Using Google Earth to plan the structures in Roseburg

 Love using Google Earth, another helpful one is http://www.maps.live.com.  Here's a shot of the throat tracks for NY Penn Station using the "Bird's Eye" view.  The only problem with live.com is, it seems the different angles are only available in the more populated areas.

While I have looked at Google Earth before I had no idea!  Thanks for the great video demonstration of it's capabilities!

I have used Google Earth for some time now, but have not touched the Google SketchUp to build 3D models quickly and easily. But that could become an ongoing project for an archivist to undertake in preserving railroad architecture in specific locations and eras.

Not sure if this is a feature now, but it would make for a future advancement, heck maybe just a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for now, but wouldn’t be great to dial up Google Earth not only for a location but for a time at that location too. I.E. Roseburg, OR in 1982 let say. It would be a massive undertaking on a broad scale but for a timeline approach to research and archiving of specific locations, railroad prototype locations in particular it might make for a feasible project.

Nice an instructive video, Joe. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Google Maps can also be a good tool as it for at least larger cities offers a change to walk around in the streets and see what the buildings look like. I am sure you know about this, but I did not find that feature for Roseburg.

I am looking forward to a video demonstration of Google SchechUp and to learn how to use that program in modelrailroading.

Joe-I thought the video was great. I downloaded Google Earth and noticed as in your example using it, the closer you zoom in the more blurry things get. To your knowledge is this normal? Is there any way to sharpen up close images? Bob

In Google Earth, different areas have different levels of detail. The higher population costal areas seem to have a good level of detail, while some of the areas in the plains states don't have a lot of close detail. I suspect it's a combination of less interest and security concerns - wouldn't the terrorists love nice clear satellite images of our missile silo locations in the plains states, for instance. Also, I've noticed Israel doesn't have a lot of close up detail - same reason I suspect - because of security concerns.

So you take what you can get. If you can get close enough in that you can see cars and swimming pools, then great. But you won't be able to get in close enough that the car or swimming pool is anything but a smudge of color. You may be able to make out some larger detail (3 feet or more in size) in some of the better locations. Others won't be that good.

Since its a totally free resource, I guess we can't complain too much. I also suspect over time, they'll add more detail to some locations - but of course time marches on, and most of us are modeling historical times and as time goes on the signs of history will fade.

So use it while you can when the detail's good. Otherwise, Google Earth may not be the best source if your area of interest doesn't resolve to much detail.

Joe-That's understandable. It's still amazing to get that kind of view of different areas. I was able to follow various railroad tracks in my area. In one area I was even able to make out a train crossing the Delaware River (separates NJ and Pa) I agree that it is a fantastic tool for model railroaders especially the protype modelers.

One last thing-I viewed the demo magazine and can't wait till the first issue comes out. Bob

INice video, Joe.

I recently combined the two free tools when scratchbuilding part of the Hercules plant here in Brunswick, GA. 

I was working from older photos - the site is still working and they don't allow visitors to wander about with tape rulers (LOL) and used Sketch Up to do reasonable facsimiles of a couple of the buildings. I then went to the site on G Earth and placed my models on the site. I was pleased to find my dimensions were fairly close, but needed a bit of adjustment to make them accurate.

I was also able to locate where the actual tracks ran inside this huge complex.

Sketch Up is a remarkable tool for scratchbuildiers. The handiest feature is that it allows you to model a building using proto dimensions then you can "shrink" the whole building down to N scale and it gives the dimensions correctly for the model.

Mike Tennent

Hey Joe,

Any updates on how the Roseburg structure project is coming along? Can't wait to see how it is coming.

Paul

Not actually RR related, but try to zoom on Las Vegas' Strip. You will be amazed by the amount of details!