Jerry,
These County Valuation Maps are not what she was talking about, unless the counties got copies from the Interstate Commerce Commission.
In 1913 the ICC insisted that each railroad in the USA do a thorough Valuation of itself. The edict very carefully outlined the maps and the scale that each map was to be done in, 1:400 for trackage abandoned in place; 1:200 for active trackage; 1:100 for major yards and terminals. The usual size was 30" x 96" and each sheet was consecutive. These are what the CRRM is reprinting.
This valuation also included field notes consisting of an inventory of each structure, track, switchstand, tie, rail and spike. For those of you who are engineering nuts, there was also a grade cross-section survey done (which, unless you know engineering, is as boring as watching paint dry).
I have field notes on various spurs which list whether they were 3-rail (in Leadville), the type of Switch stand, the number of ties, what kind of tie each is, the type of rail, weight, whether the ties are plated or not and the number of spikes in each tie plate. (No, I didn't copy EVERY Spur or siding)
In addition to this, each piece of equipment Passenger and Freight, locomotives and rolling stock was described (usually by series) and listed in this report.
The original maps were retained by the railroads themselves. Blueprint copies were given to the ICC for them to make their reports. Railroad engineering departments used the originals to make line changes, modifications, etc. The ICC got new copies each time the modifications were made and kept them on file along with the old ones. (By Law).
Depending on the evaluator, the field notes range from basic to highly detailed.
The C&S notes are more along the basic side, but you could, if you can decipher the notes, reconstruct the C&S line as it stood in 1918 from the notes taken.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Field notes taken on the SP are exquisite, showing drawings and dimensions of each building, including the huge wooden Oakland depot and the covered turntable at Truckee.
I haven't looked at the D&RG notes, as my time was limited, and also limited by the fact that I was helping Cliff Mestel who happened bye while I was there. Cliff was looking for CM and NCNG stuff as well.
Jerry, these items are located in the National Archives II in College Park, MD. Bring lots of $$$$ because even at $.05 per copy, I spent over $1,000.00 for copies alone.
These are very exhaustive documents and provide an extremely accurate "Snapshot in Time" for a particular railroad. Remember, however, that all of this on any section of line, could be changed the following day by a rail or tie replacement project, a line change or by a big wreck.
Rick Steele
