA) and R2 (SEPTA) articles with that parameter, and they had maps attached less than two days later. ----DanTD (talk) 23:11, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

text: I've done schematic maps for a few East-coast articles, e.g. the B&O/CSX Baltimore Terminal Subdivision (current configuration) and Old Main Line Subdivision (historical, as of 1917). The latter one shows both current stations and closed stations, with appropriate color coding, and closed towers. Caseyjonz (talk) 16:52, 24 January 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  US Line schematic maps 

message: 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)
thread_title:  More Pittsburgh Light Rail line templates 

message: 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)
replies: text: For the U.S. you can probably get a decent basemap by using the National Atlas , that has railroads on it as well, but for historical railroads you may have to copy your basemap into a graphics program and draw them in. Kmusser (talk) 21:09, 10 May 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: The main requirements are that (1) I can import polylines (in some GPS-type format) and (2) that the maps have sufficient detail of roads, etc. that the railroad tracks can be shown in context.  Google Maps has both of these properties, but as I say there might be copyright issues.Beowulf (talk) 03:45, 11 May 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: Yes, Google maps can't be used due to copyright and I don't know of anything else that uses KML directly - to convert those to something else you probably need some GIS software. Kmusser (talk) 12:06, 11 May 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Non-schematic route maps 

message: 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)
thread_title:  Helping out 

message: 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)
thread_title:  Amtrak needs a map! 

message: 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
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)
thread_title:  Creating maps for railway articles - new tool 

message: 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)
thread_title:  Fixing a KMZ 

message: 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:
* http://sharemap.org/category/railways
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:
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8IFqFs5cMw
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:
*ShareMap Twitter Channel
*ShareMap on Wikimedia Commons
--Jkan997 (talk) 10:51, 15 October 2013 (UTC)
thread_title:  ShareMap - Wikimedia grant - community feedback needed 

message: 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)
replies: text: * The Amritsar-Pathankot line is also in the same area and may also please be included in the list. Thanks in advance. - Chandan Guha (talk) 12:45, 10 April 2014 (UTC)
thread_title: Map needed

message: 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)
replies: text: Yeah, doing the route maps is difficult. Part of that is because there are so many possible options for how things are set up. No route is the same. ···日本穣 · 投稿 · Talk to Nihonjoe · Join WP Japan! 17:40, 1 December 2016 (UTC)
thread_title:  Has this Project died? 

message: 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)
replies: text: I certainly consider it useful. While KML maps may not be as useful on-site as, for example, SVGs (though I am sure this could be debated), the convertability means that a later editor could certainly pick up where you left off and put that KML to good use in various ways. The important part is getting high-quality geographic data in Creative Commons, in my opinion. Julius177 (talk) 04:22, 4 May 2021 (UTC)
thread_title:  KML maps